Pros
I’ve been a member of the VALD team for over two years, and have experienced a range of opportunities and challenges here – all of which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. It’s a collaborative, fast-paced and agile workplace that has helped me progress in my career more than I could’ve expected. Having worked in more traditional businesses in the past, this has been a breath of fresh air, as I’ve felt that I’ve got out exactly what I’ve put in, rather than being stuck in a strict hierarchy or inflexible career path. While at VALD, I’ve regularly been given opportunities to step up and perform under pressure, for example when new products are being released or for specific product delivery milestones. This hasn’t been easy, as management’s expectations are set very high, but this has brought out the best in me and helped me produce work I’m truly proud of. This has been all the more rewarding when my work contributes to our team delivering a big, bold goal like launching a new product or delivering on a critical contract. More than anything, the people at VALD are what make this such a rewarding place to work – they’re intelligent, passionate and friendly but also frank and honest, which means we don’t always agree, but we always push each other to be better. Having read some of the negative reviews here, I can say that they don’t reflect my experience at VALD at all. I cannot comment on individual circumstances, but I do believe that the negative reviews are more likely to be due to a mismatch in expectations, rather than any deeper cultural issue at VALD. A few others have said it in their reviews, but VALD is definitely not for everyone – our culture encourages candour, which I know many people wouldn’t enjoy, but it’s also a culture where good ideas and results always win out, regardless of role or rank. I have benefitted from this culture myself, as I’ve worked very hard but always felt like I’ve been rewarded for it. I think that for anyone looking to be challenged and supported while being part of an innovative, fast-growing company in an exciting industry, this is for you. If you’re willing to work hard, take on frank feedback and direction, try new and sometimes daunting things, make mistakes and learn from them, you’ll thrive here. Above all else, for anyone considering joining the team at VALD, I’d encourage you to come in for a meeting and judge the environment and culture for yourself. This is a truly great business and it would be a shame for great people to miss out on an opportunity at VALD on account of a few bad reviews from former staff. If nothing else, you’ll get a top-notch coffee and (if you time it right) a free breakfast or lunch made by the in-house kitchen staff for your time.
Cons
Parking can be an issue but Vald has subsidised a few parking locations in the area - which is far more than most businesses in the area.
