Free Money, but No Inspiration Available - Engineer II ADM Employee Review

2.0
Oct 30, 2016
Recommend
Business Outlook

Pros

Literally the easiest money you'll make. Put in 50+ hours per week and produce nothing of value and you will never lose your job. Do the same and produce then get moved up until you are one step ahead of your capabilities. Put in 50+ hours in that position, etc etc etc.

Cons

Everyone is promoted on an arbitrary basis. The pro listed above creates a considerable con - everybody is bad at their job because they are promoted based on their performance at their current job, NOT because of their potential at the job they get promoted to. Hard working engineers who are willing to put in crazy hours and forego life outside of the plant are rewarded with higher positions but make terrible managers who expect equivalent effort from their subordinates who don't have the same values. Good, productive engineers are left behind because they don't work the hours, while less than capable engineers get moved up because they are at work before their managers get to work and after their managers leave. The review system is unproductive because it is based on the amount of work done not the quality of work or the employee's ability to work with team members. There is no structured system for Engineers to move up in pay scale. There is no definition for Production Engineer, Engineer I, Engineer II, Engineer III, and Senior Engineer and these titles are arbitrarily distributed. You won't get the title unless you request it. They don't offer promotions. Really there is no inspiration to work for ADM and the longer you stay the less motivated you will be to advance.

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5.0
May 25, 2026
Recommend
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Pros

It’s okay overall. Pay is competitive

Cons

Culture expects lots of movement

2.0
May 5, 2026
Recommend
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Pros

You have the opportunity to see the direct impact of your work across different locations and interact with people from a wide range of backgrounds. The role also allows you to build strong, genuine relationships with colleagues working alongside you day to day.

Cons

There is a noticeable lack of transparency within the organization. Communication from senior team members can be inconsistent, and at times feels misaligned with their actions. Recognition and positive feedback are limited, particularly outside of established internal circles. The company’s technology and processes can be outdated and overly complex, which can hinder efficiency. Additionally, the organizational structure is quite hierarchical, and there appears to be limited initiative from leadership to drive meaningful change. The role often extends beyond typical analyst responsibilities, requiring significant emotional labor in addition to technical work.

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