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As good as it gets if you like working at VC-funded startups

Software Engineer
Current Employee
Has worked at Whatnot for 2 years
September 18, 2023
5.0
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEO
Pros

Lots of action in all areas of the business: engineering/design, growth, marketing, operations. There really aren't any sleepy corners in the company, and there is always tons to do. There is no pointless busywork; everything you build is shipped immediately. It's easy to make an impact.

The culture is very hands-on, and if something interests you in particular, you have a chance to step up and just do it. Things are still quite open with not a lot of gatekeeping. Horizontal career shifts happen, and folks have considerable success after switching tracks.

  • Lots of talented and ambitious people.
  • Remote-first culture from day one.
  • Very driven leadership team. Confidence in leadership is high and has been since the day I joined.
  • Very good benefits for full-time employees.
  • Fun and engaging company offsites, great interpersonal culture.
Cons
  • Politics and cliquishness.

There are several distinct sub-cultures within the org, mostly based on people's previous employer.

As you can imagine, it takes political effort to overcome people's natural tendency to stick with their old teammates. Not dramatically bad but something to keep in mind and work on.

  • Tech stack is a bit haphazard given the rapid growth in business and headcount. It's constantly improving but there is a lot of baggage deep in the core.

  • Depending on your team, work culture and work/life balance can vary. The company prioritizes work/life balance policies but some teams just have a lot more on their hands due to the subject matter they operate with.

Advice to Management

Make sure strong personal bonds within teams don't devolve into team chauvinism and fiefdoms. Stay weird!

Additional Ratings

Work/Life Balance
4.0
Culture and Values
4.0
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
5.0
Career Opportunities
5.0
Compensation and Benefits
5.0
Senior Management
5.0

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