Pros
I have worked at Handshake for over five years and have seen it grow tremendously in revenue and headcount. Like any fast paced high growth org, it has had its share of growing pains. However, in my 15+ years in sales, I can easily say I have enjoyed my experience working for Handshake over any other job. The mission of the company is real and I have seen its impact firsthand. I've had the opportunity to work with some really great people over the years. The product offers very demonstrable value to customers, and I've been able to be successful at my goals year after year for over five years. Like any industry or company, there have been some challenging quarters. As with any company that is growing fast, there is pressure to perform. In my career I've been at many places where there is pressure to meet your numbers and very little done when the market is not responding to what is being offered. Handshake generally has a very good culture, it's something that is clearly important to its founder and CEO and while no org is going to always get things right, I have found the company willing to hear feedback and is striving to iterate and improve. I've felt comfortable offering constructive criticism when I felt it was warranted, and more often than not, I have felt that my concerns were heard. In my five plus years here I have had my second child, and have seen my oldest child start her first couple of years of school. I have been able to balance my life and family with my professional obligations, and have been able to capitalize on the opportunity to make good commission. I was recruited to work here by a former colleague and friend and have referred others to do so as well.
Cons
Handshake is a high growth organization and growing pains are to be expected. Some of the go to market rollouts have been less than ideal from a sales contributor perspective, but the upside is that the company is quick to assess and make changes. This type of environment requires you to be highly adaptable in order to succeed. It is not for everyone, but I think its the best way to stay relevant and in my opinion offers the best shot at continued opportunity for sales growth. I've worked at other places where innovation and a market leading position allowed the company and sales staff to get comfortable, which can be nice for a while but never lasts.