Don’t come unless your don’t have other choices. - Software Engineer Michaels Employee Review

1.0
Apr 5, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

1. Most of the engineers here are smart. You could learn a lot from them. 2. You could learn a lot given that you have to wear so many hats. 3. You got a lot of say on the tech stack you’re using, cause the management don’t care about tech.

Cons

1. CIO is an absolute dictator on how every single product should look or feel. He pretty much micro-managed every team and thought everyone was stupid other than himself. 2. All the existing managers are bootlickers to the CIO. Whoever dare to say no to the CIO either left the company or being isolated from touching any projects. 3. Some of the tech managers don’t even understand the technology needed to build the product. All they will ask is - can you do it and how fast can you get it done? When it comes to meeting, due to not knowing the tech, they sometimes throw you under the bus because they want to make sure their job is secure. 4. No process, no test and no documentation. You’re on your own if you don’t make friends. 5. Things change everyday. There is no set requirement whatsoever. All your hard work is nothing if the CIO doesn’t like it. 6. If they bring up a new requirement today, they expect you to finish it tomorrow. Deadline? There is no deadline, cause you’re supposed to work 24*7. 7. Extremely stressful work atmosphere all the time. CIO will openly embarrass you if you are a nay sayer.

Explore other reviews about Michaels

5.0
Feb 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Had a really lovely recruiter w/ clear email communication back and forth. Process was a phone screen followed by an interview.

Cons

Interviewers were slightly late to the interview. Lots of technical questions, no leetcode style ones though.

2.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some great co-workers, employee discount, on site office benefits including a gym and cafe for breakfast/lunch, full suite of employee benefits at reasonable prices

Cons

Ridiculous amount of stress. Retail in general is often stressful but the amount of stress at Michaels is unnecessary and over the top. Constant last-minute changes by leadership to creative, promotions, products, and any other kind of changes. Things will be finalized and signed off on and delivered, and somebody will make a change at the last minute and things are constantly having to be redone. People are worn down and worn out. It’s the highest turnover rate of any place I’ve worked in retail at the corporate office. I’ve seen people take jobs and be gone within weeks. Leadership in some departments are extremely micromanaging and controlling even with employees that are tenured and have multiple years of experience. The stress level for both tenured and new employees is very high. Projects get discussed over and over and over again, decisions are made and then revisited again after decisions were made making delivery late and causing people to work unnecessarily in order to fix things that could’ve been done correctly the first time. The company tries really hard to make the workplace fun and offer activities, motivation, and incentives. Unfortunately they don’t offset what the environment is like working inside with some of the teams and expectations to actually deliver the work. Would not recommend.

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