ENGINEERS: USE ALTEN AS A STEP UP, ANYONE ELSE: STAY AWAY - Recruitment ALTEN Employee Review

1.0
Jan 14, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

They throw a nice Christmas party and also a fun annual staff getaway (which is not a huge pull in the current climate) Swanky office in the City (Not really a pull in the WFH situation) Free coffee Some great head office staff members

Cons

No transparency : in regards to the role, responsibilities, expectations or performance. Continuous movement of goal posts to suit their needs. No reasonable benefits such as a season ticket loan or any work from home arrangements. (Prior to the pandemic and probably will go back to normal once they return to offices) They make it seem like there are 24 days of holiday but in fact it is 20 days of statutory and 4 days reserved ONLY for the Christmas period. Consultants and even head office staff are discriminated against on age, citizenship and education. The ageism at the organisation is frankly appalling. First thing they like to do is figure out how old someone is by looking at the education on the CV. Salaries: Well below the market rate but will try to entice you in with a bonus which is great if you get it but "potential" bonuses do not pay the day to day bills. When the HR Manager resigns due to working culture during a mass redundancy process, I believe it highlights a fundamental issue within the organisation. Revolving door is a better word to describe this company because well, if anyone stays longer than a year or two, it is frankly a miracle.

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ALTEN Response
5y
Thank you for you review. We are striving to create a collaborative and inspiring environment for all our employees so I am sorry to hear you feel that way. As a growing company, receiving feedback is a priority in order to ensure a long lasting development and we will continue to find ways to improve. I would like to address a few of your specific points here. No transparency: on top of the description of the role and responsibilities from the recruitment process and during the induction, each recruiter is provided with a yearly target letter that defines the performance expectations. This letter can be reviewed once a year to best reflect the needs of the business. If the expectations are not clear, there is always the opportunity to discuss it one to one with your lie manager. No reasonable benefits: depending on what people consider as “reasonable”, Alten provides a private medical insurance, a pension scheme, a travel insurance, a maternity cover, a long-term sickness cover, a cycle to work scheme to name a few. Working from home was indeed not part of our practises before the pandemic, however we have now obviously implemented it and I am sure you will understand that it is not your place to speculate on what the company intends to do in the future on that topic. Holidays: in the UK it is perfectly legal (and common practise) for employers to request their employees to take holidays if and when their offices are closed. So we don’t make it “seem like” we offer 24 days of holidays, our employees actually do get 24 days of holidays. The number of days we request our employees to take over Christmas varies from one calendar year to the other. Discrimination: if you were the witness or victim of any form of discrimination, I invite you to contact our HR team immediately so that we can launch an investigation. These allegations are serious and we do not take them lightly. Working culture: speaking in the name of someone who left the company to speculate about the culture is not something that we can take seriously and answer to. If you have any specific comments on the working culture from your point of you, I’ll be more than happy to receive and consider them. Finally, we appreciate your advice to management but this, once again, cannot be taken seriously considering the lack of accuracy of your statements. To be very factual, today the people operating under a V.I.E contract are coming from different areas (France, Spain, Italy, Greece) and they represent less than 5% of our headcount. We actually pride ourselves in being a very multicultural organisation, having more than 35 different nationalities in the company. In a nutshell, I can see that most of these topics are the fruit of a lack of communication and misinformation about the company. I actually identify this as an improvement opportunity. Your review tells me that: although Alten is striving to make sure all necessary messages, processes and policies are communicated on the most accurate way, it seems important to keep on getting better at it. On the longer run, I would advise you to tackle any issue/frustration at its ignition so that it does not become disproportionate.

Explore other reviews about ALTEN

5.0
Jun 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I have been with the company for several years and have had a very positive experience overall. The company offers strong opportunities for career growth, especially for employees who are proactive, take ownership, and consistently deliver results. Internal mobility and leadership opportunities are available for those looking to advance their careers. Compensation is competitive within the industry, and performance is generally recognized and rewarded. While there is always room for improvement, I feel that the company provides fair compensation and good opportunities to increase earnings through career progression. Management is supportive and accessible. As with any growing organization, I have found leadership to be committed to employee development and business success. There is a strong entrepreneurial culture that encourages initiative and accountability. One of the biggest strengths of the company is the variety of projects and clients. Employees have the opportunity to work across different industries, technologies, and business environments, which helps accelerate professional development and keeps the work interesting. Pros: * Strong career development opportunities * Diverse and challenging projects * Supportive and entrepreneurial culture * Exposure to a wide range of industries and clients Overall, I would recommend this company to professionals looking for growth, responsibility, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Cons

Fast-paced environment that requires adaptability High expectations for performance and ownership

3.0
Jun 17, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

• Talented employees who genuinely care about customers, consultants, and each other. • Strong technical expertise and exposure to large, complex client programs. • Opportunity to learn resilience, problem-solving, and how to operate in challenging environments. • Significant growth potential if organizational barriers can be addressed. • Many good people working hard to achieve success despite limited resources.

Cons

• Decision-making is often highly centralized and slow, limiting agility and responsiveness to market realities. • Leaders are frequently held accountable for ambitious growth objectives without corresponding authority, resources, or support. • Heavy emphasis on activity tracking, reporting, and process can outweigh focus on outcomes and execution. • Limited willingness to challenge long-standing practices, even when market conditions or employee feedback suggest change is needed. • Leadership diversity and diversity of thought remain opportunities for improvement. • Employee concerns are not always translated into meaningful action, which can contribute to disengagement and turnover.

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