Synapse Product Development Reviews

Pros

Great group of people working on exciting projects. The team in SF has a real family feel and they put time and effort into cultivating their unique and vibrant culture. True emphasis on work/life balance (it's not just a slogan at Synapse....they really want you to have a rich life outside of the office). And speaking of the office, the space is really cool!

Cons

Every company has its issues and Synapse is no exception in this area, but they lean towards trying to address/fix them before they grow out of control. If there was one area to address this year it would be the lack of diversity.

Advice to Management

Diversify, diversify, diversify. Force yourselves and your teams to get out of your respective comfort zones and hire people that don't look, think or behave like you.

Pros

Great culture, collaborative, fun, supportive, smart group of people.

Cons

Salaries below market, career growth is limited for more senior resources, could do more to foster development/growth, accountability for marginal or poor performance is lax.

Advice to Management

Improve coaching, mentoring and career management skills of your people managers. Need sharpen the managerial skills on how to turn individual contributors into team leaders, coach on how to delegate effectively, foster high impact communications, turn technical skillmasters into effective consultant communicators who can speak to business outcomes.

Pros

Work-life balance is great. Lots of different clients bringing diverse and challenging projects. Co-workers are all friendly and fun people. Management seems to be transparent.

Cons

Lack of career growth. You will move up slower than peers at other companies. Pay is not competitive in the Seattle market. Nature of consulting means that there will be busy periods followed by slow periods, which can cause concern.

Pros

Awesome place to work, really great and down-to-earth people who do some impressive work

Cons

None that I can think of

Pros

Synapse has a knack for mostly not hiring jerks, which makes for a fun, collaborative atmosphere that allows people to be themselves. It gives off a West-Coast tech company vibe, minus the toxic bro culture you often find in such places. The work-life balance is stellar. There is a climbing wall, gourmet espresso, and beer on tap. The main office occupies a hip space in older mid-rise building in downtown Seattle....

Cons

There seems to be fewer opportunities for career development than at larger companies - this is partially a result of low turnover among people in management.

Advice to Management

Some steps have been taken recently to help foster career growth - I would like to see more of this. It will be a challenge to stay profitable while expanding the horizons of your employees. Synapse is good at challenges. Let's do this.

Pros

Flexible work - life balance, exciting clients and work projects, face paced and collaborative working life.

Cons

Change is hard for some.

Advice to Management

Encourage continued collaboration across all sections of the company!

Pros

Colleagues were cordial and management accessible

Cons

Shortest FTE stint ever. Poor planning costed me and dozens of others our jobs.

Advice to Management

It is hard to advice management when there is a revolving door up there

Pros

Great people and strong culture

Cons

Ups and downs of small companies and not a lot of experienced management