CDK Global is a leading provider of software and technology solutions for the automotive retail industry, offering dealer management systems, customer relationship management, digital marketing tools, service lane solutions, and data analytics. Headq...
"I enjoy the people here — smart, practical, and down-to-earth. You’ll find teammates who help you solve problems rather than blame," says a mid-level developer. Another long-tenured employee notes, "There are good technical challenges and the product roadmap is interesting, but sometimes priorities shift quickly, which can be frustrating." A sales rep shared, "Compensation and commission structure can be generous when you hit targets. You will be rewarded for performance."
These voices reflect a mix of pride in the work and realism about the day-to-day. Reviews from current and former staff often mention supportive peers, a product-focused mindset, and occasional bumps during reorganizations. If you are exploring working at CDK Global, you will likely hear both appreciation for the work and constructive criticism about process consistency.
The company culture at CDK Global blends engineering-driven problem solving with a customer-service mentality. Teams tend to be pragmatic: focus on getting things shipped and keeping customers — mostly car dealers — running smoothly. There is an emphasis on accountability, measured outcomes, and cross-functional collaboration.
If you are looking for a highly social or startup-y vibe, this may feel more corporate than casual. However, people often describe the environment as stable, mission-oriented, and respectful. For job seekers curious about company culture at CDK Global, expect a culture that values reliability, incremental improvements, and a steady pace of innovation rather than disruptive, high-risk bets.
Work-life balance at CDK Global varies by role and team. Many employees report a predictable schedule, with the ability to maintain personal commitments. Developers and product teams typically experience more project-driven crunch around major releases, but it is not constant. Sales and client-facing roles may see spikes in hours depending on customer needs.
Overall, reviews on work-life balance at CDK Global suggest a manageable baseline with occasional busy periods. If a steady rhythm is important to you, the company can offer that, but be prepared for short bursts of extra workload.
Job security at CDK Global is generally linked to business performance and product relevance. The company serves a core industry — automotive retail — which provides stable demand. During industry slowdowns or strategic changes, there will be restructuring efforts. Employees with specialized skills tied to critical products or long-term client relationships tend to have stronger job security.
In summary, there is reasonable job stability for those who align with product priorities and maintain up-to-date skills. There will be periodic reorganizations as the company adjusts to market needs.
Leadership at CDK Global presents a mix of long-term industry knowledge and a focus on operational execution. Senior leaders often emphasize customer uptime, product reliability, and fiscal responsibility. Communication from the top can be clear around major company goals, though some employees request more frequent updates on strategy and change rationale.
Management quality varies across departments. Some managers provide excellent mentorship and career guidance, while others are more execution-focused. Leadership tends to prioritize predictable delivery and risk management over bold experimentation.
Direct managers are commonly seen as competent and pragmatic. Good managers balance deadlines with team wellbeing and advocate for resources. Less effective managers may focus heavily on short-term metrics, which can create stress during tight delivery windows.
For prospective hires, it is worth asking specific questions in interviews about your potential manager’s style, expectations, and how success is measured on the team.
The company provides structured onboarding, internal training, and access to learning resources. There are technical workshops, product-focused training, and occasional external course reimbursement. Learning opportunities are often self-directed, with managers encouraging employees to pursue skill growth tied to business needs.
Employees seeking rapid, formal learning tracks may find options somewhat limited compared to larger tech giants, but motivated individuals will find room to grow through challenging projects and internal mentorship.
Promotions and career progression are available but typically follow defined timelines and performance criteria. Advancement is more likely when employees take visible ownership of projects, mentor others, and contribute to high-impact initiatives. There is room to move laterally into different roles, particularly between product, engineering, and client-facing functions.
Salary ranges depend heavily on role, location, and experience. Broad approximations:
These ranges are indicative and will vary by market and seniority. Compensation tends to be market-competitive for core functions.
Bonuses and incentives are part of the total compensation package, especially for sales and revenue-impacting roles. There are performance bonuses, occasional company-wide incentives tied to financial results, and spot awards for exceptional work. The bonus structure is generally transparent for sales roles and more variable for others.
CDK Global typically offers standard employer-sponsored health coverage: medical, dental, and vision plans. There is usually a 401(k) plan with company match, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs. Benefits are comparable to industry norms and meet the needs of most employees and families.
Engagement activities include team outings, town halls, and product kickoffs. There are occasional company-wide events and smaller team-level social moments. Engagement tends to focus more on product and customer milestones than extensive perks or lavish events.
Remote work support is practical and evolving. Many roles support hybrid or fully remote arrangements, depending on team and client needs. The company provides remote tools, collaboration platforms, and some stipends for home office setup. Remote work policies may vary by location and role.
Average working hours are around 40 per week for many roles, with occasional upticks to 45–50 during releases or heavy client periods. Flexible scheduling is common, but deadlines and customer needs will influence weekly hours.
Attrition at CDK Global is moderate and aligned with industry norms. The company has undergone occasional reorganizations to align products and costs, which have resulted in targeted layoffs in some cycles. These actions are usually part of broader strategic adjustments rather than constant turnover.
Overall, the company offers a stable, mission-driven environment with solid benefits and opportunities for steady career growth. It will suit professionals who value product stability, customer impact, and pragmatic teams. The company faces typical tech-and-services trade-offs: predictable work with occasional crunch and restructuring. Final assessment: 3.8 out of 5.
Read authentic experiences from current and former employees at CDK Global
Great exposure to dealership data and analytics tools.
Contract terms were inconsistent and communication across teams was spotty.
Supportive manager, modern tech stack, frequent training and clear career path.
Occasional long sprint weeks when deadlines stack up.
Interesting client projects and decent tools for project tracking.
Too many meetings and slow decision making; office politics can be tiring.
Good benefits and stable clients, solid onboarding for new hires.
Product updates can be slow, commission structure has room to improve.
Collaborative team, clear QA processes and good exposure to dealership software testing.
Limited pay growth and some internal bureaucracy that slows decisions.
