Rakuten reviews

- As has been said Mikitani, or "Miki Miki" as everyone in Tokyo calls him is a narcissist - Mikitani? Reading his "books" was like reading a novel on common sense - Technical leaders and management are not qualified, out of date, and/or clueless - Layer, upon layer, upon layer of bureaucracy - Management and leaders have a complete and utter fear of failure - Did I mention the books you are supposed to read? - Horrid salary - On that note, used car sales style offers (e.g. if you rank in the top of the top you could make "X" with salary + bonus - Impossible to make lofty goals that are simply unclear and are tied to bonus mentioned above - Projects destined to fail - Management making decisions on technology without understanding - No clear corporate direction, for instance in Japan Rakuten is not only "Amazon" (or it wants to be when it grows up) but it is (in Japan) JCB, Docomo, Resona Bank, etc.. In other words loss of focus on core competencies. - Literally during orientation (again in Tokyo) you are almost forced to change your bank (to Rakuten), told not to order from Amazon, told to get a credit card (Rakuten), change phones (Rakuten), etc. - As mentioned above no Japanese requirement but wouldn't it be nice in Tokyo to have classes on basic Japanese so when/if you take a job you can at least go to the dentist, doctor, restaurants, etc. alas no classes offered from the organization paid - or otherwise.

--> The list is long and hence listing the few --> Allround talent and software development skills are very low --> Some folks who don't know how to build a service sit in Japan and dictate what needs to be created etc., --> Mostly run by Japs with 10+ yrs in company with zero skills. They work 10+ hours to prevent any improvement/change --> I saw some bright/young employees but they are forced to do brain-dead work --> Most managers and senior folks kill their time from 9am to 6 pm, just moving from 1 room to other room for meetings. There is no need to work for many of them --> They hire PJMs and Product Managers and make them do very menial and meaningless work In a nutshell, Rakuten in Asia and Japan claims as a Global company but they are not. If one works for more 1 yrs, a true death trap that you can't get a job elsewhere and hence had to leave in a hurry. It is mostly a matter of time that this company could degenerate but for the Japanese protective policy and some smart eggs in the top. Except for global CFO and CIO, everyone else in Exec line almost consistently make no sense.