Pros
There is a TON of opportunity if you’re willing to work hard and develop yourself. During my time at FindTheBest I launched countless products that were definitely considered “unconventional” relative to some of the other products being rolled out. It’s true that initially you face some tough criticism when you’re trying something new and experimental (as you should - you’re investing company resources in doing so), but if you get it right you will be rewarded. I can’t count the number of times I was told “that’s crazy” or even just had to spin up my own server to build an MVP, but when the products hit I was rewarded and promoted for my contributions. Even if a product flops, it’s understood not every swing will be a grand slam - just move on to the next one and make something that works. After you get a few wins on the board you will be respected and given even more freedom to build. The caliber of people you will meet here is fantastic. FindTheBest only recruits from top tier universities, so everyone in the office is smart. I am very happy with the network I was able to develop during my time here. This is a very high performing team, so if an individual isn’t performing they will stick out like a sore thumb and feel uncomfortable due the high levels of transparency. If you aren’t doing your job well, everyone around you will know. That said, management is very focused on talent development and would much rather improve a current employee than source a new one. FindTheBest even has weekly FTBu’s (FindTheBest University) aimed at developing the less experienced employees. Some of the guest speakers during my time at FindTheBest included Steve Blank, Randy Komisar, and Bing Gordon. If you’re looking for real world exposure to Sand Hill Road it doesn’t get much better than that. If you don’t know where Sand Hill Road is, don’t worry - there’s an FTBu for that. The location is amazing. The office sits on an oceanside bluff with a 270 degree ocean view about 15 minutes south of downtown Santa Barbara. This location results in a “reverse commute”, meaning you never have to sit in traffic as most of the city is driving in the opposite direction as you come to and from work. Santa Barbara is not a big city, but that’s what I think it makes it so great. The city is small enough to get just about anywhere in less than 20 minutes and after only a few months of living there you will start to feel a real sense of community as you can’t help but see people you know out and about. Santa Barbara also has an awesome array of outdoor activities, whether you’re into surfing, golf, hiking, or beach volleyball, this place is great. The one exception is that the surf dies down in the summer, so buy a wetsuit and get ready for some cold water.
Cons
This is NOT Google or Facebook. You don’t have a 1 billion users to roll a new product out to. It is 100% on you to make a product people want, but if you’re smart, scrappy, and willing to work hard you will achieve success, get some great experience, and have an awesome time doing it. Management will give you a lot of rope to try new things and develop yourself. If you’re not careful, you can hang yourself with it. Santa Barbara isn’t for everyone. If you want a fast paced, concrete jungle/urban lifestyle, you probably won’t be feeling this mellow beach town’s laid back vibe. You might even find yourself wondering why you never get to sit in traffic or inhale a nice cloud of bus fumes. In all seriousness, Santa Barbara can be a little quiet which is understandably not for everyone. This isn’t a 10 person startup anymore and breaking into management can be tough. It’s almost 6 years old and there is a management team in place. Most of management has been with the company for 4+ years (85% of the company's existence), so if you want to break into this group you will need be a very fast learner and extremely good at your job. It’s not easy but I’ve seen it done here, so it’d definitely possible.
