At Duolingo, we pride ourselves on hiring individuals who are passionate about our mission and want to use their expertise to change the world for the better. To help give you a peek into what it’s like working for Duolingo, we’ve asked our team members to share more about their experience at the company and in Pittsburgh! Today, meet Jared: a Director of Talent Acquisition Operations on the People Team based in Pittsburgh. Jared joined Duolingo in February 2022.
Why did you choose Duolingo?
For me, choosing a company comes down to three core things: the product, the founders, and the people. All three of those requirements were checked off for me in the interview process. I love the product and mission of our company and genuinely think that gamification of education is the disruptor we need in that space. I believe in our founders and their visions and I love how involved they are in the business. And lastly, the people here are incredible. Everyone from the top notch recruiter, Meghan Walker, who guided me through this experience to every person I engage with on a day to day basis. I have worked for some fantastic companies and interesting cultures, but it is hard to beat the people working at Duo.
What are three words that describe Duolingo’s culture?
Quirky, inclusive, and inspiring
What do you like most about Pittsburgh?
Being born and raised in LA, I can honestly say that I never thought I would visit Pittsburgh, let alone live here. There are pros and cons of living in Pittsburgh, like any city, but the pros greatly outweigh the cons. The people are friendly, the food is excellent, the love surrounding the sports teams is unrivaled, and the cost of living is much more reasonable than in cities with similar vibes. Pittsburgh gives you everything you would want in the big city plus all the small city perks. I fell in love with it the day I got off the plane and keep finding new reasons to love it the longer that I am here.
What is unique about working at Duolingo?
Being someone who has worked at some of the largest tech companies in the world, I can say my favorite part of working here is feeling like my work has a genuine impact on the company's overall success. I don’t feel like a cog in the wheel here. Instead, I am pulled into big projects with a lot of exposure to our senior leadership team (and I’ve only been here for three months).
The other unique thing about Duolingo is its approach to making the company feel inclusive. There are clubs for *literally* everything, which made me feel like I belonged very quickly (I’m in the golf, meditation, cider, and bagel clubs). Since I uprooted my life to join the company, it was helpful to quickly find a sense of belonging, and Duolingo provided that from day one.
What are some of the technical challenges you face as a recruiting operations team member?
Scaling a global business with a very lean team. The other technical challenge we face is making sense of recruiting data, which is much more subjective than standard datasets.
What is management like in the People team at Duolingo?
The leaders are very engaging and knowledgeable in their space. In my experience, they give you the freedom and autonomy to do your best work.
How does team matching and mentorship work at Duolingo?
Duolingo pairs you with someone who embodies the culture from day one who acts as your guide throughout the experience. My mentor has been great at helping me navigate the fast paced Duo life!
What is your favorite feature on Duolingo?
I love the Leaderboards! I find myself competing with people I have never met, which keeps me engaged and learning more.
Stay tuned for more Q&As with our employees, and remember to check out our careers page