Come for the pay transparency, stay for the strong relationships
My old job was telling me that I was going to have to go back into the office full-time. So it was time to start looking.
I knew two things: I wanted to keep doing Frontend Development, and I wanted to move across the country. I remember applying for so many jobs, and Tensure was one of the companies that asked me to interview. I was skeptical at first since I was used to working at much older, larger companies. But then I started actually meeting people who worked here.
In past jobs, I felt constant pressure to find my own work, to somehow get myself onto a project, but Tensure isn’t like that. If I’m on a project that ends, I know that there’s a whole team of people working to find a new project for me. It’s like “we’re in this together,” and I know it’s not all on me to find work.
In past jobs, everyone was hyper-focused on billable hours, but Tensure isn’t like that. During the interview process, I talked with people who were located all across the country, living full lives outside of work, getting to travel and spend time with their families and see the world.
At all the places you interview, think about the people you meet during that process. Would you want to work with those people, every day? Do they seem like they’re having fun? Like they’re living lives outside of work? No? Then what are you doing!?
Pay transparency means that I know I’m getting treated fairly. That’s important to me.
At my old job, I felt constantly frustrated with issues of pay disparities and lack of opportunity for career progression. Lots of companies say “we pay fairly,” but they don’t put their money where their mouth is, and then they have the audacity to tell YOU not to talk about your comp!
Seeing the salary for the role (not the range, the actual salary) right there on the Tensure job posting was such a breath of fresh air. I can feel confident knowing that everyone at my level is making what I’m making and that my contribution is just as valuable as theirs in terms of compensation.
I also know that there is a clear path to getting promoted since we all have a Talent Advocate who talks with us about that at least once a month.
You have to think about your quality of life, on a day-to-day basis.
Fully-remote work is amazing, but I was a bit worried about the culture — like how am I going to still be able to connect with the people I work with?
I shouldn’t have worried, mostly because now I know I get to be a part of the solution. This team works hard to stay engaged without making a bunch of mandatory meetings. It’s a tricky balance, but I think we do a good job.
One of the things I like most about this team is the people. I have lots of opportunities to connect with my teammates, despite the fact that I’m now on the West Coast (yes, I made the move) and the rest of us are spread out across timezones from Hawaii to Florida.
I know a lot of people here, and I’ve made friends, even more than I knew at previous jobs. I wish more people knew how awesome remote work is from a work culture perspective. It’s all about where you put your focus.
Tensure is focused on being a great place to work, and I believe it’s working.
