Cogent Communications Employee Reviews for Anonymous Employee

"This company does not value their employees, nore their customers. They are stuck in the mentality of a micromanagement environment."

"5 years of sales closing 6 figure deals."

"I've worked for Cogent Communications since 2017 as a NAM (National Account Manager). Cogent's service offering is in the bullseye of the commodity play so it's always about price, price, price. Per the three sales segments, the RAM segment (Regional Account Manager) is a good opportunity for a person with little or no sales / technical experience to get their feet wet with a lower level of tech sales. In all three sales segments, you do get a long ramp but I wouldn't recommend the other two segments - NAM and GAM (National Account Manager Global Account Manager). These two positions are dying on the vine due to what is a very heavy market saturation within the most commoditized part of the tech sector with the net effect being that 98% of the prospects you try to work are already being worked by another Cogent rep."

"I worked as intern and overall it was a decent experience"

"Good company to get your foot into the telecom industry."

"Great place to work, uncapped earning potential within the sales group. Great benefits."

"Not very good experience. CEO is very nice and helpful though."

"OK company. Needs to be more structured."

"The job would be better with marketing and a clear direction on how to be successful."

"the truth hurts"

What do you like about working at Cogent Communications?

"There is some upside potential in compensation but as they constantly change the rules of the employment contract (which they will never let you have a counter-signed copy of your own document) it's tough to sue them. Suffice to say, HQ looks out for itself, and if you find an untapped market to work, they quickly snuff it out by giving it to others which they favor and haven't been as successful as you in making sales."

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

"Avoid it unless you need a job. Take the job BUT never quit looking AND - Never turn your back on anyone as they allow clients and customers you've cultivated for years to be taken from you at the drop of the hat."

What don't you like about working at Cogent Communications?

"- Constantly redoing the comp package (4x from Jan to May in 2007). - Sales force turnover - Lack of Pacific & Latin Am market desire to satisfy customers total needs.- Lack of creative thinking...- EVERYTHING IS DONE ON THE CHEAP - Dave Shaffer (CEO & owner) doesn't want to spend HIS MONEY except w/ Sr. Leadership, who use Cogent stock options as their personal piggy banks. - Horrible moral problem since sales folks don't get all the options and the same terms to exercise the few one gets that Sr Exec get - constantly making money on the backs of the constantly threatened sales force (30 days or you're out of here)- No business development. Network development folks don't know the different companies and associated executives and thus are financially taken"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"- Change the sales quota formula from monthly to semi-annually or annually. this would retain many sales people which would then cut OpEx with the constant recruiting and training costs.- VP-Sale/Chief Revenue Officer load the force with his friends let go from his former company (MCI/UUNET). They owe him! Thus they're all yes men and Cogent is on the same path as MCI/UUNET."