Fantastic Company with Amazing People, Culture, and Opportunity
Pros
I have been working at Code Ninja for less than a year, but I confidently can say that the company is fantastic. Here are some of the reasons why I love working here: (a) People. The people are wonderful, everyone is very helpful and friendly so you wouldn't get intimidated to ask questions even as a new hire. The team is diverse and talented, and there is a lot of collaboration and support among colleagues. The managers are also supportive and approachable, and they give clear guidance and feedback. (b) Culture. The company fosters a culture of realtime feedback which is very important to create an environment that is safe and always striving for excellence. The culture is just like any other startup, where processes are scrappy and agile. This means that you have a lot of autonomy and ownership over your work, and you can see the impact of your decisions quickly. There are, as in any other organization, some challenges with scrappy processes such as lack of documentation or standardization, but for me, it works well because it allows faster turnaround time and removes unnecessary bureaucracy. (c) Opportunity. Code Ninja gives us the opportunity to have exposure with leaders, even directly to the CEO and top officers of business partners. This means that you can learn from the best and also have a voice in shaping the direction of the company. The company also encourages learning and development, and provides resources and support for personal and professional growth. (d) Work-life balance. The work time of 7am to 4pm works perfectly for me because I still have at least 2 hours remaining every day with daylight which I can use to work on other stuff; this is something I couldn't have in a regular 9 to 6 schedule. I also love that our setup is mainly work-from-home, with once a month face-to-face meeting in a coworking space. This gives me flexibility and convenience, and also saves me time and money from commuting. The company also respects our personal time and does not expect us to work overtime or on weekends unless absolutely necessary. (e) HR. HR is always ready to listen, and while there may be minor disagreements over policies sometimes, just like in any other organization, it gets resolved through open communication.
Cons
(a) Office. The only thing that I wish we would have is a permanent office with more parking slots and wider spaces per slot. But I understand that this is not a priority right now given the pandemic situation and the nature of our work. The good news is that we were told a dedicated office space may be coming soon. It would really help foster more camaraderie and collaboration among employees, as well as provide more amenities and facilities for our comfort and convenience. (b) Health Benefits. I would say that the benefits are pretty standard for an IT company, so this is not really a "con" but there maybe some room for improvement on health and wellness benefits. The company provides HMO, paid leaves, referral incentives, free snacks and drinks, and occasional team outings. I think the health insurance coverage could be more comprehensive and the company could offer more options for wellness programs or activities, such as gym memberships, yoga classes, meditation sessions, etc. Overall, I am very happy and satisfied working at Code Ninja. It is a great place to work if you are looking for a challenging, rewarding, and fun career in IT. I would highly recommend it to anyone who shares the same passion and values as the company.
