The environment is highly competitive. TravelPerk’s culture is based on appearances, creating a “7-star” image that doesn’t reflect reality. Software engineers are often evaluated more on what they document and communicate rather than on their technical execution, which affects the company’s product quality. I've seen highly talented colleagues put on PIPs or even dismissed for “underperformance,” based on totally subjective and biased opinions.
The engineering career path is fundamentally flawed, where "communication" is rewarded over execution. As a result, we see impressive projections but poor execution.
Due to the competitive atmosphere, it’s common to encounter colleagues who withhold information, work in silos, or even “betray” others.
This is further emphasized in the famous “End of the Week” meetings, where a false sense of excellence is projected, with individuals showcasing an image of success that doesn’t bring any real benefit—financial or otherwise—to the company, as this success is merely a bluff.
As with other aspects, at TravelPerk, diversity is merely superficial. There isn’t a truly multicultural environment, nor an inclusive age range—rather, it’s distinctly Anglo-Saxon and skewed towards younger individuals, with those who 'stand out' fitting a specific personality type. If your English skills are not fluent, you may be treated as a second-class citizen, missing promotion opportunities, or even being evaluated as low-performing and dismissed.