Black & Veatch Employee Job Reviews in the United States

"Consider working elsewhere!!!"

What do you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"BV can offer a steady paycheck. But not much else. There a lot of very knowledgeble and friendly people in the company. However, you probably won't find them in any positions of major influence. The company is very laid back, and they can be very flexible with people's schedules. This of course will depend entirely on who you work for. BV also has a stellar industry reputation (some of it undeserved) which will always help to build up someones resume."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Go work elsewhere. BV no longer has the right to consider itself an engineering company, since nearly 100% of it's design work is outsourced to third party vendors. Very little true engineering work is done internally anymore. It is now more of a project management company, although this will be denied by anyone and everyone working there. There are also very few middle aged engineers in the company. The age spectrum is either very young (20's/early 30's) or much older (over 50). The gray haired engineers are vested and riding it out until they retire, even though most are drastically underpaid. The younger engineers were hired because they're cheap, and the company still needs employees. But the more experienced and mid-career employees are often non-existant, because they've all gone to work for better companies. Once the gray haired employees finally retire, BV will have serious issues regarding it's overall performance, since they'll no longer have the expertise to carry the company forward. This company is an old boys click, through and through. Turnover is also quite high (at least higher than at most engineering companies) since many employees are often taking jobs at the company while they wait for something better to come along. If you're fresh out of school, or at least at the beginning of your career, BV is probably a very good company to work for. They will train you, and then you can quit for a better job at one of their better paying competitors."

What don't you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"The company is completely unwilling to invest in its employees, whether it's further education or industry certifications. For the most part, employees whom already have a college degree are expected to pay for any continuing education themselves. BV is primarily an engineering company (or at least they still think they are), but they don't provide any assistance with gaining a PE license. Management and leadership at the company is also abysmal. Engineers often don't make good managers, and many managers refuse to hire people more qualified than themselves. Additionally, much of the promoting and hiring within the company is entirely based on past professional and personal relationships, rather than being based on credentials and performance. Politics rule the day at this company. And if you're not a policitian, your options are limited. Nearly all employees are intiially hired on as contractors, and despite being told contract durations will only last around 6 months before being made permanent, many employees will see their contract status extended indefinitely"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Go away!!!! BV has serious management issues, and only tends to either promote the wrong people, or only hire insiders connected to other senior level employees at previous companies. In other words, the old problems that existed in other companies in the past continue to resurface at BV. Much of BV management relies on bullying and intimidation. In other words, a blast from the past, like something out of the tv series Mad Men."

What do you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"Some people tried to do the right thing even if they were loosing the battle"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Do not rely on what is presented in the interviews! Go elsewhere if you can!"

What don't you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"Poor ethical conduct by management. But, they held lower staff to a higher standard."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Break up the good ol' boy network! Hire professionals and let them do their work!"

"Bad Business Practices / Ethics"

What do you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"Locations, standard benefits and pay, some opportunities to travel and work on location."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"If you have other viable options, suggest that you pass on B&V. They have a lot of internal issues and no resolutions in sight."

What don't you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"Too much politics, not enough open communication between management and their professionals and hard work. B&V has issues with business ethics as well (probably because of all the politics that goes on), and while their recruiters try to make them appear current, B&V is old school across the board (total good ol' boys club)."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Become better listeners, treat your professionals like you would like to be treated: open and honestly and with respect and dignity. Less ego, more putting the job first."

"This company is diligent and reliable, trustworthy and organized."

"I think that this company is OK."

"It's a great place to work for."

"Black & Veatch is a very reputable company. They are known as the Cadillac of engineering firms."

What do you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"The company is focused on value creation and teamwork is vital to this focus."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Be sure to discuss how your skillset aligns with their growth objectives."

What don't you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"I can not think of any major drawbacks to working at B&V. I like it here."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"That is difficult to say. B&V is on track for impressive growth and they are doing a good job in growing it's work force without sacrificing the focus on value."

"I design power plants, do pipe stress analysis and construction interface."

What do you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"the culture and support is top notch and family oriented"

What don't you like about working at Black & Veatch?

"fluctuating work load and uncertain future regarding jobs with clients"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"keep staff better informed of changing contract issues with clientele"

"Worked for B&V from 2016 to 2019 when I was part of a world-wide layoff. Good company, but not sure of direction"