Typical India based services company - good fit only for certain people - Manager - Projects Cognizant Employee Review

2.0
14 Feb 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good processes and policies in place - though they are not implemented consistently. Salary is fully dependent on how much are currently making and able to negotiate. Below average benefits in US. If you are single and / or don't care about work life balance - you may enjoy your job.

Cons

Just like any other large india based services provider (Wipro, Infy etc...), CTS experience fully depends on which department and manager(s) you work for. Work environment is extremely political and unprofessional. For me it was a frustrating experience after the first few months on the job. Most managers are incompetent, unqualified and out there to enrich themselves at your expense. Appraisals, awards and promotions are decided without regard to merit. Ground level people are mostly an enthusiastic and bright bunch - but after a few years with the company they get brainwashed and forget how rest of the technology world works. Old timers hate it when younger brighter folks come in with higher salaries and job titles - and they make your life miserable. In one line - if you are ambitious, smart, talented at what you do and have the capability - you will find yourself working for a better organization.

Explore other reviews about Cognizant

5.0
27 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good projects, challenging work, lots to learn

Cons

The way the bench status is structured

1
1.0
5 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

A potential inroad into large client companies (Leave Cognizant ASAP) You aren't unemployed.

Cons

It's a body shop. Clients will view you accordingly. Contractors cannot be trusted with most tasks. You must be siloed (No room for growth) so you don't break anything. Your actual job is to fulfill gaps in the client's grunt work even if out of scope. If you don't, the hammer falls from client and Cognizant. Wages well below industry standards. 1% annual raises only exist because legally they must exist. Takes full advantage of H-1B slave system, where employees' families and homes will be thrown into a furnace if you aren't keeping Cognizant happy no matter what. Employees are complacent in their slavery. Management is just happy to get their extra crumbs and will reinforce the bad culture. C-suite is opaque. If you are familiar with India's caste system you will understand how "lessers" are treated. This also happens in a literal sense, you aren't totally safe just because you are the favored skin tone. Takes full advantage of modern white collar culture. "Your racist actions aren't actually racist if you aren't Caucasian." Expect the uphill battle to be even more steep if you're not Southeast Asian. You will hunt for your own work most of the time. Cognizant is not helpful in any regard. They exist to skim off the top and nothing else.

3
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