Faire

• A smart group of people where you can learn from.
• Code quality and attention to DX and technical roadmap.
• Good perks and benefits.

Terrible work-life balance. It can be team and level-dependent, but overall, they expect a lot from you, which will inevitably make you work hard and long hours.

Their recent focus on cutting costs started as a sensible movement to avoid waste and limit expenses where it doesn't make sense. But after a year, it evolved into something more, where they are just focused on cutting costs, laying off, and getting rid of people. They will send you low-quality swag for your anniversary (and nothing else throughout the year), and they started selling their swag to their employees!

For senior+ engineers, they just want more and more. They have vaguely defined expectations (leading teams, becoming a thought leader, architecting complex systems, etc.), and good luck showing evidence. No matter how many successful projects you have launched and how much great peer feedback you've received, they will find something to nitpick!

Despite all the hard work and high expectations, most people will receive around a 1-to-2% base salary increase, and if your rating is not good, it will be 0 (check their Blind page to cross-check this!).

They launch a lot of experiments and monitor the results (which is really good). When they see results they don't like, even when you find an explanation, they will likely blame you, but on the surface, they say, "We run experiments to learn from them." Also, the infrastructure is still premature, and some metrics are noisy or just wrong (people will learn to ignore certain metrics!).

Faire has benefited greatly from the advice of board members and experienced individuals with proven track records. This is why I believe it can achieve significant success and reach an IPO in a reasonable timeframe.

While many positive aspects of big tech (such as code quality, developer experience, experimentation, data-driven decision-making) have been adopted, it's unfortunate that the brutal work-life balance and intense work pressure have also been brought over. It's a shame that in a world where we can learn from leaders like Nvidia (who intentionally choose not to prioritize extreme pressure or cut benefits, despite their ability to do so), Faire has seemingly looked to the likes of Meta and Amazon for inspiration.

After a potential IPO, Faire will likely be able to offer competitive salaries. However, without addressing the current work environment, it risks becoming another company where employees aim to stay for a year or two to maximize their earnings before moving on, with little regard for the company or its culture. This high turnover can be detrimental in the long run.

I urge you to consider alternative models for success and prioritize creating a sustainable and supportive work environment. By investing in employee well-being and fostering a positive culture, Faire can not only achieve financial success but also build a lasting legacy as a company where people are proud to work and contribute for the long term.