Pros
Really smart and dedicated founders particularly (COO/CEO/CTO) are all incredible. Small company but close. Overall everyone was really nice and dedicated to their work, work life balance was achievable, good culture, provided decent equipment for WFH, has some diversity and strives for that, they also promote from within interns etc. Which is awesome! I learned a lot of dos/donts of how this business operates and that’s of tremendous value to me.
Cons
Very low salaries especially for Chicago, they confirmed what I already knew for myself, but I’ve always said I’m not starting a business unless I can pay my people well otherwise I’ll find a better business to build.. and this company solidified that. the level of dedication and loyalty that happens when you create a good culture AND pay right- there isnt anywhere you can’t go… As smart as the leaders of this company are, one thing a mentor taught me is how you start is so important because it’s hard to change something as massive like payroll/labor costs. This company taught me why you pay your employees competitively, and how much it hurts a company for not (because either you have to inflate titles to compensate, or get diamonds in the rough who will leave eventually or you get someone not qualified to perform fully for that role - hence why they’d accept a low salary & it ends up burning the business in the end both ways.) To compensate I believe everyone at the director level is a “Chief” very odd for such a small company, a couple of them could’ve afforded to be more pleasant to new hires as well. So many green people from top to bottom. So much of the company this is their first role, and while their might be diversity outwardly there is a desperate need for diversity in experience - I saw the gaps and weakness in business of not having this either - at almost every turn - thanks for teaching me that!