Quality of management highly variable on team you join
Pros
Agoda is the premier tech employment opportunity in Bangkok. - The offices have an incredible location. If you are relocating in, you will have no worries about having access to all the creature comforts of back home. - The workforce is very international. You might be on a team of 9, with 6+ different nationalities represented. As an expat, you won't be an exception. Many of your coworkers will have gone through the same experiences you will go through during your relocation and onboarding. This shared experience is bonding. - As an online travel agency, the 'travel culture' is pretty strong here. - Compensation is good. No, it doesn't compare with what you get in SV, but it will go much further here.
Cons
- Quality of management is highly variable. There are a lot more bad managers than good managers here. Be careful. Make sure you meet multiple members of the team you're joining and find out what you're getting into. - To expand, there are a lot of 'rent seekers' who have found their way into Management positions, and use politics and their position to protect the kingdom they 'rule over'. Be wary of ex-Management Consultants. There are a couple of good ones at Agoda, but the rest don't have any functional experience and have a hard time managing those with functional experience. - Agoda tries to sell itself as being able to offer a Silicon Valley experience in Bangkok. The closest thing to this exists in the Product teams, but only there. If you are coming in on the business side or in operations, expect a very sub par employment experience. Living in Bangkok is great. The opportunity to travel, diversity, low cost of living all make Agoda an attractive place to work. But if these things don't matter to you and you are looking purely for a career move, give Agoda a pass. You'll find yourself frustrated.
