Kayak.com Reviews

Current Employee – been working at Kayak.com full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – The team is by far the most brilliant I've ever worked with. More important, egos are left in the parking lot.

Cons – New-hires, especially younger, aren't always given the guidance they need to be successful.

Advice to Senior Management – Don't lose the startup mentality and speed.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Kayak.com

Pros – Great corporate culture. The people are nice and very smart. The benefits are generous. There are a lot of fun company outings. And the company is about to IPO.

Cons – Many senior managers lack basic people management skills. Projects are disorganized and often cancelled. The technology group is located 3 hours away from the business group, which sometimes makes it difficult to get things done.

Former Employee – worked at Kayak.com

Pros – Big complex site (almost too big for itself)
Fun co-workers (as long as they are underlings)
Name recognition for your next job

Cons – No work/play balance
Developers don't care about after-hours or fixing problems
Terrible management gets hired and promoted
Executives are out of touch with the people who work for them except for 1
You will never be heard by anyone that matters
Lost the startup feel years ago

Advice to Senior Management – Listen to the little guys, ensure each team is treated fairly, don't keep zero's around who destroy the team morale

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Kayak.com

Pros – the coffee is really good, the friday beer is ok too; there is a nice sound system that anyone can mess with from running sonos at their desk

Cons – if you can't handle a two minute meeting, you should not work at kayak; they usually get stuff done very quickly

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Kayak.com

Pros – Balance, work and life.
Great leading edge tech.
Great culture.
Driven team that wants to win.

Cons – Some old boy cliquishness.
It's all or nothing, you're a hero or a zero.
Company direction or your reputation can turn on a dime.
  (and you can continue to work there, as like NE weather, it can change again)

Advice to Senior Management – There is nothing you can tell them, that is why they are succeeding.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Kayak.com full-time

Pros – Competitive salary, career opportunities, good people

Cons – Lack of internal feedback structures, lack of training opportunities

Advice to Senior Management – Empathize more with employees, let them have more say

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Kayak.com full-time

Pros – People, perks, and environment. Interesting public company.

Cons – Long hours. Upper management is too close ith each ther and picks favorites.

Former Employee – worked at Kayak.com

Pros – Fast paced, intelligent people, solid pay

Cons – Poor management, communication, a lot of drinking - you're either in the frat, or you're not.

Advice to Senior Management – Talk less sh*t about employees to other employees.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Kayak.com

Pros – Very interesting business.
Support exploring new technologies to help users find travel
Makes travel planning fun
Enables innovation by supporting new, good ideas and is open to using new technologies

Cons – Business decisions do not always seem to be sound
Management can sometimes get distracted from the core business
It is unclear how the business will grow

Advice to Senior Management – Focus on providing value to users
Giving users what they want will lead to profitability

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend