Or… 5 Reasons why you’ll want to join Thanx and never leave.

While this article is written from the perspective of a product designer, the ideals shared here, truly apply to any role.

Having worked at startups for over 8 years, I’m no stranger to the ups and downs that are commonplace in this industry. From ever flowing kegs and office massage chairs, to tiny teams working out of warehouses, I’ve seen the best and worst of what the start-up world has to offer. I’ve been on teams where multiple catered meals a day were the norm, and teams where meals were my only form of compensation. At the end of the day, there are three factors I’ve found which make a role worth pursuing; the values demonstrated by the company, the people I’ll be working with, and the opportunities for growth (both personally and professionally).

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Working at Thanx not only meets these criteria, but continues to exceed my expectations on all fronts. Here are 5 solid reasons you’ll want to work and stay at Thanx.

1. Core Values

Most startups I’ve worked at had a set of company values — usually displayed on some sleekly designed poster around the office (at least when offices were still a thing). While most companies have some set of guiding principles or values, I find many times they feel more cosmetic than true creed.

Upon joining Thanx, it was immediately apparent our values weren’t just for show, but were an integral part of the culture. There are numerous ways in which team members are acknowledged when demonstrating one of these core values, be it a call-out in team meeting, or getting to design some fun Thanx swag. At the core, these values encourage leadership, empathy, inclusiveness, transparency, and diversity. At Thanx, we check our egos at the door, and work together to grow together.

2. Culture of Gratitude

An important tradition, and central part of our culture, is saying “Thanx” to each other; this creates a culture of gratitude and appreciation. What began as a literal round table of expressing gratitude, now exists as a live feed for us to “Thanx” our colleagues for thoughtful actions, accomplishments or just for putting a smile on someones face. This infinite stream of gratitude helps cultivate a positive culture and allows team members to feel genuinely appreciated for their efforts.

3. Ethical Leadership and Company Transparency

Prior to starting at Thanx, I had the terrible -but not atypical- experience of losing my job of nearly 2 years; no warning, no severance and an approach that made me feel as though I was a disposable unit, instead of a human being. When this type of experience is the norm, it’s difficult to feel enthusiastic about one’s work. As with all startups, there is always some risk involved, and while that’s true even at Thanx, the things that allow me to feel confident in my role are communication and transparency.

The leadership team at Thanx has made communication and transparency a top priority across the entire company. When the pandemic hit and decisions had to be made on a weekly basis as new information came in, our leadership team clearly and frequently communicated any upcoming changes, and created space for us to ask questions, express concerns and offer suggestions. A discussion group for employees came together with leadership to collect input on how “we,”the Thanx employees, wanted to work given the current situation. Surveys also went out to the entire team, and we eventually transitioned from an in-office culture to a distributed-first team. At Thanx, we also have the opportunity to submit anonymous questions to the leadership team on a weekly basis; the CEO never shys away from a question, even when it’s difficult. The leadership at Thanx is truly unique in how well they listen to their employees and how transparent they are with the status of the company.

4. Personal Growth

One of the challenges of working in a highly saturated market is that for most companies, tech employees are disposable. There are always people willing to work harder for less pay; it is rare you find a team where the culture supports and encourages internal growth and promotion. In the two years I’ve been at Thanx, I’ve seen more employees within the company get promoted to higher roles, regardless of gender, race, etc. — purely based on hard work and contributions. Employees are asked on a regular basis about their goals as well as skill gaps, and how the team might better support them in achieving their personal objectives. I started as a contractor and am now in charge of design for the entire consumer-facing experience. I’ve seen tremendous personal and professional growth in my teammates as well.

5. Equitable Pay over Fancy Perks

While some companies choose to appeal to potential employees with free perks — these tend to be branded items that are essentially free advertising for the company. Now I’m not against free stuff if it’s useful, but really, how many free t-shirts does anybody need? At Thanx you may not find as many fancy perks, but what’s lacking in perks is compensated in pay. The team at Thanx does their homework to ensure that all employees earn a wage that is competitive for their location and skill level. (Every six months they validate that all jobs are being paid at market rates using multiple sources of industry specific compensation data). Thanx acknowledges personal growth in a way I’ve yet to see mirrored by other companies.

To sum it all up — you can keep your free meals, your custom clothing, and your ever-flowing kegs of stale beer; I’ll still choose good people over good things. If your goal is find a role among really, smart and motivated people, under thoughtful leadership, Thanx is the way to go.

https://www.thanx.com/careers/