Pros: Fun. Beyond the team "morale" activities, sponsored ski days, ping pong, Guitar Hero, and other activities, the people at Zillow are friendly and warm. Laughter is a sound heard almost daily. People enjoy working at Zillow. Honest, approachable leadership. The executive team is absolutely forthright about their decisions (and mistakes), the status of the company, and the direction moving forward. Furthermore, these honchos are down-to-earth and easy to talk with. For example, the CEO sits on the floor during all-hands meetings and has even been known to kowtow in thanks for hard work. The company feels like one big team.

Cons: Hard economic times have especially affected start-ups like Zillow. Layoffs, the struggles to make a profit in a down market, and the relentless pace of under-staffed development slowly sap the energy of a small company. Because the company is still young, there are limited resources for salary increases or other incentives. Stock options can only entice so much effort.

Pros: Company culture is one of the big reasons I like working here. Smart people all around, and you feel like going to work every day, which wasn't the case at my last job. Management empowers engineers to innovate and gives them ample freedom to experiment. You will be surprised how transparent the company is; you can walk up and talk to anyone, from the CEO or CTO.

Cons: Base salary could be higher, but I guess we are paying the price for other incentives. Sometimes I feel that there is a lack of engineering challenges, given the nature of the business, and I feel my talent is underutilized.

Pros: Good workplace and good view.

Cons: Company structure is very old.