Small Company Punches Above Its Weight
Pros
Glassdoor is a rare combination of a private company doing something that really improves the lives of ordinary workers -- bringing transparency to pay, job interviews, and workplace culture -- and doing it in a huge way around the world. It's like working at "we're saving the world" nonprofit, but with private sector pay and benefits. As the company has grown over the past year or so, they have done a great job of preserving the quirky, small, tech-company culture. It has gotten bigger and more professional over the past year, but still feels scrappy and with a lot of interesting personality. People here seem happy with their jobs. There is a lot of talent here, but not a lot of huge egos. Glassdoor has a very flat organization, with little of the annoying, exclusionary hierarchy you see in larger firms. Everyone has a desk in the bullpen, and people roll up their sleeves and do their own work. I like that. It is fun working for a place with such a positive public image. Who doesn't love Glassdoor? Working from home is a possibility, at least for many employees. There is really generous vacation and leave policy. The company treats people like adults -- you take time off when you need it. The CEO is someone I liked instantly at my first job interview, and is someone I really believe in personally. The real unicorn in the building is him, and the amazing people he has surrounded himself with. I have learned a tremendous amount just watching him run the company this past year, and feel lucky to have been part of this amazing organization. I was made a lot of promises when I came on board, and I'm happy to report that essentially all of them were kept. I was basically given the ability to create a new division inside the company, with lots of room for my own creativity and personality. This hands-off approach is essential for a culture of entrepreneurship, and Glassdoor definitely keeps that torch alive.
Cons
The Mill Valley location is beautiful -- nice view, video games, awesome workspaces. But seriously, for anyone who ever wants to own a home or raise a family (who isn't already a tech millionaire) this is the worst possible location for a company. Many people are doing huge commutes in from places that are more affordable. This is a major problem Glassdoor needs to solve as it grows -- the should get closer to mass transit, or get closer to cheaper real estate. I believe this will hurt the company's recruiting long-term if not solved. If you're not working within a large group inside the company, it is easy to get stuck working alone with no peer group. This is not something specific to Glassdoor -- it's a problem at all small employers that often have a single person doing some business function. Working mostly alone makes it hard to grow professionally, can lead to stagnating skills, and makes it hard to do the kind of creative brainstorming needed for real innovation.