Disappointing Experience at Zendesk - Account Executive Zendesk Employee Review

2.0
22 Aug 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nice Office, in good location. Some colleagues and senior managers are very nice and helpful, but there are more toxic people than good ones.

Cons

My time at Zendesk has been less than satisfying due to several glaring issues that seem to stem from management decisions. One of the most concerning aspects is the lack of a clear strategy from upper management. The sole focus appears to be on sales and profits, while the quality of products and customer support takes a back seat. This shift has left our backend team struggling to provide adequate support, affecting our customer relationships. The company's culture is another concern. I've observed a number of salespeople who seem to prioritize stealing accounts over doing actual work. This, coupled with toxic internal politics, has created a tense atmosphere within the Sales organization. Unfortunately, the workload is also unfairly distributed among the Sales team. We're expected to handle everything with minimal resources, including Solution Consultants, leading to unnecessary competition among us. While performance metrics are heavily emphasized, actual support is lacking, especially for markets requiring local language assistance. The lack of clear processes, particularly within the Sales Operations department, has led to even more frustration. The politics and team dynamics here are toxic, making collaboration difficult. What's most disheartening is the company's apparent disregard for existing customers' experiences. The sole focus on sales has led to a disregard for customer satisfaction, undermining the very essence of quality service. Additionally, the incentives and employee benefits leave much to be desired. The recent cutbacks, including switching to a lower-cost health insurance that's difficult to claim, have been disappointing. Collaborative activities that fostered team spirit have been eliminated as well. Furthermore, the company's history of workforce reduction has left us short-staffed, leading to an overwhelming workload for those remaining. In summary, Zendesk's current state is a far cry from what I had hoped for. The management's singular focus on profits and sales has resulted in neglecting product quality, customer support, and the overall well-being of employees. Toxic politics, an imbalanced workload, and dwindling benefits have made my time here less than fulfilling. Unless there are substantial changes, I can't recommend Zendesk as a positive work environment.

Explore other reviews about Zendesk

5.0
30 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great place to work and great benefits

Cons

None so long as you like working for a large company

1.0
29 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There is a strong concentration of talented people who bring valuable external experience and perspective to the company. Compensation and benefits — including time off — are competitive. Work‑life balance is reasonable in some areas, but if you’re not based in San Francisco, you often have to advocate for it more actively.

Cons

The company operates with a level of indecision that makes long‑term planning nearly impossible. Role creation shouldn’t be treated as a short‑term experiment, yet decisions are made and reversed quickly. In several areas, the degree of micromanagement is counterproductive — you can’t hire strong talent and then prevent them from actually using their capabilities. Whether the root cause is insecurity or lack of competence, the outcome is the same: people aren’t empowered to do the work they were brought in to do, and it’s a real organizational issue.

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