On the surface, this makes sense: if you add people and offices around the country really quickly, its difficult to quickly scale training, quality control, and good hiring practices. Finding an internship as a Ph.D. student is hard.
Whats it like working at Momentum Solar? A far cry from the multi-table, multi-recruiter teams with tons of free swag to give away like Exxon and Shell, Momentum Solar had a table with some flyers, business cards, and one recruiter. High quality companies either grow at a sustainable pace, or are happy to limit their operations to a small geographic area. Momentum Solar is a Wonderful Place to Work if You Are Dedicated. Here are some things I found out after looking up the licenses for Momentum: In Florida, a roofing contractor for Momentum Solar was cited for a license violation in 2009. The pay is sub par and the bonuses are not promised. The rules get a little confusing, but you can look up the requirements for your state at the IREC website. If Momentum installed only average sized systems, their installations in 2019 would be equivalent to 14,000 home systems. Recognized by Inc. 500 as one of the fastest-growing private companies, Momentum Solar employs over 2,000 people nationwide. After hearing this pitch, we toured the office, which, while full of diligent employees in front of huge screens, also boasts two ping pong tables and a darts board.
vastu anand 19t19 culture Learn how your comment data is processed. New staff get thorough training and seminars to help them become productive quickly. This is the Momentum Solar company profile. In addition, the benefits provided to employees are substantial. Most often, this will be either a general contractor license, an electrician license, or a solar PV license. They do a lot of training which doesnt help and its repetitive. Also the 3rd week is in the office and supervisor is negative, everyday I heard if you don't make that's how the chips fall there's other jobs out there. Still have a solar question? For its employees to realize their full potential, management must invest time and resources in upgrading their skills. They were ranked on the Inc. 5000 most successful companies in 2016 (with 250 employees), Inc. 500 fastest growing companies in 2017 (700 employees), and Inc. 5000 most successful again in 2018 (950 employees). Does this mean that you should ignore it if youre thinking of hiring Momentum Solar? energy,
Momentum continues to grow, regularly setting and breaking records. Originally from Chicago, she is a die-hard Cubs (and deep dish pizza) fan.
I had a good experience with them and would suggest them to anybody else. Your email address will not be published. Keep that in mind before you decide to hire them, or any of the large national solar installers. Momentum helpfully lists their contractor license information on their website, but you can usually look up a company by their name as well. I came away from my conversation not exactly sure what I would be doing if I worked there, but excited about joining a small, quickly growing company founded in sustainability. What is the best part of working at Momentum Solar? What is the best way to finance solar panels? So I took a chance not knowing and now I'm sitting here jobless with a family to feed. What is the promotion process like at Momentum Solar? It may be difficult to complete the training. Ask a question about working or interviewing at Momentum Solar. Furthermore, the firm provides a suitable working atmosphere for its staff. We operate in New Jersey, New York, California, Florida, Texas. However, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, consistent quality is a hard to achieve in very large companies like this. Because of these numerous issues, Momentum Solar isnt a company thats included in The Solar Nerd network of installers. I would say definitely not. How often do raises occur at Momentum Solar? Training new hires should be a long-term objective. how to hire the right installer, and save money with rebates. Employee communication is an issue that must be addressed. Momentum Solar has faced two discrimination lawsuits by employees. Their jobs were safeguarded during the Covid outbreak.
Are solar leases or PPAs a good or bad idea? And if you don't have it word for word within 3 weeks they let you go. One is a class action lawsuit by consumers in Pennsylvania for alleged telemarketing violations. The training method may be challenging to complete. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Base salary and great benefits are perks, plus gas mileage, but none of that makes up for not getting paid the industry standard. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Momentum Solar, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. New recruits receive extensive training and seminars to help them hit the ground running. They're an excellent place for an individual to begin. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Momentum Solar. The company has an inclusive culture and so I dont worry about fitting in.Read More. According to Solar Power World, Momentum installed almost 90 megawatts of solar panels last year. What I remember most was his message that they were simply looking for intellectual horsepower, something that the CFO would repeat to a group of students who went to their South Plainfield HQ for an information session later that school year.
This Company Offers a Professional Work Atmosphere.
According to their website, Momentum Solar was started in 2009 and now employs 2,000 people. Momentum Solar employs people from all walks of life.
Aside from health and transportation benefits, Momentum Solar provides a number of additional perks to its employees. If you have more questions about her experience at Momentum Solar you can contact her at mchaney@princeton.edu. The bonus training pay is only if you hit certain sales goals right out of training. Fresh Graduates Have a Number of Career Options. It is vital to note that Momentum Solar is ready to recruit new college grads with little or no job experience. The most useful review selected by Indeed. Advised by Jim Smith, her research focuses on the use of polarimetric radar to study tropical cyclones and other extreme weather events. Required fields are marked *. these deals are a bad choice for most consumers, fired after the company learned about her pregnancy. The energy in the space was palpable, and Sungs enthusiasm was contagious: I was sold. They've always offered many possibilities for advancement to their staff. Thanks, The senior management's main responsibility is to ensure.
People had told me before starting my Ph.D. that, unless I was planning on taking the academic route, the most valuable things I would learn would not be in my dissertation, but skills developed along the way. Yes, this company provides you leads but the leads are pretty bad. There is very little support on the back end once a project is in the works so you will never have the information to give to your customers, which in turn leads to unhappy customers that cancel their projects. Fast forward a couple months, and I was about to have my first day there. An opportunity to make what you deserve. Managers and staff may work together to improve communication. The base pay is all you live on for the first few months so prepare to be poor for the first few months since you dont get paid until the jobs install. According to this New York Times article: The other lawsuit was filed by a female employees who alleged that she was fired after the company learned about her pregnancy. They certainly dont do door-to-door sales or telemarketing. As an Amazon Associate, The Solar Nerd earns from The personnel are courteous and helpful, and the offices are bright and open. Unfortunately, there are no details listed about the nature of the violations. Momentum Solar has been a great place to work in the last five years, and I have always received accolades, incentives, and other employee benefits. Every state has its own rules, and some even dont require any license at all. See more Momentum Solar reviews by job title, See more Momentum Solar reviews by location. Some only give you basic information, such as whether the license is valid, but some states give you more details, including whether the company has been been formally cited for license violations. More often than not, quality is sacrified to improve growth.
Diverse Workers and Duties in their Workplace.
I wasnt able to find a current license for Momentum in Illinois. Can you really get solar panels for free. On day one, my supervisor presented me with a few different projects I could choose from. So naturally most don't make the cut! Even when my job is challenging, learning new things keeps me going. During my time at Momentum Solar, I was able to develop new skills and increase my expertise. Sometimes its mundane issues, such as driving a company vehicle without the company name and license displayed (a violation in California) or more serious issues, such as safety violations or working on a project without a permit. Its a waste of time. If you do not you will be demeaned for not getting the sale.
Insights on Sustainable Development from Princeton University. The operational management of Momentum Solar is superb. Great environment that rewards the hard work! This rang true during my first professional experience in industry. Its Past Time for Princeton to Divest from Fossil Fuels. In New York, contractor licensing is at the local level. I didnt wait in line or crowd around like at the others, and immediately got to talking with Peter Clark. To date, Momentum has installed 174 MW of residential solar energy, enough capacity to power the equivalent of more than 33,000 average American homes. I searched the license number they list on their website, and both their legal name (Pro Custom Solar) and Momentum Solar, but couldnt find a current license. How are the working hours at Momentum Solar? Those of us in college who want to get valuable work experience in a professional setting would benefit tremendously from this opportunity. It's worth noting that Momentum Solar is always happy to accept new graduates with little or no job experience. Buying Solar For Your Home: The Complete How flexible are your working hours at Momentum Solar? This might simply be an issue with the illinois.gov website, or it could mean that they are not actually licensed to install solar in Illinois. (Just remember that the legal name of this company is Pro Custom Solar.). Because of that, I would completely ignore Best Company and their 3.9 star rating of Momentum. In Nassau County, Momentum has three violations on record over the past several years. I can't think of any, as I've always had a wonderful time, They Give a Vast Array of Delegation Alternatives.
It can be the best opportunity of your life if you put in the hard work and buy into the plan or it could be just another 3-month job that is just okay. In 2013, six. Our community is ready to answer. In my opinion, if you have a company that uses these tactics, you should exclude them from consideration. qualified solar installers. Momentum Solar appears to acknowledge its workers' efforts when it comes to employee treatment. qualifying purchases. Working with them has given me vital experience. The basis was getting to know my passions. Is this a company that you should trust with a home improvement project that will cost thousands of dollars and last for decades? When you work at Momentum Solar, you will get a basic income plus an annual bonus as compensation for your achievements. There are two citations listed with the record, but unfortunately no further details are provided. They doubled their revenue from 2017-2018, and doubled again 2018-2019. 
The latter lawsuit has been dismissed, but the racial discrimination lawsuit is still proceeding through the discovery phase. Use our calculator to get a financial payback and solar performance In my ongoing research that I do to help connect consumers with better quality solar installers, one consistent trend Ive found is that companies that pursue high growth have difficultly maintaining high quality. Accessibility, Disability and Accommodation.
None. Management was poor and turnover is high! 
The residential solar industry in the US is dominated by a few very large companies, and one of the biggest is Momentum Solar. Stuck in a long solar lease contract? The work/life balance is non existent. For perspective, the average home solar system is 6.4 kW in size. I prefer spending time with my coworkers and colleagues when I am not at work. What is a typical day like for you at Momentum Solar? Finding one at a company you have legitimate interest in is even harder. Their top management and employees are highly knowledgeable. incentives. You are rewarded for your own success. 
They Give a High Degree of Job Security to their Employees: Momentum Solar's employees are highly compensated and have a stable employment history. What they don't tell you is in the 2 week training is insane. Tip: If you are doing background research on the company, you should know that the legal name of the company is "Pro Custom Solar LLC" and Momentum Solar is the dba name.
The lawsuit claims that Momentum Solar violated the Do Not Call Act and accuses Momentum of a proliferation of intrusive, nuisance telemarketing practices. Id show up to homes that were not properly vetted and would end up sitting with a renter, Id drive 90 minutes to an appointment for it to no show me, Id get homeowners who screamed at me because someone set up a fake appointment. estimate customized to your home, including federal, state, and local Anyone in college who wants to gain real-world experience would benefit significantly from this chance. The first is a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by six Black former employees of the company. god through franklin hall rev power prayer them fast biblical many he move christ body which holy wide young deliverance The interview process was on a digital zoom call, it was a formal interview for a solar appointment process getting paid on commission and salary. In 2011, they had just four employees. Freedom Forever Solar: The complete review and consumer guide. I'm delighted to be a part of the company's progress. 3.7 out of 5 stars for Compensation/Benefits, 3.5 out of 5 stars for Job Security/Advancement. Momentum Solar is one of the leading residential solar contractors in the United States. Our mission is to enable our customers to take control over their rising energy costs and start generating cleaner, price-protected power. The solar industry as a whole also shows promising trends: since 2008, solar installations in the US have grown 35-fold, and since 2014, the cost of solar panels has dropped by nearly 50%. A free ebook for homeowners to help you understand solar Because of the culture of respect and inclusion in our company, everyone is treated equally. As described in a previous article, my opinion is that these deals are a bad choice for most consumers, and that you would be probably better off getting a conventional loan, or even putting off a solar installation until you can afford it. Somewhat unexpectedly, teaching skills proved useful as well: it wasnt enough to prove a point through a certain statistical test; it was crucial that a room full of people with diverse backgrounds understood what a certain figure or result meant. Currently, Momentum has operations in seven states, from California to Connecticut, and shows no signs of slowing down. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In her spare time she enjoys cuddling her dog, playing videogames, and indulging in good food and wine with her friends and family. All answers shown come directly from Momentum Solar Reviews and are not edited or altered. I also felt like this company purposely mislead me and my customers just to get the sale. Turns out the company is disorganized and consistent with no raise and/or promotions after being employed for a year. The main project I worked on was writing a program to optimize appointment scheduling and driving routes, with the goals of improving efficiency from both a time and a fossil fuel standpoint: a great example of a sustainability practice helping a companys bottom line. Long hours, 6 days a week, no nights or weekends off ever. Many states allow you to look up a companys contractor license online.
Competitors:Sunrun, Vivint Solar, Trinity SolarCreate Comparison. While Momentum will offer a straight purchase, it seems like they heavily steer customers toward leases/PPAs, as described in this complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau: There have been two significant lawsuits against Momentum Solar. Online reviews can be useful, but in our guide on how to pick a solar company, a piece of advice I give is to be really selectivce about the review sites you choose to use. 
Thats a lot! They are an amazing business partner. If you're thinking of working here in sales don't do it. Employees admire how wonderfully their supervisors treat them. In my view, they're an excellent place to work. I've worked with Momentum Solar for a few years and have had the pleasure of dealing with various folks. People from all over the world congregate here to do business, creating a unique ambiance. It has been a pleasure to deal with them. They also demand that you sell. He made a concerted effort to include me and all the other interns on calls and in meetings, even if it was just to observe.
The best companies in The Solar Nerd network need to do little advertising, and instead get the majority of their business through referrals and word-of-mouth. This means that if youre looking for a solar installer in one of the seven states that Momentum operates in, theres a good chance youve come across their name. Momentum Solar actively pushes its employees to think creatively and implement their suggestions and ideas. Sunrun payment plans: a no-nonsense guide, Vivint Solar: The complete review and consumer guide, Titan Solar Power: The complete review and consumer guide. Theyre based in New Jersey and operate in seven states: California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in internship opportunities with Momentum Solar should contact Peter Clark, Director of Talent Acquisition, at pclark@momentumsolar.com. Regarding warehouse, you will perform perform managerial work and not compensated for it. frontline ict miller covid magazine william president international A great example of this is now-bankrupt Sungevity, which used debt and private equity to try to grow really quickly. Managers push workers to adopt a professional and productive attitude in the workplace. We are committed to building a better tomorrow while helping our customers secure their financial future. If you were in charge, what would you do to make Momentum Solar a better place to work? This class action lawsuit is about the marketing practices of the company, and not about its operations such as the quality of its solar installation work. Seems like a glaring omission. While I wasnt using the specific skills related to my research area here at Princeton, I was using crucial skills I developed along the way during my PhD research: programming and exploratory data analysis. Employees at Momentum Solar are kind and helpful. When youre ready, fill out our form to get up to three estimates from Appreciation and Recognizance of Employee Creativity. To legally install solar panels in most states in the US, a company must have the correct contractor license. They did grow quickly, but imploded in the process. You can read a summary of the lawsuit and follow its progress, which is still working its way through a New Jersey district court. This article wont make a specific recommendation, but instead try to present the facts around this big player in the solar industry. Send me a note. It was a joy to work with them. In search of a more refined answer to the dreaded question, so what do you want to do after you get your Ph.D.? I started looking for opportunities in what is very broadly and vaguely referred to as industry. I stepped into Dillon gym on a muggy August day in the only pair of dress pants I own and looked around. Graduates have a Variety of Professional Opportunities. I know my experience was unique: I was treated as an equal, was mentored thoughtfully and intentionally, and had regular interaction with corporate-level executives. Finance, biotech, management consulting, and oil & gas companies filled the room with tables and recruiters. Momentum Solar is a great place to learn about business, None of the previously stated alternatives. Your email address will not be published. If youre doing your own research on solar installers, you should know that there are probably a lot of satisified customers of this company. I was promised a raise after completing managerial duties but have yet to receive one. After talking to what turned out to be a bunch of dead ends that didnt excite me much, I decided to check out one last table before leaving. Guide. Molly Chaney is a fifth year Ph.D. candidate in Civil & Environmental Engineering. The contractor license that Momentum lists for the state of Massachusetts - #192204 - is apparently expired. I jumped right in to their fast-paced, quick-turnaround style of work, and had check-ins with Sung nearly every day. Opportunity, money, promotion from within, Hard work, and success pay off! I had nothing but wonderful experiences when dealing with them. Changes wont be saved until you sign up for an Enhanced Profile subscription. What tips or advice would you give to someone interviewing at Momentum Solar? For example, Best Company gives Sungevity a hilariously high 4.2 stars out of 5, and their review completely fails to mention that the company went bankrupt. What are perks and other benefits like at Momentum Solar. Copyright 20082022, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Find a Great First Job to Jumpstart Your Career, Learn How to State Your Case and Earn Your Raise. They must give better perks to their top employees, Momentum Solar is without a doubt one of the most experienced firms in the solar energy industry.
They possess a strong desire and exceptional leadership skills to assist their subordinates in achieving success. I *still* didnt know exactly what I would be doing.
What advice would you give the CEO of Momentum Solar about how to improve it? Youre on call 6 days a week from 8am to 8pm so dont ever plan on making plans because sometimes the notice they give you is only enough time to get to the appointment. Like other large national solar installers, Momentum offers no-money-down solar installations through financing deals such as leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs). When working for a large company like Momentum Solar, it is astonishing to see this degree of transparency. Here's what you can do. Working there was rewarding, and Momentums success is a glimmer of hope during an ever-worsening climate crisis. In some conditions, senior management may be challenging to deal with. Problem solving and independence were probably the two most valuable qualities that a graduate student can bring to an internship.
What can cause a company to be cited for a violation? At that info session some months later, I was impressed that the CFO, Sung Lee, took the time out of his schedule to speak directly with the group of prospective interns, and gave us all some background about where Momentum has been, and where its going: Momentum Solar is a residential solar power installation company that was founded in New Jersey in 2009 by Cameron Christensen and Arthur Souritzidis. Instead, check out BBB.org, which gives them slightly more than 2 stars and currently lists 92 complaints on issues such as sales practices and poor product quality. Momentum Solar has a long history of doing so. What is the most stressful part about working at Momentum Solar? I wouldnt work here again. chinadaily cn kindle You're in virtual training from 9-4 Monday - Friday and you also have to memorize 6 scrips which is 13 pages. But if youve done any Google searches for Momentum Solar, youve probably also seen that there are some controversies surrounding this company. Momentum Solar appreciates and recognizes its diligent employees.