Zillow reviews

- As my headline suggests, the success of Zillow is not based on the quality of leadership or execution. Ultimately there is a need for a real estate portal like Zillow, and the company had such a huge headstart due to wise early strategic decisions, that it's success is almost guaranteed until the next great technology shake up (i.e. whatever replaces websites). - Zillow bills itself as a competitive employer to the big tech giants. It is not. The pay is atleast 20% less. I took a lesser role at one of the giants down the street and received a 55% compensation increase. - It is full of second rate talent (good but not great) or semi-retired folks. That is to say Zillow hires a lot of people that can't get through the more stringent interview process of better companies. Additionally, talented employees who have paid their dues at better, but more challenging, companies will look to join Zillow when they have decided to ease up on the professional challenges but aren't ready to retire. The net effect is a bunch of experienced employees/managers that are teaching/leading less talented employees without full committment.

Too much of leadership is from finance/tech and not enough from operations. The result is micromanaging and the promotion of "technicians" who are not "leaders". KPIs are detached from objectives, departments are siloed, and mid level leadership has no strategy (or, worse, pay lip service to strategies that are mutually contradictory). It's a very frustrating environment for someone who wants to contribute. They prefer a "do what you're told" leadership style.