Pros: Uses a modern technology stack

Cons: - Severe Management Issue - Blame Culture - Favoritism - Disrespectful Behavior - Low code quality and lack of standards Calm may seem peaceful in name, but working there is anything but calm regardless which teams you're working with, it’s a highly stressful environment. Management Issues: My experience with my manager was extremely negative. Clear guidance was rarely provided, and I was expected to understand brief verbal requirements without any documentation or details. I was often criticized for asking clarifying questions. Additionally, conversations were consistently dominated, making it difficult for me to ask questions or contribute. The manager speaks without pauses, leaving no room for input, and I frequently had to interrupt just to participate, which made communication feel one-sided. When I tried to interject, it felt like I was interrupting, which created a frustrating dynamic. Favoritism: The company culture is dominated by a group of people who almost all used to work together. If you are not part of the circle, it’s nearly impossible to find opportunities for growth or collaboration. Personal relationships with circle members carry more weight than competence, and you must work hard to gain their trust. Once you are part of the circle, however, you are often considered the best, regardless of the quality of your work. Conversely, even minor mistakes by those outside the circle can lead to significant trouble and negative opinions. Disrespectful Behavior: Some overconfident team members openly disrespect others in meetings, both technically and personally. If you're not familiar with certain tools or systems or making a simple mistake like clicking on wrong option, they make it clear you're on the outside rather than helping you onboard, like blaming you by making fun of you for choosing wrong option in front of the entire group of people. It always happens in group of people. Blame Culture: When technical issues arise, the response is often to escalate the blame rather than focus on solutions. My manager, instead of allowing me time to address an important issue, repeatedly blames me in various channels, often irrelevant ones, by mentioning my name with blaming statements. This approach is not only unhelpful but also adds to my stress, paralyzing my ability to focus on and resolve the problem effectively. Low Code Quality: The codebase is poorly structured, with no clear layers or distinctions between different models, which makes working with the system more difficult than necessary. The challenges are intensifying as the system expands. There’s a lack of understanding of microservices architecture, often confused with writing overly simplistic code that misses the mark on true simplicity and scalability. Without clear coding standards, developers follow personal preferences, leading to inconsistency. Code reviews often become opinion-driven, with some developers, who claim to be experienced, displaying ego-driven behavior and overconfidence, so there’s no room left for you to reason about your code. This creates a toxic culture where even experienced engineers outside the inner circle feel paralyzed, scared to submit code, share reasoning, or make decisions. It fosters confusion about best practices and undermines the confidence of those with ethical values who strive for quality.

Pros: The impact of your work is empowering. Small teams means you have a chance to make your presence felt. Great people to work with.

Cons: Product is very non committal to what we should build. Legacy codebase.

Pros: Most coworkers are fun, fully remote & pay/benefits are adequate.

Cons: The company is very disorganized and doesn’t have a clear vision for the future. Calm had its biggest success during COVID, but things have been downhill since then. Management talks a lot but doesn’t follow through, and there’s no real plan for moving forward. Projects are poorly planned, and you often have to figure things out on your own with little support. It can be frustrating working in an environment where priorities are unclear and you’re left to handle things independently. For those seeking clear leadership, I would advise considering other options. The lack of long-term strategy and accountability has a negative impact on the overall work culture.