Strategically Building a Culture of Empowerment
Algolia is a San Francisco-based start-up that offers clients web search products through the Software as a Service Model. They provide tools that make it easy for developers to create and maintain memorable search experiences on digital platforms. They also make tools to analyze the impact that those experiences have.
They are a company that has put a strong emphasis on values and culture. Algolia founders see culture as one of the number one factors to their continued growth. They create a diverse and fun environment while empowering their employees to succeed.
Diving Into the Values at Algolia
Before Algolia was created in 2012, the minds behind the company sat down and thought hard about what they wanted it to be. Not only what they wanted the product to be, but what they wanted the company to be and to stand for. They ended up with 5 core values:
"I have a philosophy. If you hire the right people and empower them, then magic will happen." That is a quote from Algolia co-founding member and CEO, Nicolas Dessaigne.
Algolians
The People of Algolia
There are 28 different nationalities represented in Algolia. That is the definition of cultured. Those are the kind of people that Algolia likes to have on board; cultured individuals who thrive in international contexts. It is a collaborative group of people who know how to effectively communicate with people from across the world. It is also a group of people who live Algolia's core values, and take control of their work.
Algolians are very inviting and accepting. They love to see their work-family grow.
A Culture of Ownership
Algolians Taking Control
The founders of Algolia knew they wanted to focus heavily on creating a strong company culture, but actually creating one is a little more difficult. They eventually landed on the idea of forging a culture built on ownership.
"We want to create a company where every team member takes initiative, gets out of their comfort zone, is empowered to make decisions; in short: is free to be their best. We want owners, we want people who act as if it was their company, people who realize that, actually, it is their company," Dessaigne said.
That all goes back to empowering employees. The company does several things to empower its people. They offer workshops and classes for professional and personal development. The classes range from language classes to workshops on topics like public speaking.
It is also a culture of giving back. If you chose to donate money to a charity, the company will match your donation. Algolia plants trees all the time to help balance their carbon footprint. They also participate in a number of other charitable events themselves.
The Benefits at Algolia
Whatever You Need, They've Got
Algolia offers Algolians a great, comprehensive set of benefits. They offer private medical insurance, life and disability insurance, business travel insurance and relocation support if necessary. Some other perks of being an Algolian are:
But working for Algolia is more than just working for a paycheck. It is working towards making something special.
And with locations in Paris, London, San Francisco, New York, Tokyo, and Atlanta, there is a chance you might get to do some traveling.
The Interview at Algolia
The interview process with Algolia is a very structured and straightforward one. After submitting an application, if they think you would be a good fit, a recruiter will reach out to you. This is where you will discuss your interests, motivations, and background. It is rare that Algolia looks for extremely specific experiences, but instead aims to understand why you've ended up applying for a job at Algolia.
If the recruiter finds a role that seems fitting, you will then go through a video call with the hiring manager, or someone from that team. That interviewer will want to know your applicable skills and experience. This is also a great opportunity for you to learn as much about the position as possible. You may be told ahead of time to prepare for a short exercise.
If you make it through that round, you will be given an assignment to complete that showcases your expertise. There is not one single answer to the assignments. They are used as a way to figure out your methodology of work. And if you do well there, you will be brought to an on-site interview to meet the team and get a feel for the culture and environment.
Make sure you do your research on the company beforehand. They take their values and culture very seriously and expect that Algolians will do the same.
