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Chicago Trading Company

Engaged Employer

Worst Management I’ve Encountered - Software Engineer Chicago Trading Company Employee Review

2.0
Sep 27, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Plenty of room for improvement in tech. Previous and current leadership wasted years in failed initiatives and the tech debt is massive. Current “successful” systems are a mess. If you’re hired in as a returning intern you might actually be able to have linear career progression.

Cons

The lack of transparency throughout the company is horrendous and the lack of consistency in career progression is frustrating. Ctc strongly favors employees who are returning interns and have spent their entire careers at CTC. CTC is stuck doing things their own way and even when they hire employees with expertise in areas where CTC struggles, CTC will ignore their opinions if it doesn’t align with the current way they operate. They are also consciously shifting towards a more toxic culture with the CEO even stating after a second year of layoffs that the company was “flexing its new muscles.” Openly toxic employees aren’t called out or penalized. Management is terrible from top to bottom and bad managers are not held accountable. Career progression is very political at ctc and there is a severe lack of accountability. There were countless instances of people being fired for bad performance when they’d never been given a negative review or feedback from their managers. Those who would consistently get promotions were more likely to be close to someone higher up versus being a superior engineer. Pay is also a disaster at ctc with returning intern offers this year being higher than some current senior engineer compensation. It’s no wonder that the turnover rate has sky rocketed.

Explore other reviews about Chicago Trading Company

5.0
Jul 10, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

High-potential, high-caliber, low-ego environment. The people at the firm really embody the broader culture of the business. There is a cohesive plan that flows from the board level down to the day-to-day work each employee does. There is also a conscious effort to develop talent, which I really appreciate.

Cons

it's a culture led firm so by nature not a fit for everyone.

4.0
Jul 9, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Collaborative, low level, small company

Cons

High pressure, long hours, ok location

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