Working at Code Particle in Los Angeles, CA: 2 Employee Job Reviews by Real Employee working in Los Angeles, CA Area

"small company run by 3 stooges"

"Great co-workers, not so great boss and bad projects."

What do you like about working at Code Particle?

"Smart, friendly co-workers made working at Code Particle less painful."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"If they offer you the option of going on contract with them instead of perm, go contract, but be sure you bill no more than 40 hours per week, regardless of how many hours you actually work. In the interview, emphasize your ability to follow instructions rather than how well you think for yourself. If they hire you, you will be expected to work within a design by one of the three principals, and any attempts to improve their design will be taken as a personal attack. If you're the kind of person who just wants to be told exactly how to do everything, you'll do well with them. If you like to think for yourself, interview elsewhere."

What don't you like about working at Code Particle?

"Bad, insecure bosses (there are three of them) who feel threatened when one of their employees is better at something than they are. They're entirely dependent on one client to keep them afloat, and that client knows it and uses it to control their decisions, particularly around staffing. They're inflexible about architecture, and don't allow their employees to make any improvements to their (very poor and brittle) designs. Basically, they like employees who aren't as good at development as they are, and who will simply do exactly as they're told without trying to exceed expectations."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"They need to get over themselves and realize they are not the godlike architects/developers they think they are. They should study good design practices until they understand them (they really don't right now, and that's hurting their business), and they should not take suggestions for improvement as personal attacks. They need to learn that when they hire very experienced people, they need to trust those people rather than treating everyone who works for them like they're all idiots and liars."