Working at Kyndryl means being part of a massive IT services company that is intentionally shedding its legacy IBM culture. Since its 2021 spinoff, leadership has built a new framework called "The Kyndryl Way," emphasizing empathy, collaboration, and a restless drive for improvement. This effort is validated by its recognition as a Most Loved Workplace® and over two dozen other certifications. Employees benefit from working on large-scale, global projects within a culture that prioritizes continuous learning, psychological safety, and career development.

What is it actually like to work at Kyndryl?

Working at Kyndryl is an experience defined by its ongoing cultural transformation. When Kyndryl spun off from IBM in November 2021, it became the world's largest provider of IT infrastructure services overnight. Instead of simply carrying over the culture of its former parent, leadership made a deliberate choice to build a new identity from the ground up. This new identity is called "The Kyndryl Way," a framework built on being restless, empathetic, and devoted to client success. It aims for a flatter, more collaborative, and faster-moving organization.

The results of this cultural investment are measurable. Kyndryl was named a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace® in both 2023 and 2024. Independent analysis verifies this positive sentiment with a SPARK Culture Score of 84 out of 100, an employee respect score of 90%, and an authenticity score of 87%. These metrics suggest that employees genuinely feel the positive effects of the new culture. Day-to-day, this translates to working on mission-critical infrastructure projects for global clients in an environment that encourages cross-team collaboration and new ideas.

With nearly 90,000 employees in over 60 countries, Kyndryl offers the scale and complexity of a large enterprise but with a stated commitment to a more modern, human-centric way of working. The company's 27 different workplace certifications are a testament to this, signaling that policies and programs supporting inclusion, diversity, and employee well-being are not just talking points but are embedded in company operations.

Source: Most Loved Workplace®, Kyndryl Company Profile Source: Kyndryl, About Us

How does Kyndryl pay compare?

Kyndryl's compensation is designed to be competitive within the IT services industry. As a public company (NYSE:KD) spun from a legacy tech giant, its pay structures are generally formal and market-aligned, often including a mix of base salary, performance bonuses, and in some roles, equity.

Based on self-reported data from employees, salaries at Kyndryl for key technical and management roles are competitive with national averages. However, compensation can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and specific skill sets (e.g., expertise in high-demand cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud).

Role	Typical Kyndryl Salary Range (Self-Reported)	US National Median Pay (2023)
Project Manager (IT)	$91,000 - $152,000	$105,870
Solutions Architect	$125,000 - $196,000	$126,900 (Computer Network Architect)
Software Engineer	$89,000 - $148,000	$130,160 (Software Developer)

Sources: Glassdoor (self-reported, Feb 2024), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Beyond base salary, Kyndryl's compensation package includes performance-based incentives. This aligns with their cultural value of being "restless"—driving for results and rewarding employees who contribute directly to client success and company growth. When evaluating an offer, candidates should consider the total compensation package, including bonuses, health benefits, and retirement plans.

Source: Glassdoor, Kyndryl Salaries Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook

What benefits and time-off does Kyndryl offer?

Kyndryl provides a comprehensive benefits package focused on physical, mental, and financial well-being, reflecting its people-first cultural aspirations. The offerings are designed to support employees and their families across different life stages.

Key components of Kyndryl's benefits program typically include:

Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans. The company also offers programs focused on mental health support, including employee assistance programs (EAP) and access to wellness resources. This aligns with the cultural value of empathy.
Financial Well-being: A 401(k) retirement plan with a company match to help employees save for the future. Other financial resources may include life insurance, disability coverage, and health savings accounts (HSAs).
Flexibility & Time Off: Kyndryl supports flexible work arrangements, including hybrid and remote options depending on the role and business needs. The time-off policy includes paid vacation, holidays, and sick days to encourage work-life balance.
Parental Leave: The company offers paid parental leave for new parents, supporting employees during a critical family milestone.
Professional Development: Kyndryl invests heavily in employee skills, offering access to training, certifications, and educational resources through programs like Kyndryl University.

These benefits are a core part of the company's value proposition. By providing a strong support system, Kyndryl aims to create an environment where employees feel secure and valued, allowing them to focus on innovation and client service.

Source: Kyndryl Careers, Your Career With Us

Culture, leadership, and DEI at Kyndryl

Culture is Kyndryl's most intentional strategic asset. Under the leadership of CEO Martin J. Schroeter, the company has been vocal about creating a culture that is the antithesis of a slow, hierarchical bureaucracy. "The Kyndryl Way" is the operational framework for this, guiding behavior and decisions.

Its core principles are:

Restless: A drive for continuous improvement and a constant search for better solutions for clients and the company.
Empathetic: Understanding the needs of clients and colleagues to build stronger relationships and deliver better outcomes.
Devoted: A deep commitment to client success that builds lasting partnerships.

This is more than a poster on the wall. Kyndryl's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is one of the most visible proofs of its cultural investment. The company has earned 27 distinct workplace certifications, including recognition for being a top employer for LGBTQ+ Equality, a top diversity employer, and an inclusive workplace. These certifications require rigorous audits of policies, training, and outcomes, demonstrating a systematic commitment to building a healthy workplace for all employees.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are a vibrant part of the culture, providing communities for women, LGBTQ+ employees, veterans, people with disabilities, and other affinity groups. These groups offer networking, mentorship, and leadership opportunities, playing a key role in integrating employees into the global organization and fostering a sense of belonging.

Source: CertCheck, Kyndryl Verified Certifications Source: Kyndryl, 2023 ESG Report

The hiring and interview process at Kyndryl

The hiring process at Kyndryl is designed to assess technical skills, business acumen, and, crucially, cultural alignment with "The Kyndryl Way." While the exact steps can vary by role and region, candidates can generally expect a multi-stage process.

Online Application: Candidates apply through the Kyndryl Careers portal.
Recruiter Screening: An initial conversation with a recruiter to discuss your background, experience, and motivations, and to confirm your alignment with the role's basic qualifications.
Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager to explore your experience, problem-solving approach, and how you would fit into the team.
Technical/Panel Interviews: For technical roles, this stage involves one or more interviews with team members to assess your technical expertise. This may include technical questions, case studies, or whiteboarding exercises. Behavioral questions focused on past projects are common.
Final Round & Offer: The final stage may involve an interview with a senior leader. Successful candidates will then proceed to the offer stage.

Throughout the process, interviewers will look for evidence of the core cultural values. Be prepared to share examples of when you have been "restless" (driven improvement), "empathetic" (understood a customer's real need), and "devoted" (saw a project through to success). Asking thoughtful questions about how mistakes are handled, how cross-team collaboration works in practice, and how leadership supports employee development will demonstrate your own alignment with this culture.

Source: Glassdoor, Kyndryl Interview Reviews Source: Kyndryl Careers

Career growth and learning at Kyndryl

Career growth at Kyndryl is centered on continuous learning and reskilling. In the fast-evolving IT infrastructure space, the company's success depends on its employees' ability to master new technologies. Kyndryl makes significant investments to ensure its workforce stays ahead of the curve.

Kyndryl University is the flagship platform for learning and development. It provides access to a vast library of online courses, hands-on labs, and learning paths. The curriculum is closely aligned with business strategy, focusing on high-demand areas like cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity, and data services.

The company has strategic partnerships with major technology providers, including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. This allows employees to pursue and obtain valuable industry certifications (e.g., Azure Administrator, AWS Solutions Architect, Google Cloud Engineer) with company support. This investment not only benefits the employee's career but also enables Kyndryl to provide certified expertise to its clients.

Internal mobility is another key aspect of career growth. As a global organization with diverse service lines, Kyndryl encourages employees to explore different roles, projects, and even geographies. Employees who participate actively in ERGs or volunteer for cross-functional projects often gain visibility and networks that lead to new opportunities, from technical promotions to moves into program management or client advisory roles.

Source: Kyndryl, Skilling the Workforce of the Future

Risks, criticisms, and what to watch

While Kyndryl's cultural transformation is a compelling story, candidates should approach an opportunity with a balanced perspective. Every large-scale transformation comes with challenges.

Spinoff Complexity: As a spinoff, Kyndryl is still in the process of untangling decades of legacy systems, processes, and mindsets inherited from IBM. While the new culture is the goal, some teams or departments may still operate in older ways. Candidates should ask specific questions in interviews to understand the dynamics of the team they are joining.
The Challenge of Scale: In a company of nearly 90,000 people, employee experience can be inconsistent. The corporate culture may be excellent, but the day-to-day reality is heavily influenced by your direct manager and immediate team. The positive sentiment scores are an aggregate; your mileage may vary.
Industry Pressures: The IT infrastructure services market is highly competitive and operates on tight margins. This can create a high-pressure environment focused on efficiency and cost management. This is the reality of the industry, but it's an important factor to consider for work-life balance.

Employee reviews often praise the company's direction and focus on people but sometimes mention lingering bureaucracy or slow decision-making as areas for improvement. This is a common challenge for any organization of this size and is a key part of the transformation Kyndryl is actively working to overcome.

Source: Financial Times, "Kyndryl chief says IT group is on track with IBM recovery" Source: Glassdoor, Kyndryl Employee Reviews

Most Loved Workplaces® context

Kyndryl's recognition as a Most Loved Workplace® is backed by data from the 2.8 million employees across the 1,800 certified companies worldwide in the Best Practice Institute research network. Analysis shows that top-tier Most Loved Workplaces® experience 4× higher revenue growth compared to their industry peers and benefit from 48% higher employee retention. Furthermore, 92% of employees at Most Loved Workplaces® apply for roles when openings arise, indicating a strong internal talent pipeline. The certification is based on 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 news, data from the Most Loved Workplaces® certification process, and aggregated data from reputable third-party sources. For more on our approach, see our methodology.

What It's Really Like to Work at Kyndryl