Valuable toxic experience - Software Engineer - Java Developer Zooplus Employee Review

1.0
27 Feb 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

modern tech stack and microService architecture sound promising

Cons

Despite the modern tech stack the product is actually a distributed monolith, the microService architecture implementation is far from perfect causing numerous chronic repeatable bugs that require daily monitoring and fixing "by hands". The old-timers seem to be pretty comfortable with that (got used to repeatable fixing of their own lovely bugs) and patronizingly share their precious "know-how" as long as you obediently follow the instructions, but as soon as you point on a problem (or - God save you! - point the old-timers on their mistakes) and propose improvement - you become Persona non grata with your ideas and even pull-requests being blocked without explanation just because "they think there is an error" and don't apologise even after proved being wrong. All this is accompanied by toxic feedback culture when your people lead doesn't provide any constructive feedback during a year (what exactly you did good or bad and what to improve) and then on the annual performance review tells something like "you are just not good enough" - on one of your teammates opinion... again without any details or measurable improvement proposals. Of course that's true, as nobody can ever be good enough!... After the owner and CEO has changed in 2022, this new "feedback culture" was introduced and the policy became to shrink their own IT department and to outsource whatever they can to 3d parties so no perspective for career growth.

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Zooplus Response
6mo
Thank you for sharing such a detailed and honest review of your experience. We appreciate the time you took to outline both the technical and cultural aspects of your role. It’s great to hear that you valued the modern tech stack and the promise of microservice architecture. We’re truly sorry to learn about the challenges you faced with implementation, collaboration, and feedback culture. Your points about blocked improvements, lack of constructive feedback, and unclear performance expectations are concerning and highlight areas where we need to do better. A healthy feedback culture and transparent communication are essential, and your experience shows that we have work to do in these areas. Your advice to management is very constructive, and we will share it internally. Being upfront about limitations and avoiding unnecessary processes is something we strive for, and your perspective helps us reflect on how to improve. Thank you again for your candid input, it’s invaluable for driving positive change. If you’d like to share further suggestions, we welcome them through our internal feedback channels. Warm regards, Your Employer Branding Team

Explore other reviews about Zooplus

5.0
15 Sept 2025
Anonymous contractor
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Definitely recommend, very great workplace

Cons

N/A. I cannot think of a con

2.0
16 Feb 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The job could be interesting, and most of the people working there are very nice and interesting. The salary is fairly good, and they offer a hybrid working model.

Cons

It is extremely chaotic, with many irrational changes. Some of the managers are openly discriminatory and even racist. Employees can be fired simply for having children or for wanting to have children or becoming pregnant. This has happened in practice: they find countless pretexts to dismiss you and then replace you with very young, completely inexperienced girls who have not even completed their education.

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