Pros
I've had excellent experiences with nearly everyone on the Lineup team. The camaraderie is genuine and that makes Lineup a rewarding place to work. The management style overall is collaborative, and employees have a lot of autonomy, which is great for a certain work style. If you're a "go-getter" who doesn't like being micro-managed, you'll enjoy it here. Even though Lineup isn't a start-up anymore, they've maintained a lot of things I like about working for start-ups: upper management is accessible and willing to listen, the pace is fast, and you'll have a lot of opportunities to wear multiple hats and experiment. That's not for everyone, but it's been great for me. Since I joined, Lineup has made a real effort to become a product-driven company. There have been bumps along the way, but I'm impressed with the way change is managed here overall. I've really enjoyed my time in both the US and London offices - we sure have fun! Though there is a LOT of work to do, I really appreciate the way upper management have tried to emphasize and protect work-life balance. We block off an hour for lunch every day and are instructed not to schedule meetings over that time. We are encouraged to take a half day here and there when life conflicts with work. And even before Covid, the ability to work from home when needed was always appreciated. The mentorship opportunities here are really great - IF you ask and commit to taking advice and making time for such interactions.
Cons
The friendliness of upper management can sometimes veer into inappropriate. I've heard (directly and indirectly) many off-color jokes that I wish I had not. While I appreciate that I can speak up when those instances have happened, I would prefer if friendliness didn't turn unprofessional. The fast-paced culture can sometimes mean you're brought into projects outside your remit, with tight deadlines and high expectations. Definitely not for everyone. There is an odd obsession with job titles for a company with a pretty horizontal management structure? I've heard comments like "Well, someone of my level wouldn't do that," while mid-level employees tackle anything that comes their way. There's a tendency to move projects and deadlines around that is tough to manage - both internal projects and customer-facing ones. There is no standardized hiring process at Lineup - which I imagine contributes to some of the negative reviews here. Everyone emphasizes 'culture,' but there is no clear process for determining cultural fit. Turnover seems low for managers good at hiring, and high for managers who aren't as good at hiring. Is that any wonder when there's no clear process?
