Ristken Isn't So Bad - .NET Developer Tail Light Employee Review

4.0
Feb 13, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good benefits, no PTO policy, good pay, Mac book Pros (last time I heard), improving architecture and infrastructure, and leadership that cares quite a bit about morale. If a developer demonstrates competency and is mature, he or she will have no problem excelling at Ristken. If a developer is strong, Ristken will reward that developer greatly. This company has the most flexible work schedule I have ever seen. If you need to work from home for a week, just do it. As long as your work is done, the management doesn't care where you work from. Ristken can be an awesome place to work. With that said, you get what you give. Today is Friday the 13th (2/13/2015) so I wouldn't be shocked if the CEO is taking the company on a fun outing today or tonight. Friday the 13th's seem to have a special meaning at Ristken for some reason.

Cons

Ristken is going through growing pains right now. Over the past year or so, they have taken on big customers. Some of these customers forced Ristken to completely reevaluate compliance issues and a ton of other things Ristken didn't have to worry about before. Legacy code still has to be maintained while newer technologies are adopted. Who gets to work on legacy code? The developers who know how to work on it. Who gets to work on new technology? Whoever isn't working on legacy code gets to use AngularJS, etc. It isn't fair, but Ristken is a business, not a school. If a developer is tasked with working on legacy code and he or she wants to use newer technologies to stay current, they should find a way to use the newer technologies, even if it means putting in more time. It will only benefit them in the long run. The Core Values are not just lip service. The CEO really believes in them. However, Ristken is a business and they don't have time to coddle anyone. If a developer complains that the CEO doesn't follow his own core values, that developer should ask himself or herself if he or she is following the core values.

Explore other reviews about Tail Light

5.0
Apr 28, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I spent six years at Tail Light, and it was undoubtedly the best company I've ever worked for. Their design team is meticulous, paying close attention to every detail, while their engineering team is not only talented but also continually leverages the latest technology. They manage to stay pragmatic and humble despite their skills. The CEO shows up every day driven by a genuine passion for his work. It’s rare to find leadership that not only inspires but also makes work enjoyable, as opposed to the greed-driven executives often seen in large corporations.

Cons

If you’re more concerned about which team gets the espresso machine, or the designer-red garbage can, however, you might want to look elsewhere.

5.0
May 12, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Forward looking company, with high ambitions and fresh product ideas. Great core values. We get to work with smart, friendly team mates who care about excellence and want to grow professionally. We have opportunities to explore newer technologies, and are provided the with tools (software, equipment) we need for the job. We have a lot of latitude in PTO, flexible hours, some remote, flexible dress code. We have a good mix of gender and ethnicity. Our process is agile and flexible.

Cons

Like many organizations, our legacy code base is a challenge to maintain, because of dependencies that are difficult to discover. The downside of our "agile and flexible" process is that it is sometimes undisciplined, which increases potential for human error.

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