Agh, Seattle. Whether you come for the indie concerts, killer coffee, nearby nature, or a walk through that new card-free Amazon store (bye, paycheck), you’ll stay for the serious professional opportunities in this growing city.
Although the sun’s not out often in Seattle, your future is bright at any of these seven companies that call it home.
seattle companies: the big seven
PayScale
Sick of side-eyeing the guy in the office who definitely doesn’t deserve to make more money than you for the same work? Fair and transparent pay is par for the course at PayScale, an online database of salary information. Between the equal pay and unlimited PTO, PayScale is a particularly welcome place for working women.
Beyond the basics, PayScale also helps its employees stay healthy and happy with discounted gym memberships, lockers and showers to encourage biking or running to work, and adjustable standing-sitting desks. If that’s not enough to sell you on PayScale, some added perks include bottomless coffee, free snacks, transit discounts, and Fido Fridays, a monthly “bring your dog to work” day. Equal pay and puppies in the office? Sold.
PayScale employee on Glassdoor (condensed for length): “I've worked for two Fortune 50 companies in my career and PayScale hands down runs their business better than either of them. Wonderful collaborative culture, best leadership in the biz, plenty of room for growth, forward thinking and innovative CEO. Even if your career path doesn't indicate that you retire here, it will certainly look great on your resume and open many other doors for you down the road.”
Microsoft
From your morning drive to after-hours bonding with coworkers, Microsoft has you covered. The company’s shuttle buses help employees sidestep commuter stress (which they offer for interviewees, too), and those who drive can use one of Microsoft’s electric car charging stations. On their lunch breaks, workers can not only hit the full-service gym, they can rent out sports equipment, window shop at the ski, bike, and other on-site retail shops, or meet with one of the company’s many social clubs.
Microsoft doesn’t just entertain its employees, it supports them, too. The company offers birth and adoptive parents 12 weeks of paid leave, and additional disability time. Microsoft doesn’t just accommodate working moms, it also offers resource groups for parents and women, with others for members of racial minorities and disabled workers.
A Microsoft employee on Glassdoor: “Amazing benefits. Flexible work schedule. Passionate and intelligent colleagues. Many career paths and options. Generous stock awards. Competitive total compensation.”
Photos courtesy of (left to right) Ana Raab, Elizabeth Kathryn.OfferUp
The 9-to-5 never sounded so fun than at OfferUp, an online platform for local buying and selling. Alongside the standard happy hours and patio parties, OfferUp’s company Facebook page features birthday shoutouts for staff members and game nights at pubs. Oh, and pictures of their party bus. Combined with Glassdoor reviews referencing “beer and demo meetings” and “kegerators,” that’s a good sign of a fun workspace.
But everyone needs a break sometimes. Should they tire of their surroundings, employees can escape outdoors. Situated in a nature park in scenic Bellevue, the company provides kayaks and paddleboards for employees to de-stress on the water.
And OfferUp empowers its women employees, too: the company sponsors women in tech conferences annually. Want to apply ASAP? You’re not alone: its headcount has doubled this year.
An OfferUp employee on Glassdoor: “Your teammates are dedicated, motivated, innovative, and some of the funniest people around. Still a ground floor opportunity where you can have an immediate impact. Your only limitation will be the number of hours in the day. Leadership has been quick to ask for and implement feedback and expand benefits. They are incredibly transparent and insightful. Beer and Demo meetings are the best!”
REI
As an outdoor retailer, REI is naturally committed to helping its employees pursue their own adventures—so much that they completely shut down on Black Friday so they can spend time on all those nearby trails and mountains. Employees receive a 50 percent discount on gear that can they use on many company-sponsored backpacking trips, most of which are discounted at 30 percent. Employees can also learn orienteering, mountaineering, or other skills at REI’s Outdoor School.
All of that exploration takes time, though. In addition to its PTO, REI’s Yay Days let employees take off work twice per year for physical activities or environmental volunteering. Employees venturing further afield, i.e., climbing Mount Everest, can apply for funding through the Challenge Grant.
And although it’s become a national company, REI has remained true to its roots as a co-op through its profit sharing program.
An REI employee on Glassdoor: “There is a reason REI gets voted one of Forbes’ best companies to work for every year. Overall, the company stays true to their core Co-Op values, the employees share the same enthusiasm for the outdoors and even though Kent is a far drive for most Seattle-ites, it is worth going into work every day. The discounts on gear are also awesome.”
Photos courtesy of Glassdoor.Zillow
All you need to know: office Oktoberfest party. If you already lust over your dream homes on Zillow, consider Zillow—one of Seattle Business Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For—one of your dream companies.
Seriously, between the St Patrick’s Day, Cinco De Mayo, and Halloween parties, the annual talent show, and the Zillow office’s everyday perks, it’s hard to imagine employees fitting in any time for, you know, their jobs.
After a stressful meeting, employees can swing by the game room for some Ping-pong, shuffleboard, and video games, or hear politicians and CEO give guest talks. If they can’t spare time for a sesh at the onsite gym, they can still work a (light) sweat at their reservable treadmill desks. They also receive a free Fitbit along with fitness challenges via the app Everymove. Zillow also helps its employees on the nutrition side of equation with fresh fruit delivery (though the candy wall and frozen yogurt machine have probably cancelled out more than one healthy choice).
But what if you’re a sleepless new mom who just wants the basics, like a generous leave policy and a toilet-free place to pump? Zillow delivers for its working moms as well, offering 16 weeks of paid maternity leave (with eight for new dads), a fully-equipped nursing room with hospital-grade pumps, and emergency backup child care.
A Zillow employee on Glassdoor: “Zillow has a terrific internal culture and a great sense of work/life balance. Despite the high expectations at work, it's entirely possible to unplug for an evening, weekend, or vacation and set work aside. The company recognizes talent and quality contributions and there are a lot of opportunities to move up.”
Starbucks
OK, let’s get the obvious perks (pun totally intended) out of the way: all employees receive a pound of free coffee a week and a 30 percent discount on all company products.
Starting this October, the company will offer six weeks paid maternity leave to baristas working 20-plus hours per week and 12 weeks for corporate employees. The company also provides $10,000 for adoption expenses. Once parents return to work, they, and any employee, can use Starbucks’ short-term counseling services for stress, emotional difficulties, or workplace issues, And if those personal challenges cause money problems, employees can turn the Caring Unites Partners Fund, which supports employees experiencing a financial crisis due to illness, the death of a family member, natural disaster, or other emergency.
Some other big benefits include discounted stock options with 100 percent vesting and The Starbucks College Achievement Plan, which not only funds online degree programs for employees, but provides a dedicated enrollment coach, financial aid counselor and academic advisor to help them succeed there.
A Starbucks employee on Glassdoor: “Starbucks is definitely a company one can feel proud to be associated with. The people are truly a top priority. The level of authenticity found at Starbucks is hard to come by in the corporate world. From a professional standpoint, teams seem very "flat" (not hierarchical), and the company prioritizes mobility through different teams (on average, people spend 18 months or less in a particular role). The 30 percent discount isn’t a bad perk either.”
Photos courtesy of Glassdoor.Expedia
Expedia employees are always counting down to their next vacation. But who wouldn’t? With generous PTO and steep flight and hotel discounts, this travel company grants its employees the time and money they need for their own bucket list trips. But they’re happy in their Bellevue, Washington, office as well, thanks to the company’s many benefits. Most important? Working moms receive 12 weeks paid maternity leave and an additional six weeks unpaid. Expedia, another of Seattle Business Magazine’s best workplaces, helps employees help themselves and their communities, too. The company gives a $600 annual stipend for fitness and matches workers’ charitable donations up to $4,000 each year. Employees can also have $15 donated to a charity of choice for every hour that they volunteer, up to a $1,000 maximum.
And if you’ve ever tossed and turned the night before a big performance review, Expedia feels your struggle. Several years ago, the company did any with performance ratings in favor of ongoing evaluation, with a goal of providing, "more communication and tools to out-perform what you thought possible.”
An Expedia employee on Glassdoor: “Great culture. Employees are passionate about travel and like to create great travel experiences for the customers. Good work-life balance. This is the first place I've worked where the executives and senior leaders genuinely advocate for using all of your vacation time to travel and see things. People are smart and capable.”
get started in seattle
See yourself in Seattle? Pack your best pair of rainboots and run to any of these fantastic companies. Or look at one of Seattle’s many highly rated small companies, like Snap! Raise, Bonanza, and iTrellis (all rated 4.8 stars or above on Glassdoor). No matter what you pick—giant tech company, intimate startup, or something in between— you’ll kickstart your career and still enjoy Seattle has to offer.
