Pros
CIGNA is a company with vision thriving in an environment where it's competitors have no direction. As an employee, I have had several opportunities for advancement and growth. In an 8 year career with CIGNA, starting at "the bottom", I've been able to work my way up and have been promoted 5 times. CIGNA is a company that fosters professional growth through tution reimbursement and through it's intensive library of internal training materials (through CIGNA University) in a vast range of topics. CIGNA also offers a service called Books 24 x 7, which allows employees to access digital copies of books on buisness, information technology, human resources, and personal well-being topics. CIGNA has a dedicated middle-management staff concerned about their employees. CIGNA provides ample time off (2 weeks of vacation when you are first hired, with the option to purchase a third week through payroll deduction, and they give you an extra week of paid vacation once you reach 5 years of employment). Benefits provided are well-rounded (including medical, dental, pharmacy and vision insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and various dependant care plans), although it is important to know that CIGNA employee benefits are not richer simply because CIGNA is an insurance company. Like most companies, employee costs for insurance benefits have increased in the last decade as overall health care costs in the United States have become more expensive. Information Technology professionals at CIGNA will find an environment that fosters innovative thought, although administative "red tape" barriers are cumbersome. CIGNA is a company with innovative programs and anyone considering employment can be assured that hard work at CIGNA can result in a very satisfying career.
Cons
CIGNA departments tend to exist without proper communciation levels that can lead to headaches. Newer leadership is doing a better job battling this challenge, but CIGNA has a way to go. Information Technology (IT) professionals will quickly learn that "red tape" surrounds their jobs. Most IT professionals prefer spending time doing IT tasks, but CIGNA IT professionals typically find that about 15% of their time is spent focused on jumping through administrative hoops. Application development at CIGNA requires a significant amount of planning, and securing funding for large projects requires employees to prove that their project will result in hard-dollar savings. Minor application changes require approval by senior IT leadership, so the process can challenge the patience of even the most level-headed IT pro. All-in-all, don't let these downsides discourage you from working for CIGNA. These challenges are far outweighed by the benefits as long as the salary meets your needs!
