Pursuit

1.0

29 May 2018

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

There is not a good reason to work at Coalition for Queens.

Cons

Run as fast as you can in the opposite direction of this negative impact nightmare, or you will harm your bank account and your career in order to help hateful people exploit vulnerable communities. The toxic environment at Coalition for Queens is both intentional and psychologically abusive in nature. The decisions of the leadership are so incompetent, so aggressive, and so arbitrary it is as if the true purpose of the organization is to provide Jukay Hsu with a steady stream of people to treat abusively. "Data-driven" is nothing but a catch phrase the Managing Director shouts while she is terrorizing people. This place is trying to exist outside of reality. They've accumulated four years of evidence that you can not pay people this poorly and then treat them this badly. Nothing has changed, and nothing is going to change. The "high stress" of the workplace is not due to pace, to hours, or to disorganization; it's due to abusive management. At C4Q, the only people less respected than the employees are the students, who are routinely spoken of, and sometimes to, with shocking condescension. Each student signs an agreement to "Pay it Forward" with 12% of their salary for next three years, then thirty-six of them are crammed into a classroom with one instructor and no curriculum. Despite the lack of any resources beyond a loud classroom and an unstable internet connection, almost half of the students will get jobs through their own herculean effort and then begin a tech career with a $30,000 albatross around their necks. The majority will have payed an extraordinary opportunity cost for nothing. No one cares, and no one pretends to.

Pursuit Response

The reality you described is is so far removed what I’ve experienced working at Pursuit that I felt compelled to post a reply. The org’s management and staff are some of the most dedicated, hard-working, and deeply caring people I’ve ever worked with. Their support for the Fellows is visible in so many ways, from the Program and Advance staff who work tirelessly to make constant improvements to our programs and ensure Fellows get jobs; to the partnerships and development staff who work day in and day out to raise critical funds for our programs and build partnerships with employers; to our CEO who spends every waking moment winning the support of philanthropists, journalists, and industry leaders so that we can fund our work, grow our company, and serve more people. As for the culture, I have felt nothing but supported and encouraged during my time here, including by Jukay and Dave. Regarding what you said about the Fellows being disrespected, this is not even remotely what I have seen. Every day, I am moved by the genuine care and compassion on the part of our Staff for our Fellows. Their efforts go above and beyond teaching technical and professional skills: they show a deep and sincere dedication to their well-being. And our Fellows respond in kind, contributing to a strong sense of community built on mutual respect and care. As for Pursuit Bond, the Fellows don’t have to pay anything up front, so the training is actually accessible (colleges and some training programs make people pay up front or take out burdensome loans which are owed regardless of outcome). If someone does not get a job, they owe nothing. Pursuit also provides more than just software development training--their curriculum also includes professional skills and access to networks. FYI this is NOT a fake Glassdoor review. This is a comment from a current employee who has observed both the profound impact this organization is making on high need/potential adults and its conscientious effort to build a healthy and supportive company culture where everyone feels loved and respected.

Rotten to the Core - Anonymous employee Pursuit Employee Review

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