Let's discuss the precarious position Buildertrend currently finds itself in. The organization entirely depends on the housing market, one of the most volatile markets in the US economy. Buildertrend is a bloated lumbering beast of a company and will be unable to support itself when the housing market crashes again. Executives are already discussing layoffs behind closed doors, shedding long-time contractors, and cutting budgets.
A few reasons you shouldn't work at Buildertrend:
You're not a "Bro." In the case of Buildertrend, leadership is entirely comprised of bros; therefore, Buildertrend culture is "by bros, for bros." Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying this culture is inherently flawed. For example, if you're the kid who tells the cops that your dad is a lawyer when you get pulled over for speeding, you'll probably love Buildertrend. Suppose you're the kind of person who likes to get too drunk during the workday, inappropriately dates your subordinates, and yells obscenities on an airplane. In that case, you'll love Buildertrend and get promoted to director-level. Suppose you love exposing yourself behind a tent at a festival staff. In that case, enjoy your new corner office.
You value career growth at other organizations in Omaha. When you mention that you work at Buildertrend, be prepared for a condescending smirk followed by, "Oh, how's THAT going?" Buildertrend has developed a poor reputation in the Omaha tech scene, and succeeding at Buildertrend is like being a great cook at Denny's - it doesn't matter. Most career professionals in the Omaha area won't touch Buildertrend with a ten-foot pole, and now I understand why.
You value competent coworkers. Regrettably, most managers at Buildertrend lack the essential temperament or qualifications for their positions. They've stumbled into their roles through political maneuvering, sheer luck, or by default because nobody else wanted the job. As a result, these inept managers hire equally unqualified team members. Hiring decisions are often based on "vibes" rather than actual qualifications. Yet, when these managers predictably fail to deliver results, they're promoted out of their positions with zero accountability for their performance.
You outgrew fraternity parties in college. Alcohol is deeply ingrained in Buildertrend's culture. The company seems incapable of constructing a corporate culture around something other than an abundance of cheap, chuggable beer. If you have problems being around alcohol or desire to prioritize your health, I'd consider working somewhere else.
You value your time. You'll find it challenging to carve out precious moments of personal time amidst the ceaseless flood of work-related demands. Should you secure a few days off, don't expect any relaxation - you'll be swamped with urgent messages and pleas to "just take a quick look" at the newest crisis or be outright encouraged to work during your paid time off.
The CEO appears fixated on hosting extravagant and costly parties. Regrettably, the expense of all those balloons and confetti is beginning to take its toll. Unfortunately, everyone could have received a cost-of-living raise if it weren't for BT Unite. It would be great if employees were given a choice: "Would you prefer a grand, pointless party, or would you like more money in your pocket?"
The sales structure at the company is ridiculous. Sales reps are expected to call an unreasonably high number of customers daily. Buildertrend uses the "shotgun approach" to sales - an army of 20-somethings firing wildly into the air, hoping to hit a target. This places a lot of pressure on the reps and can lead to bad practices since they are heavily incentivized through commissions. Unfortunately, this can result in reps making promises to customers that they cannot deliver on to close a sale and earn their commission. Managers are also commission-based, so they have no incentive to clean up their departments.
If you're a woman. Buildertrend exhibits a male-centric culture where inappropriate behavior frequently goes unchecked and is tolerated. Most women I know at Buildertrend have at least one story about harassment from a male colleague. To be candid, it's not a company for genuine professionals. It's a company tailored for white men fresh out of college who can scrape by on a meager income.
You ever need to talk to human resources. Get stuck with an abusive boss? That's tough. You're probably on your own unless Buildertrend thinks they can be sued for something. Make a formal complaint about your boss? Human resources will probably tell your boss that you made the complaint and then sit idly by while they retaliate against you.
Buildertrend's corporate structure is a constantly shifting nightmare. Your manager or department can change at the drop of a hat and you just have to hope that you are able to withstand the constant changes.
Pay could be better and is generally in the lower quartile of what you can expect elsewhere.
It's a shame because Buildertrend could be great if real adults were in the room. I'm sure Buildertrend will claim that most of these complaints are Just part of the "GroWiNg PaInS" that come with being a startup, but they're not. These issues could have and should have been dealt with years ago, but the executive team lacked the foresight or the will to right the ship. I am confident that Buildertrend will be successful in the long term. After all, it's not hard to be a success when you've used venture capital money to buy your competition; however, that doesn't mean you should work at Buildertrend.
