Adobe is considered one of the quintessential global employers.
Part of the San Jose counterculture, the big “A” is synonymous with creativity.
Its positive and inclusive corporate culture, impressive compensation plans, and embarrassingly generous perks apply to almost all employees.
In fact, according to the jobs platform Glassdoor, Adobe rated 4.4/5.
This rating was based on thousands of anonymous employee reviews.
In fact, over 88% of these employees would recommend the company to a friend.
And 85% had a positive outlook on the business.
But every company has its do’s and don’t, good and bad.
So, what really are the pros of working for Adobe?
Table of Contents
Pros of Working for Adobe
1. Competitive salaries
People say salary doesn’t matter.
But it absolutely does.
And working for Adobe has some definite advantages.
Adobe insists on an outstanding compensation program package with unheard-of fluff.
This applies to customer-facing sales and service, software developers, or artists.
2. Lots of gravy
The little things draw people to Adobe.
Most companies offer a few quirky benefits, like pizza Friday or jeans at work.
These are known as perks and make office life enjoyable.
Fun or convenient, they don’t add tangible value.
Adobe goes one step further.
Highly desired company incentives include a campus cafeteria and wellness, e-bike rental, or gym membership reimbursements.
The company also supports tuition – helping employees achieve their personal goals.
3. A diverse campus
Adobe is a global corporation with over 29,000 employees and 70 locations worldwide.
Over 40% are women, even at the executive level, and 47% are minorities.
Adobe epitomizes the diversity of backgrounds and cultures, adding creative strength to the company.
One of the leaders in social policy, Adobe recognizes the benefit of an inclusive workforce with countless job opportunities.
There is even the possibility of transfer to other states and dozens of international locations.
4. Interns rule
Adobe is one of the premier spots for internships.
Research, engineering, sales and marketing, and graduate-level MBAs are highly recruited internships.
According to the Adobe website, the company offers the chance to “explore opportunities to create connections and build skills … by [offering] internships throughout the company.”
The stated purpose of an intern is to let the next generation “do mission-critical work…building a one-of-a-kind career.”
And these amazing opportunities are paid – well.
Obviously, these internships are competitive.
However, those that are accepted have a higher chance of a job offer upon graduation.
5. Update skills
Adobe’s commitment to professional development permeates its corporate culture.
Employees are encouraged to update their skills or learn a new language.
Many experience new things, discover meditation, or add a degree.
Opportunities abound for advanced training and certification courses.
Tuition reimbursement is also offered, enhancing workforce advancement.
The ultimate goal – happy employees.
6. Flexibility
Adobe values quality.
Their software sits on almost every computer.
Unsurprisingly, they want to encourage success over hours served and flexibility over archaic expectations.
Achievement is more important than location.
That’s why Adobe offers employees flexibility.
For most positions, Adobe recognizes the ongoing benefit of home offices, telecommuting options, and compressed schedules.
7. Top Talent
You shine if you’re at Adobe.
But so does everyone else.
Luckily, Adobe values its workforce – providing a sumptuous package to attract top talent.
They pioneered inclusive corporate culture and expressive communication.
Authentic concern for its nearly 29,000 employees is a cornerstone of corporate policy.
But why is work happiness important?
No one wants to go to a place that makes them miserable.
Happy people enjoy going to work.
They are invested.
And the company is better off.
Anyone who has looked for a job knows that the perfect job rarely falls into your lap.
Just like shopping for jeans, it takes time to find the perfect fit.
So if you want to join a sprawling company like Adobe, take a deep breath.
It may be a long process.
And while they offer fantastic benefits, they may also provide some unique and surprising challenges.
Cons of Working for Adobe
1. Exclusively Adobe
Unbelievably, over 90% of the world’s professionals use Adobe products.
The premier Adobe software suite, Creative Cloud, offers over a dozen unique software products.
And depending on your job, Photoshop, Illustrator, or even Acrobat fluency may be required.
But if learning new information on the fly is hard for you, then working for a tech company may be limiting or downright frustrating.
2. Long, long hours
Adobe is constantly evolving to stay ahead of the competition.
While you probably won’t be sleeping under your desk or working in your PJs, multi-year projects require long hours of research and development.
And for some, highly stressed work environments may not be a good fit.
Employees may feel their concerns are ignored or their workload is unreasonable.
And if you are not used to a high-pressure environment, it is easy to misinterpret or even miss support from managers.
3. Detailed work
Have you ever heard the old phrase, “good enough for government work?” Not at Adobe.
The mantra in San Jose may be closer to “better than best.”
Many will say that it’s only “software.”
But Adobe has the reputation of being one of the best.
The commitment to detail is evident in their products.
And the company expects the same dedication from its employees.
Don’t be surprised if deadlines interfere with immediate plans or family time.
4. Insanely competitive
Adobe’s software is beloved.
In the latest estimates, 90% of the world’s creative professionals use Adobe products.
So yes, they can be incredibly picky.
Many employees start as paid high school and college interns early in their careers.
But is getting a job at Adobe impossible?
No.
Just understand that all positions at Adobe require education and experience.
5. Nothing but your best
Adobe expects a lot from its employees.
When you are one of the top texh-xentrix software companies, you have to ask for drive and dedication from your employees.
And with top talent and a generally competitive environment, it is unsurprising that the company has high demands.
Some employees may feel that the company’s desire to succeed is unreasonable.
Or that it is driven by greed.
They may view performance quotas or deadlines as undue pressure.
6. Rules are everywhere
An inclusive corporate culture doesn’t mean a lack of rules.
At the very least, running a billion-dollar colossus like Adobe requires organization.
And there are entire teams that design and detail policies covering every aspect of corporate life.
Supposedly, this structure contributes to a more enlightened corporate culture.
But if you cringe just thinking about a highly regulated environment, a tech company like Adobe may not be your perfect job.
7. A surprising level of security
Corporate espionage is everywhere.
There are countless stories of high-tech intellectual property theft.
People and products must be protected.
We may not think about it, but the next greatest audio editor or mobile design application could potentially be worth billions of dollars.
And safeguarding this information is a full-time job.
At Adobe, the security is subtle but substantial.
At the very least, there are procedures for maintaining passwords and tracking security badges.
But the top secret areas for select projects are the coolest.
14 Pros and Cons of Working for Adobe – Summary Table
| Pros of Working for Adobe | Cons of Working for Adobe |
|---|---|
| 1. Competitive salaries | 1. Exclusively Adobe |
| 2. Lots of gravy | 2. Long, long hours |
| 3. A diverse campus | 3. Detailed work |
| 4. Interns rule | 4. Insanely competitive |
| 5. Update skills | 5. Nothing but your best |
| 6. Flexibility | 6. Rules are everywhere |
| 7. Top Talent | 7. A surprising level of security |
Should You Work for Adobe?
If who you work for is crucial, Adobe is a good choice.
A San Francisco Bay area icon, this hi-tech software company is synonymous with one-of-a-kind content creation and management.
Their software is used in video, photo, and audio editing.
They have software that is the standard for publishing layout and design.
And, of course, they are PDF gurus.
Best estimates, over 30 million subscribers worldwide use their software.
Adobe is traded on the NASDAQ.
Its stock symbol is ADBE.
At last estimate, Adobe was worth over $170 billion.
But Adobe may not fit your needs.
Find out if the corporate culture fits with your needs and values.
Review compensation policies and additional benefits for your particular skill.
Try a few general online searches.
You can check company pages and job reviews on Indeed, Monster, and Glassdoor.
This will give you an idea of overall employee satisfaction.
If you are near northern California, you could attend an open house in San Jose – the company headquarters.
Remember, snagging a job with a global frontrunner, where you can grow and are appreciated, requires a bit of effort.
