Pros
Zapier embodies its stated values. Every day it felt like this was a place set up to make us all excited to come to work, a company able to introspect and make big changes, and one populated with empathetic, clever, and driven individuals. The in-person retreats feel like family gatherings. It is well above the industry average in its diversity and continued efforts to improve. The problem space is hugely important. Zapier is helping non-technical information workers to automate parts of their workflows, without learning to code, so they can focus on the higher-order efforts. It’s not positioned as a black box. Users can understand how it works and over time apply it to more problems, making it a flexible and powerful tool. There is a tonne of opportunity for growth, both in technical roles and leadership. I have seen colleagues move from Support into Engineering, engineers successfully change functional expertise (eg. BE to AppSec), and others grow to oversee an entire department at the Staff level. There is a clear career growth framework, structured growth planning, and individuals who have walked the same path to call on. The company is serious about learning and development, backing that up with ample resources and personal budget. The leadership in Engineering is plugged in and people-first. The VP of Engineering is among the most talented and inspirational leaders I’ve ever known, and has deftly navigated the department through the considerable change that coincides with an ambitious, rapidly growing company.
Cons
Be mindful when considering Zapier that most senior leadership resides in the western half of North America. I worked in EMEA and had evening synchronous calls throughout the week.