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Forte Research Systems

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Remains the best software company I've worked for... - Anonymous employee Forte Research Systems Employee Review

4.0
22 Nov 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Most of the people at Forte are absolutely amazing. They are smart, caring, and fun. Forte has many of the perks you'd expect in a software company including a game room, free snacks, and flexible hours. The volunteer time off policy and the health reimbursements are also fantastic fringe benefits. It's nice that it's located in Middleton and away from the usual traffic of downtown or Epic.

Cons

My struggle with Forte is likely somewhat unique to my situation. I just couldn't find my "niche", and after months of poking around to see how to best fit in, I decided my best bet was to look elsewhere. The PTO and bereavement policies seem a bit antiquated, but I have my fingers crossed that enough people have voiced this concern that Forte will alter their policies in the next year or two. I'm not going to focus much on the cons of Forte because overall it was and is a fantastic company, and it remains the best software company that I know of in the Madison area. That being said, there are some elements of truth in other reviewers' negative comments about Forte--particularly in regard to product direction and career progression.

Explore other reviews about Forte Research Systems

5.0
7 Sept 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

* Close collaboration with customer community to develop solutions * Strong team focused around a clear customer-first vision

Cons

* Challenge to maintain small company culture through growth

2.0
30 Jun 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Did you find a dream position at Forte? Definitely apply. The company has game-changing ambitions and is always trying to do the right thing. Specific teams have lots of fun and are high-performing. There is lot of attention paid towards quality. The benefits are pretty decent, including a very flexible work schedule/working from home.

Cons

I used to love coming to work every day, which makes the cultural downfall I witnessed so tragic. Most people are either promoted or leave around the 2-year mark. Those given management responsibilities often seemed to lack leadership skills. There was minimal transparency around changes to our processes. It felt like project managers held all the power and expected us to conform instead of seeking engineering input. There is not enough focus on technical debt. I found my original ambition was continuously stifled such that I was bored on a daily basis. My manager was not engaged with the work I did nor were they helpful in career advancement. I discovered my salary failed to keep up with the market value by a significant margin. There is a very high degree of turnover at Forte so tread carefully and be prepared to ask plenty of questions should you land an interview.

6
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