Though Silicon Valley is generally considered the center of the tech universe, the top IT workplace in Computerworld’s rankings operates far, far away – in Detroit.
Quicken Loans topped the magazine’s
100 Best Places to Work in IT list for 2013. In 2012, the company grew by more than 80 percent to 850 technology-related positions – it even was wooing workers laid off by Yahoo in California – and has been actively involved in efforts to
revitalize downtown Detroit. Its Cleveland office also topped the
Cleveland Plain Dealer's “Top Workplace” list for the second year in a row. The home mortgage specialist is followed on Computerworld’s list by military insurance company USAA, CareerBuilder,
Commonwealth Financial Network and World Wide Technology. Qualcomm, at No. 8, was the highest-ranking among the tech giants. And,
Apple, Facebook, Google and
Microsoft were all noticeably absent. To be on the list, employees had to nominate companies with 40 or more IT workers. Each firm then completed a 66-question survey about factors including raises and bonuses, promotions, turnover and training opportunities. The companies then had to survey a random sample of their IT staff on issues such as satisfaction with training opportunities, compensation, work-life balance and more. From the final 100 companies, 27,779 IT workers were polled. While Computerworld lauds Quicken Loans for offering more than 200 hours of training a year, the company actually ranked ninth in that area. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association topped the list. Among the questions posed to IT workers in the top 100 were aspects of the job most important to them. Here’s what they said:
- Pay: 94 percent
- Enjoyable Environment: 93 percent
- Means and Opportunity to Further Career: 87 percent
- Access to Training, Opportunity to Build Skills: 85 percent
- Challenge: 78 percent
Image: Wikimedia Commons
