Pros: I've been working at Airbnb for a year as a software engineer. Top two things I like are how helpful people are. Instead of wasting 2 hours trying to figure it out on my own, if I get stuck, I ask for help, and people spend the time to both answer the question and explain a bit more so I actually understand what's going on. Within my first few weeks, I was amazed at how much I learned, and now a year into the job, I feel very knowledgeable in my area, and pass on the favor by helping new hires. The second favorite thing about Airbnb is the people. I'm a new grad, and I really like the fun culture, a mix of people who are chill, but also those who like to go out and party a bit more. Nothing that crazy, probably doesn't compare to Facebook's epic parties, but I'm more than happy. And it's a great crowd. Also, our office is amazing. Just Google for "Airbnb custom spaces" to see pics. I love bringing people to the office because they always like it. In terms of the job itself, it's very reasonable. Flexible hours, only occasionally work late when I choose to, supportive and helpful team. All in all, there's nothing that I really dislike about Airbnb.

Cons: I would definitely say the company has more focus on product development and growth than on engineering quality. That means that currently the codebase is a little messy, and there are times where you'll have to ask a few people before you find someone who understands the code well. However, this is definitely being worked on as we expand, and different components are being refactored or rewritten. Also, I feel that designers get too much say in the things that are built, occasionally at the expense of functionality.

Pros: - Great people and culture - Flexible working hours and good work/life balance - Relatively diverse team - Leadership is very open to feedback from employees

Cons: - Technical debt is rampant. - Product and Design decisions generally usurp technical ones.

Pros: - Visually appealing office - Good salary and benefits - Free food - Company has a good external reputation, solid growth potential

Cons: More of a hospitality company than a tech company. Engineering isn't a core part of the culture, and it shows in the quality and visibility of the team's work. Systems receive low traffic levels (compared to those in search, ads, social networking, etc.), so there is little need to improve efficiency or innovate in the backend space. Weak engineering leadership that won't make hard technical decisions or push through cross-team initiatives like SOA. Senior IC promotions and external hires are based more on visibility than technical skill and impact. There is a steady stream of departures by strong engineers and managers. Culture of niceness and praise to the extreme. It is hard to provide constructive feedback or push back against bad projects. Cramped, noisy desk areas with low-quality monitors and office furniture. Below average meals and snacks.