software engineer

engineer

hardware engineer

clerical assistant

customer service representative

Ciena

Ciena is generally a good company to work for. My responsibility was, for the most part, internal auditing, documentation control, and business process improvement projects.

All of the people that I worked with, even while auditing them, were very knowledgeable, eager to share information with you, and were easy to work with. However, I can not say the same about my own department.

Our department consisted of approximately 7 people, most located here in Maryland and two out of the country. Everyone on our team  got along with the exception of one person. This person was a troublemaker, but unfortunately had more seniority because she was there longer then the rest of us on our team. She had zero people skills and was generally obnoxious. She bullied people within our team and others. If you were on her "bad side", you better watch out during your next audit because she would use her little bit of power to make your life hell with lots of audit findings. If she liked the department/group that she was auditing, she would give them better reviews. For instance, if there was an issue of nonconformity within an "approval process" in 1.) a group that she disliked and 2.) a group that she liked; only group #1 would have a right-up and group # 2 would not. She would pretend not see the discrepancy. This was clearly favoritism and not auditing objectively. 

She also displayed the same type of behavior within our own department. If she was not starting trouble by talking about all of us behind our backs and making up lies, she would go into our boss's office and say that we all do not know how to do our jobs and she constantly had to fix our mistakes. She would also go to our boss's boss and tell him that our boss did not know how to do his job and that she has to do all of his work. She would portray herself as a  martyr that sacrifices her life serving the company because everyone else was incompetent. She was allowed to set this tone of negativity within the team.

In any given conversation between her and anyone else, she would constantly refer to herself as "I' did this and "I' did that (this would literally be 15 instances of her stating "I" did this, etc). There was never "we" accomplished this or that, it was clearly all about her. Needless to say, she was very self-centered and set herself above everyone else. In her head she was the CEO of the business because he was also not doing his job.

During my first month of employment, I discovered that the previous quality team (with the exception of one = her) left the company and transferred to another - this should have been a red flag - A whole team including the manager got up and left, but left her there. Needless to say our team (I will refer to us as team #2) with the exception of our manager, left the organization to work for a different company as well. 

I'm not sure who is to blame - her or the management team that allowed her to behave that way. In some instances it even appeared as though they were intimidated by her?

 

•	Around 10 years of Total IT experience, including 8+ Years of working experience in Oracle Application E-Business Suite Versions R12/11i in multiple Oracle Application projects. 
•	Experience with underlying data model of GL, AP, AR, INV, PO, OM, MRP, HRMS and AOL.
•	Extensive working knowledge in Analysis, Design, Development, Documentation and Deployment.
•	Involved in implementation, Upgrade and Support of Oracle Applications E-Business Suite using SQL, PL/SQL, Developer Suite 10g, with hands-on experience of various RICE components and Workflow.
•	Hands on development of interfaces, Inbound and Outbound Conversions and used standard API’s. Expertise in development of Extensions to add additional validations and functionality to seeded oracle processes to meet the client's requirements.
•	Technically proficient in writing Procedures, Packages, Functions, Triggers, views, records, constraints, synonyms, indexes and other database objects using SQL and PL/SQL for validating the data loads
•	Experience managing technical quality deliverable/ resource/schedule/risks throughout the project, working extensively under onsite-offshore model using AIM Methodology. 
•	Good knowledge of System Administration with hands on experience in creating Users, Responsibilities, Request Groups, Menus, registering concurrent programs, defining Value sets and Descriptive Flex fields. 
•	Good knowledge of UNIX shell-scripting. 
•	Good knowledge working with version control tools
•	Strong analytical, interpersonal and troubleshooting skills and ability to work in a fast-paced and team-oriented environment.. Extensive experience in maintaining development plan, tasks allocation, task monitoring, establishing/monitoring quality process, study/audit of existing business process and preparation of issue logs, requirement gathering, user interaction, gap analysis, technical data mapping and analysis

Ciena wants attract and keep senior executives, top tier management leaders and engineers this is where they put the bulk of their compensation dollars (salary, highest bonus percentages, stock options, signing bonuses, etc.).  Mid-level management, professional, tech categories receive modest compensation in comparison to the industry. Categories below professional receive what is left of the compensation dollars and only basic benefits, lowest bonus percentages, no stock options, no signing bonuses, no relocation assistance. Ciena has one of the lowest 401(k) match percentages of any publicly traded company in the industry. Although the latest initiative of individual base salary compensation transparency has been hailed a success by the company the question remains did the Human Resources Department complete the process with a 
a review of  peer group categories to ensure fair and equal compensation in accordance with the initiative to each individual by their supervisor and take steps to rectify if the initiatives purpose and standards were not met? Ciena is strong on building the highest levels of products and services for its customers and returning large dividends to its stockholders (let us not forget total compensation to senior executives),  however the senior executives should stop looking at the mid-level and below employees as being "whiny and expendable" and step into the 21st Century!

Ciena is an ideal place to work. The company has great benefits and a great workplace culture but it all depends on which department you're in whether or not you get to take advantage of the benefits. For example, the company just incorporated flexible/unlimited paid time-off and some departments are empty on Fridays or when the weather is bad while other departments have an unspoken no time-off policy. So, it's difficult to find time to take lunch or go on interviews (internally or externally). The flex-time is based on the needs of the business and some departments are busier than others. Also, it seems like the managers were either promoted based on time in the company or their ability to do their job well. Most aren't good at managing people and some work environments are so competitive that managers won't even help other managers even if it would benefit the department or the company. I would recommend the company to any of my friends but it all depends on the department.

•	Provided Technical Support to CIENA customers on CoreStream, MultiWave 4000, Sentury, MultiWave 1600 and Metro DWDM equipment.
•	Responsible for testing new and upgraded remotely and at customers sites, determined correct equipment options and settings per customers needs and within CIENA guidelines to test.
•	Troubleshoot and maintain DWDM equipment.
•	Planed and coordinated with onsite technicians and customer Network Operation Centers to execute upgrades and repairs in a manner that minimizes disruption to customer traffic.
•	Provided onsite training to customers and other CIENA Technical Support Engineers in signal flow, test and troubleshooting procedures using optical test equipment as well as customers SONET equipment.
•	Submitted oral and written reports on progress, technical problems with recommendations for solutions, created and submitted MOP’s for testing and upgrade procedures to customers.
•	Reviewed CIENA technical documentation to ensure accuracy for release to customers.

Great place to work wonderful people to be around smart produtive peple. I love being at the desk meeting and greeting proseptive customer.

I answered the phone,greeted guest and check them in and gave the guest a pass to see who they need to meet with. Sorted the mail,coverd shipping and reciveing when the shipping and recieving clerk was out. I also recieved in packages at the front desk when it was need and documented them so we could keep track of them. Called cabs for guest when they need them.

The hardest part of my job was to keep guest form going up stairs without and escort.

The best part of my job was all the great people I worked worked with and also all the great people I got to meet. I really likded my job at Ciena.

Ciena was an amazing job for me after finishing college. The pay and benefits were amazing for a new grad hire. Training consisted mostly of watching videos and tagging along with other associates. Learning is done on the fly but the employees help one another when they can. Promotion and career advancement is tough in the tech support divisions (GTS). Even getting a spectacular review from your supervisor is no guarantee of more money or job security. Corporate is notorious for having periodic layoffs. Two months after receiving a favorable review I was laid off with others as part of its latest round of cost cutting measures.

My career at Ciena lasted 14 years.  It was a great place to work.  It was close to home and I met a lot of dedicated people.  I enhanced my Customer Service skills through interaction with colleagues around the world.  I worked for Managers who were supportive and enabled me to grow, taking on additional responsibilities. Together, we worked tirelessly to help Ciena evolve into the successful, global company it has become. I managed the out of warranty material, billing between 800k and 1.2 million per quarter.   The hardest part of the job was leaving.  The most enjoyable part of working for Ciena was the relationships that were built with my co-workers, who became friends.  They are a great group of people who made an impact on me.

If you want a job, you get it. The job will be making sure you let offshores do what they want to, maintain what's bad without comment, and approve even when you feel the lack of quality. You get paid. Lots of people who just want to just get into IT somehow, yes there is some small talented crowd, some teams good. These tho' get stuck with such industry novices. Quite some unprofessional managers who have been here long, and think they own the company, and can do as they please.

So if you have some good experience, you have much better options than here. Don't get your career offtrack, by joining here.

From the very first day on the job I was made to feel a part of a team with a clear concise and achievable goal every year. Management team empowered employees which led to continued success. In my tenure at Ciena I was able to further enhance my Supply Chain knowledge and broaden my skillset in other areas of transportation management. The company culture afforded individuals with opportunities to work from home when prudent. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the Global Logistics team members and transportation partners in providing the most efficient and cost effective the Global Supply Chain,

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Software engineer 3 salaries reported	$133,333 per year
Engineer 4 salaries reported	$130,250 per year
Hardware engineer 3 salaries reported	$135,333 per year
Clerical assistant 3 salaries reported	$1,750 per week
Customer service representative 1 salary reported	$20.50 per hour

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