You can learn a lot, but it's a very bad place to work
Pros
• You can be very autonomous – suggest your own projects and work on them • You can learn a lot – it’s a very fast-paced environment • People are very diverse (just except the top management) • The working environment is very relaxed – it was possible to adjust working hours on the ad-hoc basis or take longer breaks. It all depends on the manager, but most of the teams were living the definition of work-life balance. If you prefer to work hard and a lot, you might feel lonely • There was a nice budget for team events and breakfasts every quarter
Cons
• Very bad working conditions – when I was moving in my chair a bit, I was already banging into my colleague. Desks were too small, rows of desks were put too close to each other. A few meeting rooms that we had were booked for weeks in advance, so people were having large meetings just standing behind other people working. It was so loud that many people were wearing construction type headphones. And since it was that crowded, you often had to stay in line to go to the restroom. It was also too hot in summer, as there was no air conditioning, and too cold in winter, because we had to work with open windows. The office is just so bad that some people were working from the neighbouring’s hotel lobby. • Intransparency is the core value. Recently I was put in a different team and in a different position that I didn’t want, and I was notified about that only post-factum. For many years they also promised to make salaries more transparent, but nothing has happened yet. And when they launched the leadership programme, it was kept secret, so that nobody could apply or check for eligibility. • Very bad attitude from the top management – in 2020 they started including unemployment charts in their presentations and messages, and when asked about possible bonuses, since many people were under increased pressure, they just replied that we should already be happy to have work. I remember them also sending a message saying that whoever has problems with working conditions (open windows in winter) will have consequences. Some time ago they hired an Employer PR person to funnel their messages through her, so many new joiners aren’t familiar with their attitude that much. • Hard work is not rewarded – layers are constantly created above you – team lead, product lead, associate director, director level 1, 2, senior director level 1, 2, etc. The people who get hired for such positions are promoted every 6 months, while those whose work they attribute to themselves often feel undervalued and have their promotion possibilities taken away. I have a strong impression that this company just prefers to hire new people each time, it doesn't care about your career.
