Newsflash… CDP is NOT for everyone! But then again… neither is Google.
Working at this company has been a life-altering event and I could not mean that in a more positive way. CDP is a small and very agile company. We work day in and day out to keep up with the ever-changing technology curve, meanwhile, you are surrounded by the utmost inspiring and passionate people. These individuals may stem from quirky backgrounds and experience, but I promise you, you will never find the HEARTS that we are forever grateful to have here.
CDP is a small, tight-knit family. CDP is home. You are free to be who you really are. We take pride in not having to worry about putting on a mask at work to pretend that you are someone or something that you are not. Here, everyone loves you for you.
There are so many unique things about being a part of CDP. First and foremost, we have a very casual and open environment. You do your best work when you are comfy (slippers, blankets, hats and all) – this we believe! Our atmosphere fosters trust, growth, and respect. We believe in building close relationships with one another and only continuing to grow them each day. Trust is the glue of life; and it is the most essential ingredient in effective communication. With the trust that we have instilled in each other and our managers, we feel safe. There is no fear to express your opinion or concerns, and no matter who you are, your voice will always be heard.
The opportunities to grow not only professionally, but personally, at CDP are endless. We believe in being teachers and students here. Nothing that you learn will just get tossed down the drain, it will always come full circle. Whether your first day at CDP was 7 years ago or 7 days ago, you will always get to show a “new kid on the block” the ropes. When we gain new family members, we love sharing tips and tricks, or even some cool stories and lessons learned from our time of being here. Every person in the office is willing to lend you a hand, no matter the circumstance. You can always go to anyone, no matter who it is, and they will help you in a heartbeat. We believe in finding your passion and never holding you back. Whether you love to read, attend classes, trainings, or even break software and applications…we will be right there with you! It is awesome to never feel boxed in, or limited.
Now, some realities. Like I said, CDP is a small and very agile company. And I am telling you, this is NOT for everyone! Some people are meant for the corporate and perfectly structured world, and some, are meant for our world. It takes a special person to be here and be successful (and happy). We may not hire based strictly off skill, but we sure do hire for HEART. You should be somewhere that you love, somewhere that gets you up in the morning, and somewhere that makes you want to get better every day. At CDP, you have to be open-minded and multi-functional, because here, there are no boxes. You must be responsible (yes, we definitely act like kids, but we are still adults) and accept responsibility – excuses suck. A big part of your role is taking initiative and being proactive – with your team members and managers. And yes, your buddy will hold your hand, but it does not last forever! You should be excited to share your goals, progress, and victories, but also have to be proactive about sharing the not so good news (challenges, approaching deadlines, etc.) and keeping your managers informed. Communication goes a long way. Another great thing about CDP is that you get to put yourself out there and feel safe to make mistakes. You get to dive into nitty gritty projects, break software applications, and try a bunch of really awesome things every day. As long as you are actually putting forth your best effort, you will never get scolded for messing up… imagine a place like that! Feeling safe with those around you, especially your manager, allows you to not fear making mistakes. And when you do mess up, you get to actually talk through it, see where you might have gone wrong, and figure out how you could do it differently next time.
I love working at CDP. I love that all these people I am surrounded by, see my greatness and help me believe in myself not only on my best days, but on my very worst. I love that our leader, is a true leader. He is fearless, inspiring, and a mentor to us all. He sees something magical in every person on our team and helps them accomplish things even they did not know were possible. I love the feeling that I get when I walk into our office every morning – eager and ready to take on the world with my team.