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Interested in being a "code ninja," "design pirate" or "marketing rock star" at one of Austin's "Best Places to Work" but not sure which one is right for you? We wanna help! So grab your resume and ping-pong paddle, and let's start the sprint!

Which "Austin's Best Place To Work" Is Right For You?

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Congratulations, you’re a Bigcommercer all the way! Let’s just hope you live in Northwest Austin, otherwise you’re up for a Bigasscommute. Working at this e-commerce giant means rubbing shoulders and sharing happy hours with the best in butt-kicking talent, staying buoyant in a business that isn’t going belly-up anytime soon. But be careful keeping buoyancy in their Australian-based waters; employees past and present are quick to admit the internal politics are a big comedown, and the average salary isn’t anything commendable. Still, if blending work and play is your idea of nirvana, it may be worth breaking out your resume.

@Bigcommerce - Ranked #15 by @MyABJ

Span, Span, Span, bacon and eggs, Span, Spanning! The employees of this downtown-based company, which specializes in SaaS backup, haven’t made a dent in the world of online reviews. This means they’re either too busy or too happy to bitch…or employees are snuffed out as soon as they’re considered a “problem.” Let’s hope it’s the former. Without any data to go by, I’ll just have to guess what it’s like in Spanalot: there’s a ping-pong table, a fully stocked kitchen, probably some kind of fitness incentive, and flexible (but not too flexible) work hours. The employees are hard-working (except for that one guy), the CEO is nice enough, and they utilize an Agile SDLC with daily SCRUMS which most people are diligent about attending (except for that one guy).

@Spanning - Ranked #21 by @MyABJ

This company is an old dog who’s adept at learning new tricks. Instead of trying to emulate the playground-reward antics of the new kids, Accenture chooses class over flash. Think of them as the Oprah in a sea of Jerry Springers. Their community programs combine team-building exercises with charitable events in a way that shoots for the heart instead of the liver. Yes, you’ll probably never play ping-pong with the CEO, and yes, you’ll never know everyone’s name and they won’t know yours either, but this is big business—what do you expect? Several locations in the Austin area means better chances you won’t get stuck with a shit commute. Warning: if you’ve worked in a field that has required you to travel a little in past positions, be prepared to triple that amount with Accenture.

@Accenture - Ranked #6 by @MyABJ

As a BuildASigner, you’ll enjoy working with friendly co-workers, eating from a well-stocked kitchen, and fighting the daily urge to blow your entire paycheck at the Domain, which is five minutes away. The baby-faced CEO has a high approval rating, and business is doing well, which is to be expected (I mean, their product is signs, not spandex covers for microwaves—how can you mess that up, right?) You may have a shit time if you’re assigned under the wrong manager, but where is that not true? They’re also very liberal about throwing around the word “culture” when they really mean “incentive,” but so what? They pay well, the benefits are decent, and you can move up the ranks quickly…oh, and did I mention they’re close to the Domain?

@BuildASign - Ranked #8 by @MyABJ

So you like chaos, do you? Well, you’ll get enough of it at this web design studio created by smug former band geeks. Turns out, some people still don’t have websites, so their business is booming. But warning: if you drink their Moon-Aid, it’s best not to have a spouse, children, dog, or cactus waiting on the home front. Work-life balance is a daydream, and if you’re the type that expects stuff (like bonuses) just because you’ve been promised them, be prepared to stare into a sky of disappointment…but at least that sky will be hanging over a sweet office downtown. Oh, and when your workload starts making you loony, expect to chillax with a number of on-site table games and bouncing animals—ah, just like on “Mad Men.”

@chaoticmoon - Ranked #5 by @MyABJ

You belong at Headspring, which means you'll be spending a lot of time in the lovely Arboretum area. This tech company has many hands in the development pot—SaaS, mobile, cloud apps, you name it—most of which are considered top-notch by industry standards. The frills aren’t too shabby—an office full of hard-working, talented people, a kitchen stocked with freshly baked cookies, a game room with Nintendo, more parties than you shake a stick at, and the salary and compensation benefits are pretty great too. In fact, you won't find so much of a smidgen of a negative review online…but you will find an ass-ton of five-star reviews (posted by employees with strikingly similar writing styles), which can, when added up, represent a different kind of bad review—one that betrays a quiet dystopia lying just beyond the lovely view.

@headspring - Ranked #8 by @MyABJ

Outbound Engine is only one of several online marketing companies that made the ABJ’s “Best of List” (I find it a wee bit suspicious that so many marketing companies keep making the grade, don’t you?). But the one thing a marketing drone can’t make up is a company’s location, and in Outbound Engine’s case, it’s a good one. Their downtown office is right in the heart of Sixth Street, just a spitball shot away from a bar in any direction. Don’t sweat about the parking; it’s free. If that ain’t enough, as an Outbound Engine(e)r, you’ll have a good salary, work alongside some hard-working, ass-kicking, supremely talented individuals, and get treated to weekly surprises. Cons: you may get fat from all the free snacks, as well as reenact the same mistakes you made in college when the margarita machine is brought in once a month.

@outboundengine - Ranked #10 by @MyABJ

As a Rackspacer, you’ve won a competitive compensation package, access to the best tools in the biz, and the chance to join a close-knit group in a challenging position with space to grow. The CEO's approval rating is better than most, and, if you believe the online reviews (and why wouldn’t you, right?) your work-life balance is the bee’s knees. Yeah, it’s rumored to be cliquish, but so was high school, and you made it out of there alive, right? Just a fair warning: Rackspace’s main location is a skid mark alongside I-35, so unless smog and asphalt is your thing, the view from your window won’t be the purdiest. But look on the bright side, it’s in a semi-central(ish) location, which means there’s a better chance of arriving there before your rack starts to sag. Now pull out your resume and show those cool kids that you’re one of them!

@Rackspace - Ranked #9 by @MyABJ

Ship ahoy, happy Sailpointer! As part of this successful software company's crew, you'll be working from their scenic (if not crazily accessible) Four Points office, which offers a wealth of booty, everything from designated pizza days to free yoga. The CEO has a solid rep, and although they haven’t gone public, business only seems to be growing. And unlike some companies that made it on the ABJ's "Best of" list, Sailpoint execs enjoy recognizing hard work by frequently presenting awards to teams and employees who perform outstandingly. The key, according to online reviewers, is to carry your weight; be communicative, be productive, and you'll be noticed. And if you're ever feeling seasick, you can take advantage of their unlimited vacation policy. With all of that in mind, what you waiting for? Come aboard, the water's fine!

@SailPoint - Ranked #7 by @MyABJ

Let me guess: you miss college, don’t you? Well, don’t worry. At Sparefoot, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to embarrass yourself (and your parents) all over again. This self-storage pioneer’s office perks include an onsite open bar, bi-weekly happy hours, parties out the wazoo, and unlimited vacation days. And if you ever feel your Peter Pan Syndrome starting to wane, don’t sweat it; there are plenty of adult perks too. Healthcare is free, the lunches are catered, and it’s located down-freakin’-town, complete with paid parking. The CEO may look like a douchey Fraggle, but people seem to like him—his online approval rating is 100%. So pack up your resume and dust off your Dave Matthews CDs—Never Never Land is calling you home.

@SpareFoot - Ranked #4 by @MyABJ

Repeat after me: I. Am. Sparkitus. Or…uh, Sparksight, rather. Arriving fairly new to Hillicone Valley, this North Austin-based videocentric creative planning agency is small in numbers but big in talent. Their sperks include a fully-stocked kitchen, flexible work hours, and a weekly ceremony honoring the recipient of the “Sparky” Award (which hopefully is more than just a plaque from Discount Trophy City, otherwise it’s not much of a perk, right?). Employees rave online about its down-to-earth atmosphere, the ability to grow their skill sets, and the “everything in moderation” attitude the company has toward its social calendar. And their CEO seems like a nice guy—I mean, what smack can you say about a man who posts pictures of his wife and kids on the company website? Not a spucking thing, that’s what.

@Sparksight - Ranked #1 by @MyABJ

Howdy ho there, Spiceworker, and welcome to the fast-paced, kill-or-be-killed environment of IT software. At this North Austin company, you’ll learn just how hard-core people are about the technology that runs their technology. You’ll love the work-life balance, your mostly upbeat fellow employees, your mostly supportive managers, and your mostly approved-of CEO. The kitchen is full, the parties are plenty, and the rewards are generous. Warning: rumors abound that they’re going public (which is pissing off some people), and that may change the state of things.

@Spiceworks - Ranked #13 by @MyABJ

Spredfast doesn’t want you to waste your time building an online audience for your business. They want their products to waste that time for you. As part of their team, you’ll enjoy a fast-paced environment made up of friendly smarty-pants types, rockin’ and rollin’ while working in a rapidly expanding market. Their three downtown offices are close to the “river” (if that’s what you want to call it), if not necessarily close to each other. The kitchens are loaded with snacks and drinks, and catered lunches are provided. Spredfast’s positive online reviews reek heavily of marketing/PR trolls, but even the negative reviewers admit the compensation is fair and the management seems to take constructive feedback constructively. Cons: promotions are slow in coming, and the execs can act like…well, like execs.

@Spredfast - Ranked #2 by @MyABJ

As a member of team UnboundID, you'll be working on products aimed at keeping online consumers from taking any more steps than absolutely necessary when buying a bunch of useless shit they probably won't use anyway. I'm sure their products have nobler purposes, but that's the gist of it, I think—well, that, and something about identity theft. In any case, as a maker of consumer/business solutions, they're located in the right place, close to Lakeline Mall (if you don't live up north already, better jump on the Northern Migration Bandwagon). Perks include a lot of together time. Eating, making coffee, playing ping-pong, practicing yoga, running (eww). The work hours are flexible, the PTO is generous, and they boast about having the best health coverage and insurance plans (Oh yeah? Better than Switzerland?).

@UnboundID - Ranked #7 by @MyABJ

As part of the WP Engine team, you’ll enjoy working with creative and techy demigods in a downtown building that is threatening to take over the whole block. The standard incentives are there—stocked kitchens, parties, onsite games, but you’ll also benefit from their unlimited PTO policy and fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance. Sure, experts say their service—hosting Wordpress websites—will be archaic in a few years, but those same experts once said the same thing about Apple. Their CEO enjoys a 100% approval rating, and if you’re willing to put in a shitload of overtime, it’s not hard to climb to the top, according to online reviews.

@wpengine - Ranked #2 by @MyABJ

While one employee refers to the company as a “glorified calling center,” Yodle prefers the term “online marketing services.” You live up north, I hope? If not, better get friendly with your Audible subscription, because your ass will be driving up to Winterfell on the reg. The Yodle office is located in one of those bland North Austin industrial buildings that looks like a 1930s German steel factory. Once you’re inside, however, you’ll find the usual trendy furnishings designed for attracting the younger guns willing to accept crap salaries for pretty office perks, like free meals and on-site fitness and massage rooms. The pace is fast, the culture is fun, and the opportunities are there—as long as you work hard for it. And keep the White Walkers at bay.

@Yodle - Ranked #5 by @MyABJ

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Which "Austin's Best Place To Work" Is Right For You?

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