Booking.com

Pros: I loved the international vibe. As a Product Manager, I got to work with diverse teams. The hybrid work setup in the Amsterdam office was good, offering some flexibility.
Cons: It feels like the collaborative spirit is gone. There's more internal politics now, which makes the company culture tougher. It's not the same big tech feel it once had in the e-commerce travel industry.
Advice to Management: Focus on rebuilding team collaboration. Reduce the internal competition and empower teams more.

Pros: I liked the challenging technical work within the e-commerce space, especially as a Software Engineer. The teams were generally talented, and the hybrid work model from the Amsterdam office was a decent perk.
Cons: Job security has been a big concern due to recent tech layoffs, which feels tough for a big tech company. There's a constant feeling of 'who's next?' within the company, impacting morale and long-term planning.
Advice to Management: Communicate more openly about company strategy and future plans to help ease employee fears around job stability, especially in the online travel industry.

Pros: Working in the Amsterdam office, you meet a ton of international people. That's a huge plus. The vibe in the online travel industry is generally exciting, and the teams are usually pretty smart and dedicated.
Cons: Honestly, the company culture can feel really siloed. As a Software Engineer, I've seen teams struggle to work together across departments. It's a big tech company, and sometimes that means a lot of internal politics rather than real collaboration.
Advice to Management: Focus on breaking down team silos and really foster cross-functional collaboration. Listen to employees more on how to improve day-to-day operations and company culture overall.

Pros: As a Software Engineer in the Amsterdam office, I've got a pretty good hybrid model setup. The flexibility to WFH a few days a week really helps with personal stuff. They also offer a decent amount of PTO, which is nice.
Cons: The biggest challenge for work-life balance here is the global nature of the e-commerce industry. You often have late calls with teams in different time zones, cutting into evenings. Project deadlines can get intense, especially during big releases.
Advice to Management: Try to better coordinate meeting times for global teams to reduce late evening calls for the Amsterdam-based staff. Encourage managers to push back on unrealistic deadlines more often.

Pros: The hybrid model means I don't have to be in the Amsterdam office five days a week, which is a relief. For Software Engineer roles, you usually get 2-3 days in the office. This work flexibility helps a lot with personal appointments and avoiding the daily commute. It's a decent arrangement for a big tech player in the travel tech industry.
Cons: The "flexibility" isn't true remote work, though. You're still expected in the office on specific days, so planning trips or longer remote stints is tough. It feels more like a fixed hybrid schedule than real choice. Sometimes, teams enforce more in-office days than the official company policy, which is annoying for an e-commerce platform.
Advice to Management: Really look at offering true remote options for experienced tech talent. The current hybrid model isn't as flexible as it's often advertised for this competitive travel tech industry.

Pros: Salaries for Software Engineer roles are pretty competitive, especially for the Amsterdam market. They've got a decent base pay and yearly bonuses in this online travel agency. It's a reliable salary for a big tech company, you won't starve.
Cons: The benefits package isn't amazing compared to other tech companies. Healthcare and retirement contributions feel pretty standard, not generous. Don't expect many unique perks or high-value extras.
Advice to Management: Focus on enhancing the overall benefits package beyond just salary. Look at more competitive healthcare plans or unique wellness perks to attract and retain top talent in travel tech. It would make a huge difference.

Pros: The WFH options are great when your team utilizes them. It's a perk of working for a big tech company, offering a fair bit of autonomy for my work. I could often manage my own schedule for focused coding periods.
Cons: Work flexibility really depends on your manager and specific team. Some teams are more strict about office days in the Amsterdam office, which feels inconsistent. It's not always a true hybrid model, sometimes it's more forced onsite.
Advice to Management: Standardize the hybrid model across all departments. Make sure all teams offer similar flexibility for remote work, not just some. It's tough when some people have a great setup and others don't.

Pros: The overall e-commerce travel market is strong, so business is generally good. You learn a ton working here as a software engineer, which helps with future job prospects. They offer solid benefits for employees in the Amsterdam office.
Cons: Job security isn't great. There have been several rounds of layoffs, which makes everyone nervous. Restructuring is frequent, especially for product development roles, creating a feeling of instability.
Advice to Management: Try to provide more clarity on long-term strategy and avoid frequent, large-scale restructures. It really impacts morale and developer retention. Stability helps with innovation too.