People are at the core of everything we do at Cloudera. Just last year, our offices across the globe saw recognition for being a great place to work, marking another successful year for our workplace culture. It’s also a reflection of the values that guide Cloudera as a whole—that means putting employees first and cultivating a collaborative work environment where everyone feels included and supported as they grow and evolve in their own career journey.
Every Clouderan has their own story about what brought them here. Some may have stumbled across a job posting, some may have started out as interns, and others may have been brought into the organization with encouragement of another employee.
Employee referrals are a critically important piece of how we build our organization and bring in talented people that understand our mission, live our values, and help achieve our business objectives.
So, what does that referral journey look like? We connected with Clouderans who had recruited someone from their own professional networks, and those they recruited, to learn about their experiences.
As someone who referred another employee to Cloudera, can you share what your own journey to Cloudera was like?
“I was introduced to Cloudera by a friend and former colleague, who explained how well the company aligned with my skill set and interests. I joined the query compiler team in 2020, drawn by the opportunity to work on database internals and distributed systems. Since then, I’ve been involved in a range of exciting and challenging projects, while also contributing to open-source initiatives such as Apache Hive, Apache Calcite, Apache Hadoop, and Apache Tez.” - Stamatis Zampetakis, Senior Staff Engineer
“I began my work life in the Big 4 accounting practice straight from college. I had been on a 6-month work placement during my college degree and was offered a job to come back. I stayed there for nearly 7 years and really enjoyed my work. Looking for something where I would have more flexibility and work/life balance, I began exploring opportunities to gain experience in how the cogs of industry work. Coming from an accounting practice you can have a limited view on internal operations and how different departments work together, so I wanted to gain that experience. The role in Cloudera was perfectly timed with my search!” - Katie McKenzie-Foley, Senior Tax Manager
“As someone who left Cloudera and returned to the organization later on, part of what drew me back was the feeling of motivation generated by the opportunities available at the company and the employees I work with.” - Ritesh Shukla, Principal Engineer
In your conversations with the referred employee, what were the biggest selling points you raised to them?
“One of the biggest selling points is Cloudera’s strong commitment to open source, which sets it apart from many companies that prioritize proprietary development. This openness drives productivity, fosters innovation, strengthens security, and increases the visibility of our work. Another key aspect is the distributed nature of the team. With employees across the globe and flexible working hours, we can structure our days to maximize productivity while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.” - Stamatis Zampetakis
“The people first culture, the support you get in the role, how nice the Cork office building is, and a big winning factor was the Unplug days. Cloudera gives you the opportunity to constantly learn and work with people across different functions. Collaboration is highly encouraged and is something I actively see day to day not just across the finance team but across the wider organization.” - Katie McKenzie Foley
“I always like to highlight the exciting technology challenges we tackle together and just how wide the scope for impact really is.” - Ritesh Shukla
For those of you who were recommended to join Cloudera, what has your experience been like since? Has it matched your initial expectations?
“It has been an exciting new challenge to learn and understand all the different product lines at Cloudera. That part of the work has been complex but rewarding. Since I joined, one of the most notable things for me was the opportunity to contribute to open-source Apache projects.” - Thomas Rebele, Senior Software Engineer
“My experience has surpassed my expectations. I have gained so much from working with my manager and team members in Learning + Enrichment, the HR team, and the wider Cloudera community. A highlight since joining the company is the opportunity to connect with others during ERG events, Cloudera Cares events and company webinars.” - Megan McCarthy, Learning and Enrichment Senior Associate
“My experience has been great so far. I'm working on a new feature capability and it's been a lot of fun to design and prototype. My colleagues here have been easy to collaborate with, both technically and non-technically. I've had experience working cross-functionally with different teams in Hungary, India and China, and of course the US - a testament to the global nature of Cloudera.” - Fabian Morgan, Staff Software Engineer
“Yes, it absolutely matches what I expected. I really appreciate the company’s culture and enjoy working with the people here.” - Aparna Adiga, Business Development Manager
Now with some time since you were onboarded, how has Cloudera helped you grow professionally, and personally?
“I am developing my skillset through on-the-job learning. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to complete a certified course to gain skills and knowledge that directly support me in my role. That was a fantastic opportunity to develop and put new skills into practice.
From a personal perspective, I have had the opportunity to work with colleagues on community initiatives and attend development sessions through Grow@Cloudera each quarter. This past year working at Cloudera, I have gained the confidence to try something new and to learn from that experience.” – Megan McCarthy
“As with any new company, there's a lot to learn in a short amount of time, so it's been great taking my existing knowledge and experiences, building on them and acquiring new knowledge. I hadn't worked on an Apache open-source project before, so that's also a new experience.
Within a couple months of joining, I had the opportunity to co-present to an external audience via Meetup about the feature and to give a demo as well, so it honed presentation skills to an outside audience.” - Fabian Morgan
Now, for everyone, what advice would you give someone thinking about recommending Cloudera to a peer? Or to someone considering joining Cloudera?
“My advice would be to share your personal experience honestly—both what you enjoy and what could be improved. This helps set clear expectations, so anyone considering joining Cloudera can make an informed decision.” - Stamatis Zampetakis, Staff Software Engineer
“I would tell people how pivotal Cloudera is in the data processing landscape and how we will continue to shape the industry.” - Ritesh Shukla
“Take time to think about your career here at Cloudera. Personal stories and experiences can provide a different perspective and insight into what it’s like to work here. I recommend checking out our website, LinkedIn pages, and socials to get a snapshot into personal and professional life here.” - Megan McCarthy
“I would say go ahead and do it! Cloudera is a great place to work and there are a lot of exciting projects and developments coming that are both interesting and challenging to work on.” – Fabian Morgan
“For anyone thinking about joining Cloudera, I would definitely mention the Unplug days as a huge differentiator. It’s definitely something that sets Cloudera apart from other companies.” - Thomas Rebele
“Hurry up and do it!” - Katie McKenzie-Foley
A Cultural Foundation Built by People
The culture at Cloudera is driven by our people, and it's what makes our working environment such a positive and welcoming space where Clouderans are empowered to learn, grow, and succeed in their careers.
Learn more about what’s behind Cloudera’s culture in this Q&A with Chief Human Resources Officer, Amy Nelson.
