Jan 12, 2021
Great place to learn and grow!
Anonymous employee
Ginkgo BioWorks reviews
3.0
28% would recommend to a friend
Jason Kelly
30% approve of CEO
12% positive business outlook
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4.0
Dec 2, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook
Pros
Brilliant colleagues, lots of leeway on how to work; a culture that values whimsy and individuality; a genuine value placed on diversity and inclusion. Generally flat—good ideas, if strongly advocated, can come from anywhere. Prior experience doesn't overwhelm good ideas. It is possible to do anything better, and if a better way comes along, it will often get adopted. There's a lot of value placed on passion and upside. If you love to rise to the occasion, there are many opportunities. You're working on some of the most exciting technology in the world, and it really does have revolutionary potential. It's very motivating.
Cons
It can get very hectic and rushed, and you're often on your own. If you are great at being independently motivated, figuring everything out for yourself, managing yourself, and carving your own way—you'll do great no matter what position you're going for. If you need engagement and support, make sure your future manager can provide it. A lot of the common "growing pains" of small, smart, individualistic companies apply: things can get "deadlocked" with no clear resolution. Authority isn't always very clear, and ideas sometimes die in limbo for lack of clarity. Approaches, can get abandoned part-way through. Work and effort can get wasted. Decisions can get made with the intent of transparency, but without clear communication. Things can move forward according to circumstance, rather than according to plan. All of this can be especially frustrating and demotivating to some personality types. It's getting better as the company grows, by necessity, but it's still hard. So it's good to know if you're especially sensitive to that. The amount of Ginkgo-specific novelty sometimes gets perceived as arrogance—i.e., "it didn't matter how something was done where you used to work, this is how we're doing it here." Regardless of how applicable it is, this sometimes causes tension with experienced folks who come in. With a relatively flat hierarchy, growth may not necessarily be reflected in title changes or salary as quickly as at larger places.
4.0
Apr 13, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook
Pros
Independence, Responsibility, Flexibility, Resources, Challenging, Supportive and Encouraging Environment. You get what you put into this company and you’re surrounded by people who always go above and beyond. Ginkgo fosters a very creative, passionate, and driven environment. The people you work with are some of the best in the industry and it is an incredibly collaborative work environment. A self-starting personality will flourish here. The technology—software, automation, etc.—cannot be beat and is key to how this company has excelled.
Cons
Compensation is average and difficult to negotiate, especially once you are in the company. You can’t put a dollar amount on the incredible work and the culture of Ginkgo, but you have stellar, hardworking, innovative, and invested employees and pay should reflect your worth in the company; knowing you are worth more than what the company is valuing you at can feel a bit demoralizing.
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