Pros
-The benefits package is excellent and provides great coverage for medical, dental, mental health, etc. -The company places a lot of emphasis on their culture, so they try to keep the environment light and fun, hosting several employee and family-friendly events throughout the year -Relaxed environment and dress code -Most managers and fellow employes are open to feedback and communication -There is opportunity to grow within a role, especially if a progression plan has already been put in place for that position -Many people are able to switch departments with relative ease -Free and cheap food, drinks, and snacks around the office -Sometimes, they play music in the bathrooms -Overall, it's a fun company to be part of if you're young and like to party and are okay with making less than the industry average. Good for building initial experience, but not a place to stay long term. -There are a lot of competent, inspiring people at Zappos. These people aren't very likely to be your boss, or stick around for very long. -There is a lot of incorporation with the Downtown Project. This is both a pro and a con.
Cons
-The interview process is downright exhausting. I had one online interview, 2 phone interviews, and an 8 hour day on site that included a tour, 9 in-person interviews with individuals and small groups, and an interview lunch. -There is some pressure to drink the Kool Aid and to be very extroverted and wacky. Sometimes this takes away from the importance of the work -The new location downtown isn't very convenient or safe. --Downtown Las Vegas still has a steady supply of homeless people and shady areas. I have had more than a few incidents with the "local inhabitants". --Food options downtown are pricey, the Bistro options are limited, and there is a general lack of semi-healthy and affordable dining options within a 10-minute drive -Compensation is poor, so there's a high turnover rate among some of the more competent employees -Frivolous spending is high. The company spends a lot of money on happy hours, t-shirts, parties, and llamas. While it's great that they try to maintain that fun environment, many employees would be a lot happier with a holiday bonus or raise. -Depending on which department you work in, management can either be too involved or completely hands-off. My experience was with a manager who was so hands-off that we'd sit next to each other all day and he wouldn't utter a word to me. Being new to the workforce, I needed leadership, training, communication, and a sense of progress. I got none of this. -The shift to Holacracy, while an interesting idea, is incredibly experimental and most questions about the process are answered with, "we're still figuring that out." -A unified vision among the departments (especially marketing) just simply isn't there -There is a general lack of tech presence in the Las Vegas area, so local networking opportunities are limited and some people are stuck with Zappos because there are no alternatives. -Las Vegas's cost of living is relatively low and commuting to Downtown is usually quick and traffic-free, especially compared to larger cities.