[read till the end] I received an offer from HiLabs after being approached directly by their recruiter. Initially, everything sounded promising. But after receiving the offer, I started speaking to multiple employees from the company to understand the real culture before making a life-changing decision. Honestly, not a single person had anything positive to say about the management, work culture, or work-life balance.
The common message from everyone was:
Be prepared to work from early morning till midnight regularly
No appreciation no matter how much effort you put in
Constant pressure and unrealistic expectations
No personal life, no peace of mind
Job security depends completely on projects and clients
Fear-driven environment instead of supportive leadership
What disturbed me even more was what happened after I declined the offer respectfully. Instead of accepting my decision professionally, I started receiving abusive and threatening messages saying they would contact my previous company’s HR. That completely shocked me because I have never experienced such behavior from leadership or management before.
A company’s true culture shows when someone says “no” to them. Professional organizations respect decisions. Threats and intimidation only reveal the reality behind the scenes.
Money and titles are not everything. Mental peace, respect, stability, and work-life balance matter a lot more in the long run. Please do proper research, speak to employees privately, and think carefully before making a decision.