Pros
A key thing to note about working here, is that its much more suited for self-motivated people. I don't mean do everything by yourself (it's definitely a team environment), but more in regards to communication and driving your career and work/life balance. Most problems people have can be addressed by communicating with your manager. I have seen this company bend over backwards for employees when they needed help. But don't expect things to just resolve themselves or someone pinging you constantly. It's still a small company working through growing pains and often working with minimal resources. A lot of it is what YOU make it, and this is a good environment for those people. - Some of the best tech people I have ever worked with. - Wide range of platforms and technologies keep it exciting/refreshing over time. - Assuming tech related positions, plenty of room for career growth, either up or sideways. - Company has been growing regularly for several years. - Work/Life can be challenging, but management is more than willing to help if you communicate with them. - Lots of opportunity to wear different hats, particularly if you are self motivated. - Hours are pretty flexible. Don't need approval for random days off, taking off early, etc. for life events that pop up like Dr visits, waiting for cable guy, etc. - Good health benefits, # of company holidays, good PTO plan, etc. - Very collaborative environment. - Family friendly environment. OK to bring kids to work for visits. Several company events through the year such as Christmas party, yearly off-site company picnic, Halloween costume contest and bring kids in for trick or treat, etc. Plus various group/team events. - It's a small company so not a huge pool of people for clubs/etc., but if you find groups, company supports it. There are several currently from photography to soccer, etc. For example, the soccer group plays off-site once a week, during work hours. - Technology is great and exciting, and extremely challenging to work on, I love it. - LOTS of potential future feature/technology in this space, doors are wide open, even with 10 years under their belt, its just the beginning for this technology. - Continual new customers and product areas, keeps work fresh. - Many strong patents. Was recently rated very high by IEEE on patent value, most other companies in same range were large corporations buying hundreds or thousands of patents, with Voicebox sitting that high with only 13 or so patents (due to their importance/value). - Executives have shown great resilience to finding revenue, customers, expanded engagements with existing customers, etc. to keep the company moving forward and growing.
Cons
People need to understand that this is a small company. It is in transition to becoming a larger company, and there are many hiccups and challenges to overcome. There is a chicken before the egg factor to consider (need customers for revenue, need more people to support those customers, but need money [in advance] to hire those resources, etc.). Not to mention that some areas/talents are very hard to find, some positions sitting open for months because no applicable candidates. However, in many ways, these are good problems to have. These are not bad problems. There are no issues like bounced paychecks, lay offs, high revolving door issues, etc. This is a tough market, there are lots of companies hiring, lots of other opportunities out there, yet people are not leaving Voicebox left and right. There is a reason for that. With that said, here is list of cons as I see them... - Parking is very bad. Several improvements have been made lately, but with continued hiring, doesn't help much. However, management continues to work on additional solutions. - Building space is tight. Expansion to other adjacent buildings helps, but not a very long term solution. The new open space design was not planned like a proper open space environment that was planned to be so from the beginning. - No formal performance evaluation or compensation adjustment evaluation. However, you can request them whenever you want. - Few documentation and general process/practice standards. Each team and project group has their own ways of doing things. Documentation is a mess. Note, a team was just put together to standardize documentation and use Document Management solution. - Lack of regular high level company direction, status on vitals, etc.