Generally good but lack of accountability in work can be maddening. - Customer Experience Lead Airbnb Employee Review

3.0
Jul 13, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I've met some of the most interesting and unique people from all backgrounds here; I can say that for most of my working time here I have genuinely loved my team and my colleagues. I've also had a lot of freedom to act and take decisions without tons of oversight, and I felt very empowered and happy about this. The compensation and benefits are good.

Cons

The freedom I mentioned above has started to go away; as they attempt to run themselves like a real company and not a start-up, there is a sensation of an iron fist clamping down on us. Trying to become a real company (with accountability, transparency, and future profitability) without becoming corporate is hard. Right now I don't feel that Airbnb is doing very well with that.

Explore other reviews about Airbnb

5.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Laid back, strong mentorship/training, and good team chemistry.

Cons

Online only, they had summer branch offices, but nobody went in.

5.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Airbnb's mission of creating a world where anyone can belong anywhere strongly resonates with me. I'm excited by the opportunity to build products that operate at global scale and directly impact millions of users. My background in full-stack engineering, distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and AI-powered applications aligns well with Airbnb's focus on innovation, reliability, and exceptional user experiences. I am particularly attracted to Airbnb's engineering culture, emphasis on ownership, and commitment to solving complex technical challenges while delivering meaningful value to hosts, guests, and communities worldwide.

Cons

One challenge of working at Airbnb is the complexity that comes with operating a global platform at scale. Engineering teams must balance reliability, performance, compliance, and user experience across many markets and stakeholders. While this can make development and decision-making more complex, it is also one of the aspects that makes the work technically interesting and professionally rewarding.

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