Pros
Linode is a good place to geek out, for a while. You can learn a lot about Linux, system administration, and web hosting by working here, but the novelty wears off after about four months when you learn everything. The staff is mostly comprised of smart males in their 20s who are socially inept, which is pretty standard for this type of work environment. This company is located in a rural area of southern New Jersey in what essentially amounts to the middle of nowhere. Because of this, the company has implemented several impressive tactics for recruiting new employees, like flying candidates out for interviews and paying relocation expenses. Salaries are generally very competitive, especially for the location. Benefits are average.
Cons
The founder is a megalomaniac. Because he bootstrapped the company and never accepted outside investment, he does whatever he wants, usually to the detriment of the company. The work environment is demotivating. Employee morale was at an all time low before I left. There is no career path for support staff. The company's long term outlook is poor. Linode has been hacked twice in the last two years, the employee turnover rate is about 25%, and there's no cohesive marketing strategy. Customers are leaving for Digital Ocean and other competitors. So my advice is to steer clear of Linode. This company has the worst work environment and company culture I've ever seen.
