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Northwest Administrators

Engaged Employer

Northwest Administrators reviews

2.3

22% would recommend to a friend

(264 total reviews)

Chris R. Hughes

9% approve of CEO

25% positive business outlook

Northwest Administrators has an employee rating of 2.3 out of 5 stars, based on 264 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Northwest Administrators employee rating is 38% below average for employers within the Financial Services industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

264 reviews
2.0
Nov 20, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Camaraderie: The best part about this job is the people you will meet. Everybody has a "we're all in this together" mentality and it allows you to develop close bonds with those who you work with. Because they recruit recent college grads, most people are around the same age, causing everybody have something in common. Low Stress: This is a strictly 8 to 5 job (hour unpaid lunch). You will never need to think about your work any other time except when you are at work. While at work, the atmosphere can occasionally be tense, however there is not much pressure put on you to meet deadlines unless you are really dragging your feet. A good platform: Though you are just a glorified data entry specialist, it is an easy to get., entry level job in a business environment. Also, it can be a great "waiting stage" to help pay your bills and provide decent benefits while you are looking for something better (taking tests, prepping for grad school, looking for more of a career type job, etc). This is what most people use it as (which leads to high turnover, which I'll talk about in "Cons"). Travel: Though this is both a Pro and a Con, I will mention the Pro part here. The job does offer travel to areas all around the US (even Guam!...though it'll take about 3 years seniority to get that one). These trips are completely funded by the company and this definitely provides a nice mix up from the typical office environment. Benefits: This job does offer better benefits than most other comparable entry level positions.

Cons

High Turnover: As mentioned previously, due to this job being used as a "waiting stage" it is very unusual for one employee to last longer than one year. The company has realized this high turn over and has created measures to punish those who leave quickly. If you are recruited it is likely that you must sign a one year contract on employment. You will also receive ZERO hours of vacation the first year and are not allowed to use paid sick days until after the first 3 months of employment. High turnover can be a positive because it allows you to gain seniority quickly, but with no room for career growth all it really improves is your likelihood of getting better trips. Travel (the bad): Though they advertise 60% travel, they should advertise 0% for the first 6 months and 10% (max) after that. You will work strictly as just a data entry specialist for your first 6 months (all in office), and will no receive proper training in field audits until after that time. Management also seems reluctant to hand out trips unless it's to their favorites, which leads to... Favoritism: Upon a few weeks of employment it becomes easy to recognize the favoritism that is present in the company. Certain employees get rewarded with much better projects, and more field audits not based upon merit. Distant upper management: Don't expect upper management to even acknowledge your existence most of the time. Usually they will only confront you to give some negative feedback (and it's usually presented passive-aggressively). Also, don't expect to feel like you are part of the company as a whole. This specific department seems segregated from the rest of the company often causing one to feel unwanted and inferior. No room for career growth: If you plan on staying with this company, be prepared for a slow growth through the ranks. This job provides little to no job growth and employees can often find themselves stuck at mid-level management positions with absolutely zero room growth after about 5 years. If you have not received a promotion after your first year and a half of work it is time to quit because upper management has decided they don't like you. Boring: Do not be fooled by the job description that they give. This job is nothing more than a glorified data entry specialist. It is not mentally challenging and if stuck on office projects, your job description is to basically to sit in front a computer and enter numbers all day. Basically the only thing that can get you through the day is with your relationships with co-workers and that fact that you are getting paid. 1950's style rules: Despite that fact that all you do is sit in front of a computer all day, it is still policy for men to wear slacks a button up shirt and a tie. Women have a bit more freedom, but not by much. You will be treated as if you are 5 years old when it comes to rules, so don't expect much in terms of leniency. Occasional Micromanaging: If you are tagged (fairly or unfairly) as a "non-trustworthy employee" be prepared to get micromanaged. You will basically have somebody breathing down your back all day long and you will feel guilty for going on your 15 minute paid company breaks, or for even going to the bathroom. However, on the opposite side of the spectrum if you are a favorite expect to have little to no supervision. Incentives: Currently there is very little incentive for doing a good job on your work. Good hard work often goes unnoticed by upper management and those who do poor work, but are favorites will often get rewards before those who do good work and are not favorites. However there has been great improvements in the supervisors being able to recognize and reward good hard work. Pay: Though recent college graduates do no expect to make as much money as they use to, this position still pays less than the industry average. If you live in Seattle area be prepared to live paycheck to paycheck.

1.0
Nov 16, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working indoors Fairly consistent hours Fairly decent pay Fairly decent health/vision/dental coverage Newer computer monitors Some supplies are furnished Floor mats furnished

Cons

Unprofessional, biased management Office rules that are not equally applied Dress code from the 50's Poor temperature control Water is terrible in the drinking fountain and from the kitchen "filtered" dispensers

1.0
Nov 9, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Its a good company for someone just out of high school (18-21 years old). There are a lot of coffee shops near by, as well as the bus line.

Cons

No positive feedback at all; don't worry, they love to deal out negative feedback. Most management have had ZERO professional training. Management has zero respect for the employees. Several instances where people felt threatened to take a day off because of illness, death in the family even death of a CHILD. I think this company forgets its not 1970. Men are inevitably treated better than women. I've never worked for a company where at least 80% of the employees are extremely overweight and unhealthy--and this company is suppose to sell MEDICAL insurance! Somehow there are people that have been there YEARS and I'm talking almost Fossil age. Either you work with your parent or someone dies and you get their job. The majority of businesses outside of the company doors know how bad it is inside and offer their 'condolences' when they run into you at lunch. Don't even think about having coffee on your desk--if you're not management, you can't have it. Don't get me started on water. Also, don't be surprised if you receive an email about 'Toilet Seat Covers' and how to use them properly: "one per person". I mean, really?!? They must feel their hardworking employees are 4 years old--in that case, child labor should be involved.

Viewing 259 - 261 of 264 Reviews

Glassdoor has 279 Northwest Administrators reviews submitted anonymously by Northwest Administrators employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Northwest Administrators is right for you.