Great Expectations - it's not all fun and games at Zillow. The company is headed for great things.
Pros
Fun. Beyond the team "morale" activities, sponsored ski days, ping pong, Guitar Hero, and other activities, the people at Zillow are friendly and warm. Laughter is a sound heard almost daily. People enjoy working at Zillow. Honest, approahcable leadership. The executive team is absolutely forthright about their decisions (and mistakes), the status of the company, and the direction moving forward. Furthermore, these honchos are down to Earth and easy to talk with. For example, the CEO sits on the floor during all-hand meetings and has even been known to kowtow in thanks for hard work. The company feels like one big team.
Cons
Hard economic times have especially affected start-ups like Zillow. Layoffs, the struggles to make profit in a down market, and the relentless pace of under-staffed development slowly sap the energy of a small company. Because the company is still young, there are limited resources for salary increases or other incentives. Stock options can only entice so much effort.