Pros
+ Decent salary, but don't expect any annual salary increases + Fast product development
Cons
- Chinese guanxi is prevalent at TikTok. Individuals with strong connections to Chinese leaders and fluency in Chinese enjoy significantly more opportunities. Many internal roles are filled informally by managers selecting their preferred colleagues. - Colleagues in China often work until midnight or later (996), setting an intense working culture for the entire company. - There is little alignment between management and business objectives. Teams frequently work on similar or competing products, leading to inefficiency. - The travel policy is subpar, with employees expected to stay in 3-star hotels that causes offices like New York to frequently have bed bug issues. Some employees can travel constantly and attend high-end conferences and resorts. No global offsites or efforts to bring teams together. - Frequent reorganizations occur, approximately every 6 to 9 months. Over three years, I had four different managers. - HR often “manages out” teams, typically just before the performance cycle, seemingly to avoid bonuses and reviews. Employees sometimes disappear without explanation, and there is no official communication about team changes or reorganizations.