Started out great, but ended sourly - Software Engineer Bullhorn Employee Review

3.0
May 12, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Amazing initial builders program with great a culture and team - Unlimited PTO made for great flexibility and work-life balance - Peers have a genuine drive to help and assist

Cons

At some point last year, there was restructuring and layoffs. After this point, I felt there was a distinct change in the culture and type of work. In the first half a year since I started I had gone from the initial jumpstart Builders team to a more involved, 'regular' agile team. A few months after, layoffs happened and I was moved to another agile team, with some of my previous team members, and some new. I felt that the workload of this team was extremely high, with a lot of complicated and confusing tickets. During this time, I felt like getting help was difficult. My newest manager would criticize me often, maybe some deserved, but it nevertheless felt suffocating. I was criticized by my manager for taking time away from peers. I was also criticized for not taking part in post-meeting activities during offsites (I was struggling with the loss of a family member during this specific time. I know my manager did not intend to hurt my feelings, but I can't help but still feel somewhat bitter that this was even mentioned to me as a reason for letting me go). When I ended up with confusing and complicated tickets from time to time that didn't align with the typical agile process (having an issue in prod that didn't exist in QA for example), getting answers and help was draining, and I sometimes felt anxious about taking the time away from peers because of feedback from my manager. But I always stuck with it, and I always asked for challenging work. At one point, near the end of my time at Bullhorn, I felt that I was being given the bottom of the barrel work, and there was no concern about my metrics to give me more tickets to meet my point goals. I remember asking for tickets constantly and being told to wait for work. I felt that I had to do so much and beg and scrounge just to get work to do. I ultimately want to clarify that I did not, and do not harbor any ill-feelings to Bullhorn as a whole, or any of my managers. I respect Bullhorn so much for giving me my first shot in the industry, and I understand that there are complications, and some of the reasons for letting me go had nothing to do with me personally. I do think that I personally may have struggled to keep up with what was demanded of me in terms of my role as a SWE with Bullhorn as my first industry experience, but I will say I felt that in the end, support dwindled and I felt pushed out. One more final point (that had nothing to do with my day-to-day work) I want to say is that I personally found it somewhat distasteful that there were constantly announcements of acquisitions after layoffs happened. I know this is not uncommon in the industry, but why let go of so much talent when you're going to spend so much on acquisitions anyway?

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Bullhorn Response
1y
Thank you for sharing feedback on your experience at Bullhorn. I'm genuinely sorry to hear you felt unsupported during your time here. Several of these comments don't align with our internal standards and expectations, so please feel free to reach out to me directly (mike.henrichs@bullhorn.com) if you would like to talk in more detail. A couple of items in particular stood out in this review that I would like to clarify. We strive to be a collaborative environment where engineers support each other. That said, we do hold a high bar for ownership and problem solving. This can feel tough, especially early in your career, but you should not have been isolated in any way. Our managers are also expected to give clear, constructive feedback, not to "criticize". If you felt like the comments weren't constructive and helping you understand expectations, then that's something we should address as a leadership team. Participation in social events is always option and is never part of any performance evaluations. Any suggestion otherwise is not acceptable. In our agile teams, tickets are prioritized for the team as a whole, and engineers should be trusted to pick up the highest priority items. Was it that you were simply not willing or able to pick up the highest priority items, or was your manager not helping you understand which items to pick up? As for acquisitions, I understand how the timing may have been frustrating. However, acquisitions and team restructuring are completely different items. Acquisitions aren't just another way to spend money - they're a means of growing the overall business. Often, acquisitions can improve the company's financial health and help prevent any future layoffs. As you've likely also heard while you were here, I deeply value direct feedback and I'm open to hearing from you if you'd like to talk directly. That feedback helps us get better as an engineering team. I appreciate your candor, and I wish you the best in your next role. - Mike Henrichs, SVP, Engineering

Explore other reviews about Bullhorn

5.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Brand is well-known, Bullhorn has established their position in the market, navigated numerous highs and lows through the years, and remains at the top -Constantly evolves with the industry, feels like the business strategy is ahead of the curve and not behind the curve -Dynamic and innovative, I learn new things constantly and I am rarely bored here -Consistently promotes from within and encourages career growth via ad-hoc opportunities and stretch projects, invests in talent via leadership programs -Culture of excellence, attracts high-achievers, high standards are balanced with the flexibility of a remote-first environment and trust, leaders treat you like adults and empower you to manage your own time and work -The core values are aligned with my personal values, and employees actually live them (leadership included) -The people are the best: Agile, collaborative, smart, innovative, and they CARE about each other, about the work, and about the industry; global workforce offers incredible opportunities to learn about and work with other people toward a common goal

Cons

-Bullhorn changes and evolves with the industry, which sometimes causes shifts in projects, priorities, and teams. If you don't like change and/or can't connect your day-to-day work to the bigger picture strategy of a company and pivot accordingly, this isn't the place for you. The expectations and pace aren't for everybody (but 10/10 would recommend to the right person).

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Bullhorn Response
6d
This is a really terrific review, and is one of the accurate portrayals of our company. For all the PROS, the cons are real - we move quickly, and a certain type of talent thrives here. I hope you continue to love it and feel energized by where we are going - if not, you know where to find me!! - Kelley Morse, CPO
5.0
Jun 4, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Approachable leadership that leads by example Excellent managers Top notch culture and people Flexible and remote work options Great work/life balance Unlimited PTO Solid health benefits + 401K Mentorship program Always evolving - keeps you on your toes Constant learning opportunities

Cons

Always evolving can also be a con - while I personally thrive in this setting, the constant change can (and has been) not ideal for some, especially in the last few years.

1
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Bullhorn Response
6d
This is an incredibly thoughtful review. What sticks with me is the part on seasons and living through each of them. Getting through winter makes the summer feel just that much better, and while you're toughing it out, the relationships only deepen in times of challenge. It's a really good analogy. Thanks for giving me a few to mull on this morning. Hope you continue to love it here, thrive here through all the seasons ahead! - Kelley Morse, CPO
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