*warning* Dreadful company - Java Developer FDM Group Employee Review

1.0
Oct 17, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Access to certain jobs that don't necessarily have graduate programs.

Cons

I'm almost done with my two year jail period at FDM - and boy am I relieved. 1.) I received Java training, valued at 21,000 pounds, by someone who had completed the same course less than a year before. Think about this, you could do three masters programs, at the best universities in the world for this kind of price. Outrageous. You sign the contract before you've received any training, which they claim to be world class. 2.) You are treated like a child during the training. The account managers/sales teams are the champions of this organisation. They know nothing about technology - but boy, do they know how to sell cheap labour. 3.) Salary. You will earn less than a babysitter for two years. The cut you take from the client is in most cases less than 40%. That means you're working more for FDM Group, than you are for yourself. 4.) The contract. You have absolutely zero power, zero safety net. You can, legally, be kicked out at the discretion of FDM (i.e for no reason), and be forced to pay back over 20,000 pounds. It appears they generally like to settle out of court, but they hold this threat over your head for everything. You forget to send in your weekly timesheet one week? Guess what, you're breaking your contract - and they actually threaten you with disciplinary action! I've taken the contract to a few different lawyers - and they all say you would lose in court. The only way out appears to be family matters and health cases - they seem to be very fair in these cases. 5.) Third year - beyond your two years. After two years of telling me the client will hire me (this came from both sides of the table). FDM and the client have gone behind my back to agree a third year salary. They now say they can't hire me, FDM have made me an offer. It is lowball when you look at the average salaries you should be earning in this industry. They then told me this was non-negotiable and that they wouldn't pay market rates. Trust me. You do not want to join this company as a graduate. In our industry - if you accept such a low salary - guess what - you're indicating that you are a terrible tester, developer, PMO. It's a shame that they tend to pray on young graduates with little real world experience. I fell for it. These guys are expert sales people. Get everything in writing, question everything, if you don't, you WILL be burned.

Explore other reviews about FDM Group

5.0
Sep 29, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Will get opportunities to work with financial clients,

Cons

But only as a contractor.

1
1.0
May 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It is a job that pays.

Cons

They will promise you opportunities that don't exist. The company they contract you to will promise you work that you will not be assigned. I was a Java Consultant with a masters degree in Math and certificate in full stack and I was shoved into a manual testing position that required zero coding and constantly dangled automation in front of my face. When I was asked to look at Selenium, I studied it in some of the copious amounts of downtime i had and was reprimanded during the next meeting for 'wasting company time'. I moved from Texas to New Jersey for my first position. After contracts with the company were terminated, I was pulled off my assignment only to be abruptly fired for "lack of geoflexibility" despite willingness to move to several places they do business including NYC and even Denver. There is no accountability from them as the only response they give is "the decision is final". There is no way to appeal a blatant lie. Their company has no integrity and side with business majors over people that know how chemicals and physics and electrical components work just seem like bad life decisions. They will say you can reapply but they won't hire you. They'd full of it at every angle.

4
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All