Working at Kyndryl means joining a massive IT infrastructure firm in the midst of a significant cultural transformation. Spun off from IBM in 2021, the company is focused on building a new identity centered on empathy, speed, and customer devotion—known as 'The Kyndryl Way.' Employees often praise the global scale and technical complexity of the work, while also navigating the challenges of a large organization forging its own path. The experience combines the stability of a major enterprise with the energy of a company actively redefining its workplace culture, earning it consecutive Most Loved Workplaces® honors.

What is it actually like to work at Kyndryl?

Kyndryl was born from one of the largest corporate spinoffs in history. In late 2021, IBM separated its managed infrastructure services business to create Kyndryl, a new, independent public company and the world's largest IT infrastructure services provider. With approximately 80,000 employees operating in over 60 countries, the company designs, builds, and manages complex technology systems for thousands of enterprise clients, including 75 of the Fortune 100. The core of the employee experience is being part of this massive transformation—moving from the established, century-old culture of IBM to something new.

To define its new identity, leadership introduced "The Kyndryl Way," a cultural framework centered on three principles:

Restless: A drive for continuous learning and innovation, encouraging employees to challenge the status quo.
Empathetic: A focus on deeply understanding the needs of both clients and colleagues to foster collaboration.
Devoted: A profound commitment to shared success and delivering for customers.

This framework is not just a slogan; it's the benchmark for performance and behavior. The company’s success in implementing this new culture is reflected in its recognition as a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace® for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024). Employee sentiment analysis shows a SPARK Culture Score of 84/100, with particularly high marks for employee respect (90%) and authenticity (87%), indicating that the cultural shift is resonating with its workforce. Source: Most Loved Workplaces®, Kyndryl 2023 Annual Report

How does Kyndryl pay compare?

As a global technology services firm competing for top talent, Kyndryl aims for a competitive compensation structure. Salaries vary significantly based on role, experience, and location, but data suggests the company pays in line with or above industry averages for many technical positions. The package typically includes a base salary, and for many roles, performance-based bonuses or incentives tied to both individual and company goals.

Based on self-reported data from platforms like Glassdoor and Payscale, technical and managerial roles at Kyndryl are compensated competitively. For example, experienced IT Project Managers and Cloud Solutions Architects often report total compensation packages that meet or exceed the U.S. national median for similar roles. However, it's important to note that as a services-based business, compensation can be more heavily weighted toward base salary compared to product-led tech companies where equity can form a larger portion of the package.

Here’s how average self-reported salaries for a few key roles at Kyndryl compare to national medians in the United States:

Role	Kyndryl Average Salary (Self-Reported)	U.S. National Median Salary	Source(s)
IT Project Manager	$110,689 per year	$102,610 per year	Glassdoor, U.S. BLS
Cloud Solutions Architect	$154,342 per year	$140,544 per year	Glassdoor, Salary.com
Cybersecurity Analyst	$105,955 per year	$120,360 per year	Glassdoor, U.S. BLS
Network Engineer	$102,467 per year	$98,491 per year	Glassdoor, Salary.com

Candidates should view these numbers as estimates and verify specific salary bands for their desired role and location during the interview process. Source: Kyndryl Careers, Glassdoor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

What benefits and time-off does Kyndryl offer?

Kyndryl provides a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the financial, physical, and mental well-being of its global workforce. The offerings are localized to meet regional standards and expectations but are built around a core philosophy of flexibility and holistic support. In the United States, the benefits program, often referred to as "Be Kind," includes a suite of standard and progressive options.

Key components of the U.S. benefits package include:

Health & Insurance: A choice of medical, dental, and vision insurance plans. The company also provides life insurance, disability coverage, and health savings accounts (HSAs) with company contributions.
Retirement Savings: A 401(k) plan with a company match. Kyndryl typically matches 100% of employee contributions up to a certain percentage of their salary, helping employees build long-term wealth.
Time Off: A flexible vacation policy that combines vacation, personal days, and sick days into a single paid time off (PTO) bank, empowering employees to take time as needed. This is supplemented by company-wide holidays.
Parental Leave: The company offers paid parental leave for new parents, supporting mothers, fathers, and adoptive parents.
Flexibility & Wellness: Recognizing the importance of work-life balance, Kyndryl supports hybrid and remote work arrangements for many roles. The company also provides access to mental health resources, an employee assistance program (EAP), and various wellness initiatives and reimbursements.

These benefits are part of Kyndryl's strategy to attract and retain talent by investing in the overall well-being of its employees, a key factor in its recognition as a loved workplace. Source: Kyndryl Benefits & Careers Page

Culture, leadership, and DEI at Kyndryl

Culture is the centerpiece of the Kyndryl story. Under the leadership of CEO Martin J. Schroeter, the company has deliberately worked to create a "flatter, faster, and focused" organization, distinct from its IBM heritage. This transformation is driven from the top down and reinforced through daily practices. The 'Kyndryl Way'—Restless, Empathetic, Devoted—serves as the common language and value system for its 80,000 employees.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are integral to this cultural build. Kyndryl has established global inclusion networks and employee-led resource groups (known as KINs) to foster a sense of belonging for diverse communities. The company's commitment is backed by tangible actions and transparency. Kyndryl publishes an annual Diversity & Inclusion report detailing its workforce demographics, strategic pillars, and progress toward goals. For instance, the company has set public aspirations to increase female representation in executive roles.

This commitment is validated externally. Kyndryl has earned over 27 different workplace certifications for its efforts in fostering an inclusive environment, including specific recognition for supporting LGBTQ+ professionals, parents, and diverse talent pools. These certifications are not just badges; they represent audited proof of policies and practices that support a healthy workplace. Source: Kyndryl 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Report, CertCheck by Most Loved Workplaces®

The hiring and interview process at Kyndryl

Kyndryl's hiring process is designed to identify candidates who not only possess the requisite technical skills but also align with 'The Kyndryl Way.' The process is structured and can vary by role and region, but generally follows a multi-stage approach.

Application: Candidates apply through the Kyndryl Careers portal. The system uses AI to help match applicants with suitable open roles.
Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager reviews the application. This may be followed by a brief screening call to discuss the role, your experience, and your interest in Kyndryl.
Technical and Behavioral Interviews: This is typically a series of one-on-one or panel interviews. Technical interviews will assess your expertise in the relevant domain (e.g., cloud architecture, network services, cybersecurity). Behavioral interviews are equally important and will focus on your alignment with Kyndryl's values. Expect questions that probe your problem-solving style, collaborative abilities, and customer focus, framed as 'tell me about a time when...'.
Case Study or Technical Assessment: For some technical or consulting roles, you may be asked to complete a case study or a hands-on technical assessment to demonstrate your practical skills.
Final Interviews & Offer: The final stage often involves a meeting with a senior leader or department head. If successful, an offer is extended.

Candidates frequently report on Glassdoor that the process is professional and thorough. Interviewers are often described as being keen to understand a candidate's passion for technology and their potential to contribute to the new, more agile culture Kyndryl is building. Source: Kyndryl Careers, Glassdoor Interview Reviews

Career growth and learning at Kyndryl

Career growth at Kyndryl is framed around its 'Restless' cultural value—the constant pursuit of knowledge and improvement. The company invests heavily in upskilling and reskilling its workforce to keep pace with rapid technological change. A cornerstone of this effort is Kyndryl University, a comprehensive online learning platform offering thousands of courses, certifications, and learning paths from partners like AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, and more.

This platform allows employees to gain critical certifications in high-demand areas, directly linking learning to career advancement. The company also emphasizes a culture of continuous feedback and career development planning with managers. Because of Kyndryl's immense global scale, internal mobility is a significant advantage. Employees are encouraged to explore different roles, projects, and even geographies. With a presence in over 60 countries and service lines spanning every major industry, the opportunities to build a varied and long-term career are substantial.

The work itself provides a unique learning environment. Kyndryls manage some of the world's most complex and mission-critical IT environments, giving engineers, architects, and consultants exposure to challenges at a scale few other companies can offer. Source: CRN, Kyndryl and Microsoft launch innovation factory

Risks, criticisms, and what to watch

No workplace is without its challenges, and as a new public company born from a corporate carve-out, Kyndryl faces a unique set. Prospective employees should be aware of the context surrounding the company's transformation. When Kyndryl spun off from IBM, it inherited a business with declining revenues and lower profit margins, a fact well-documented in its initial SEC filings and financial reporting. The company's primary mission since day one has been to pivot toward higher-growth services, modernize its delivery, and achieve sustained profitability.

This transformation has involved significant restructuring, including workforce adjustments and a shift in business strategy away from lower-margin accounts. While necessary for long-term health, these changes can create uncertainty and pressure within the organization. The cultural shift from the deeply entrenched processes of IBM to the more agile 'Kyndryl Way' is a monumental task and an ongoing journey, not a finished project.

Candidates should see the opportunity and the challenge clearly: you are joining a company in the active process of turning itself around. This can be incredibly rewarding for those who thrive in dynamic environments and want to make a tangible impact, but it may be less comfortable for those seeking predictability and stability above all else. Source: Bloomberg, Kyndryl Investor Relations SEC Filings

Most Loved Workplaces® context

As a certified Most Loved Workplace®, Kyndryl is part of a global community of 1,800 certified companies representing 2.8 million employees. The research shows that this dedication to a positive and respectful culture pays dividends. Top-tier Most Loved Workplaces® see, on average, 4× higher revenue growth than their industry peers and benefit from 48% higher employee retention. This is driven by a deep sense of employee commitment; 92% of employees at Most Loved Workplaces® apply for roles when openings arise. Kyndryl's culture is analyzed through the SPARK framework, which evaluates Systemic Collaboration, a Positive Vision of the Future, Alignment of Values, Respect, and Kindness.

How we researched this report

This report was researched and written by the Best Practice Institute Editorial Staff. Our analysis is based on Kyndryl's public statements, SEC filings, official career and benefits information, reputable media coverage, and self-reported employee data from third-party platforms. For more on our approach, see our methodology.

What's It Really Like Working at Kyndryl?