Pros
It's honestly not worth having a 'Big Name' on your CV as you're practically selling your soul and life to the ByteDance organisation which lacks empathy and does not promote diversity internally or on the platform. Absolutely awful organisation to work for.
Cons
I have worked for some incredible organisations in the past and working for TikTok has been the worst experience of my career. If you're being headhunted by TikTok during the COVID-19 period then I'd resist the temptation to join and would look elsewhere; here's my raw and unfiltered truth on why you should pass any offer to work for TikTok. 1. UNORGANISED IN ALL ASPECTS: This organisation and its leaders do not believe in processes. You will be expected to continue working in the same unorganised way as your team even if establishing new process would be a win for the entire organisation. 2. AWFUL MANAGEMENT: I was discriminated and bullied by my manager and another colleague where HR turned a blind eye to the discrimination. Senior Managers are extremely inexperienced in managing team members - My manager was extremely unorganised and could not keep up with their own work let alone mine where I was expected to deliver without being given access to the right tools or resources to succeed. My manager even created TWO task lists where neither matched one another and was wondering why no progress was made despite sharing updates everyday and keeping them informed. 3. NOTHING IS LOCALISED: Be prepared to feel overwhelmed and be expected to use bespoke tools and processes which are all written in Chinese including emails with no way to translate this information. 4. TOXIC HR: I placed a meeting with the HR team who accepted my invitation and did not attend despite sharing follow-up emails - No apology was given or reason for being ghosted; extremely unprofessional. 5. GENERIC JOB DESCRIPTIONS: Let's be real - TikTok is growing at such a fast rate that they dont know what they need or want in terms of resource. Be prepared to be underpaid and do a role suitable for 4 individuals and then be ready to be questioned by your manager on why no minimum progress has been made in one element of your role. 6. ZERO WORK LIFE BALANCE: I was working 12 hour shifts including weekends and burnt out on my third week. My manager was aware of the hours I was putting in and did not recognise this hard work or effort - It was expected because they were also working on weekends and 12 hour shifts. 7. UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS TO DELIVER: Your manager and team will expect you to deliver but will not give you the training and resources needed to set you up for success. 8. ZERO DIVERSITY: There is no diversity internally or on the platform - No Diversity & Belonging groups. 9. TOXIC TEAMS: The central team are extremely toxic and were an absolute nightmare to work with and would not be willing to support you or set you up for success. 10. EGOS: My team had some HUGE Egos that felt bruised as processes and progress was made to unlock business efficiencies - No surprise as TikTok would fall head over heels for you if you've worked at Facebook or Google before. The jealousy was very real.
