Horrible hiring process. Hope you don't get a bad roll of the dice! - Senior Software Engineer CarGurus Employee Review

1.0
8 Aug 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Free lunch, high salaries. Technically unlimited PTO but they track it to make you feel guilty about taking it.

Cons

In retrospect, there were a ton of red flags in the hiring process. First, the interviewers were completely disorganized. I don't think any of them had actually looked at my resume, and they certainly didn't coordinate at all. Two of them asked me basically the same question, and one was literally the same question that I had done in the phone screen. Once you're hired, basically you go into a queue and when you start you're put on whatever team has "dibs" on the next people. There's no attempt to match people to their skills or interests. I got on a team that I had no experience for, and they were unwilling to accept a ramp up time, so I was in trouble from day 1 for not being able to contribute fast enough. I tried to get switched to another team and there was no way to do that. If you're on a backend team, you're expected to be available 24/7. The site breaks all the time, so you're literally always working. No mercy if you have any kind of social life outside of work.

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CarGurus Response
6y
I appreciate your honest feedback. We are constantly taking feedback such as yours and looking for ways of improving our hiring process. Looks like you caught us on a bad day! When we hire, we attempt to match you up with the team that best suits your skills. If you qualify for multiple teams, we try to match you up with a team that has the greatest need that also matches your interests. Again, this is likely a breakdown in our hiring process and we will look into improvements on that front. Your experience regarding inability to move between teams or the after-hours work commitment don't line up with our culture. I would like to further understand where the disconnect is. Please feel free to reach out to me to discuss further. - Kyle

Explore other reviews about CarGurus

5.0
15 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible workplace that prioritizes professional and personal development. Amazing office and perks that motivate you to come to the office. Culture is strong, people work hard and support each other.

Cons

Sometimes unclear career progression opportunities.

5.0
14 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Having completed my first three months as a Senior Engineering Manager, my experience has been very positive so far. Excellent Culture: The organization fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive culture where people are encouraged to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and work together toward common goals. Leadership is approachable, and there is a strong focus on transparency and continuous improvement. Great Team: I have had the opportunity to work with a highly talented, knowledgeable, and supportive team. Everyone is willing to help, share expertise, and contribute to collective success, making onboarding and collaboration seamless. Technology-Forward and Innovation-Driven, The company embraces modern technologies and remains technology-agnostic, selecting the best tools and platforms for the problem at hand rather than being tied to specific vendors. The organization is proactive in exploring emerging technologies, including cloud, platform engineering, and AI, which creates an exciting environment for learning and innovation. Overall, my first three months have reinforced that this is a great place to grow professionally while working on meaningful and technically challenging initiatives.

Cons

The hybrid work model requires employees to be in the office three days per week, which may not suit everyone. However, I personally appreciate the opportunity to collaborate face-to-face, build relationships, and connect with colleagues. Combined with the office perks and supportive environment, I do not currently have any major cons to report.

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