What is Thumbtack
Thumbtack is a leading online platform that connects skilled professionals with customers who need their services. The company's mission is to help people accomplish their personal projects by providing them with access to the right professionals. Thumbtack values inclusivity, transparency, and customer satisfaction, and strives to create a seamless experience for both customers and professionals.
Founded in 2008 in San Francisco, Thumbtack has grown to become a major player in the gig economy. The company has raised over $400 million in funding and has expanded its operations to include offices in the United States, Philippines, Canada, Ontario, and British Columbia. Thumbtack has also been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in America by Inc. Magazine.
Thumbtack has offices in several locations worldwide, including San Francisco, California, where the company was founded. The company also has a significant presence in the Philippines, where it operates a customer support center. In Canada, Thumbtack has offices in Ontario and British Columbia, where it connects local professionals with customers in need of their services.
If you're a product designer looking for a career that values people and flexibility, Thumbtack careers may be the perfect fit for you. With a virtual-first philosophy, Thumbtack is committed to creating a workplace that supports work-life balance and remote productivity.
Working at Thumbtack: a Virtual-First Work Philosophy
"Chi Thorsen-McCarthy, head of creative at Thumbtack, used to daydream about settling into a rambling farmhouse on acres of land with her partner. Oliver Pucker, lead business operations manager, wanted a flexible routine that would give him the freedom to take a couple week-long working vacations around California."
And Thumbtack made this dream possible when they introduced a super-flexible virtual-first structure after Covid.
"In our new virtual-first structure, Thumbtackers will have the flexibility to choose where they live and work, whether thatβs in a city with an existing Thumbtack footprint or somewhere totally new. This model lets our team prioritize their personal lives while pursuing their professional ambitions."
After two years, Thumbtack Chief People Officer (Jelena) confirmed this model is here to stay. You can now work remotely from the United States, anywhere in Ontario, British Columbia, or anywhere in the Philippines. Plus, connect in person at their βlibraryβ work spaces, quarterly events, and community gatherings.
How Thumbtack virtual-first organization works
There are three main components, including day-to-day virtual work and abilities to connect IRL.
- Virtual work by default: Virtual work at Thumbtack means set Collaboration Hours for Zoom meetings, weekly focus time on No Meeting Wednesdays, and Google Docs and tools for asynchronous collaboration across teams.
- An office, but not your average office: They completely reimagined the office: optional, open, and flexible. Their space (also called "library") is a designated location in San Francisco for team members to kick back, socialize, do heads-down work or just enjoy a change of scenery.
- Gathering in-person and local communities: Thumbtack host regular gatherings and planning fun activities from hiking to salsa-making to silent discos. They also advocate for local communities and help employees connect with fellow Thumbtackers if they're in similar locations. You join their Local Community Slack channels, where you can share neighborhood happenings, restaurant recommendations, and more. Youβll be invited to connect IRL too through meetups and meals. They count 30+ Local Communities throughout the U.S., Ontario region of Canada and the Philippines.
Where can you live and work with Thumbtack?
Thumbtackers can live in 20+ US states, anywhere in Ontario, Canada and anywhere in the Philippines. Their long term vision is to hire across all of the United States and Canada, but this expansion will take a few years.
Working at Thumbtack: a People-First Philosophy (Inclusion, DEI, Community Engagements and more)
At Thumbtack, people come first. They are committed to building a workplace that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. They believe that everyone should feel valued and respected, regardless of their background or identity. Their goal is to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to the mission, through several initiatives:
- They have implemented a number of initiatives aimed at fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging such as unconscious bias training to all employees to help them recognize and address their own biases.
- They also have a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) team that works to ensure that policies and practices are inclusive and equitable.
- Another important aspect of their people-first philosophy is a focus on employee resource groups (ERGs) and community engagement. ERGs are employee-led groups that provide a space for employees to connect and support each other. They currently have several ERGs, including groups focused on women, LGBTQ+ employees, and employees of color. You can learn more about them here.
- They also have a number of programs aimed at community engagement, including volunteer opportunities and partnerships with local organizations.
Joining Thumbtack Design Team
As a product designer at Thumbtack, you'll be part of a team that's passionate about creating products, a low-ego and flexibile team that enpowers you to grow in your craft. Joining Thumbtack means you will probably work with Lauren. As Head of Design, she leads three Design functions β Product Design, Content Design, and Research.
Tight-knit and low ego team
They're a tight-knit team of product designers, researchers, and content designers working closely with engineers and product managers to research, explore, and iterate on well-crafted user experiences that are innovative, engaging, and delightful. They collaborate regularly through design critiques, work sessions, and presentations to inspire and influence the direction of the product and company as a whole.
Anais, Principal Product Designer at Thumbtack shares how the flexibility and low ego fosters her creativity: "The team is low-ego. For Design especially, this creates a space that is psychologically safe; that is exceptionally important to foster if you want people to flourish creatively. My favorite perk is the flexible time off. I find I work best when I have periods where I can work hard and go really deep on something and then take some time off to rest. The time off policy lets me prioritize how I work best."
Opportunity to work on impactful projects
As a product designer at Thumbtack, you will have the opportunity to work on innovative projects that impact the lives of millions of people. Recently, Thumbtack has launched several new products that have been widely successful. For example, the "Instant Match" feature, which connects customers with service providers in real-time, has been a game-changer in the industry.
Another recent innovation is the "Thumbtack Pro" program, which allows top-rated service providers to access exclusive benefits and perks. This program has helped Thumbtack attract and retain the best service providers in the market, which has had a positive impact on customer satisfaction rates.
Ready to join a pretty cool team like Thumbtack? Check out the latest product and design jobs.
