Avoid a sales role at all costs - Sales CarGurus Employee Review

2.0
Sep 29, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Food (don't you dare get in line early though!), snacks, beer, coffee, outings. Generally a good office atmosphere with a good view. Pay is good but was rapidly declining. From a day to day, the pros vary based on department. Life is probably great in engineering, marketing and HR. They probably enjoy autonomy, valued work and a lack of micro-management. Not so much in sales/dealer relations.

Cons

This was both my favorite job ever, and my worst. Years ago, this was the best sales job in Boston but with new mgmt came new priorities. Morale plummeted within a year like I've never seen before. Micro-mgmt to an insane degree, placing ALL the blame on sales and not the decision making of senior leadership, changing goals/metrics on a dime (based on whatever the flavor of the month was), and just an overall decline in enjoying being part of something we all helped grow. Yeah, there was food and games..but those became taboo and you typically ate at your desk and avoided the gameroom. Promotions here are 100% ALL optics /favoritism and nothing more. Work a Saturday, lots of reply-all emails, be vocal to the right people...BOOM, promotion! Most importantly, avoid the various sales departments at all costs. You've never met a group of people more miserable then those on sales. Again, it used to be the greatest sales job in Boston but it only took about 12 months to make it a miserable place to be. Constant fear of losing your job; sneak attack firings, mgmt out for themselves and does not have your back; zero culpability from mgmt for anything. The popular move became Dealer Relations since the US market is fully sold at this point (though they will never admit it). On this team your responsible for existing account upsells into a dead banner-ad market and renewals that reach 120% in increased price...seriously. Imagine having that conversation every day of your working life. But that team is 100 people now and there is nothing to cross-sell at all. The good news here is you don't actually fear for your job on this team (hence the move for sales here). And now CG is about to go public so it's even further downhill from here. Keep looking, Boston is a thriving market and there are tons of great jobs out there from companies that offer good pay and autonomy.

Explore other reviews about CarGurus

5.0
Jun 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Having completed my first three months as a Senior Engineering Manager, my experience has been very positive so far. Excellent Culture: The organization fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive culture where people are encouraged to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and work together toward common goals. Leadership is approachable, and there is a strong focus on transparency and continuous improvement. Great Team: I have had the opportunity to work with a highly talented, knowledgeable, and supportive team. Everyone is willing to help, share expertise, and contribute to collective success, making onboarding and collaboration seamless. Technology-Forward and Innovation-Driven, The company embraces modern technologies and remains technology-agnostic, selecting the best tools and platforms for the problem at hand rather than being tied to specific vendors. The organization is proactive in exploring emerging technologies, including cloud, platform engineering, and AI, which creates an exciting environment for learning and innovation. Overall, my first three months have reinforced that this is a great place to grow professionally while working on meaningful and technically challenging initiatives.

Cons

The hybrid work model requires employees to be in the office three days per week, which may not suit everyone. However, I personally appreciate the opportunity to collaborate face-to-face, build relationships, and connect with colleagues. Combined with the office perks and supportive environment, I do not currently have any major cons to report.

2.0
May 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Nice office environment with free food and drinks available. The gym and company perks are a nice bonus. There are also some genuinely good people on the team who make the workplace more enjoyable.

Cons

Management can feel overly political, and some managers appear to give more attention and opportunities to favorites rather than treating employees consistently. While the company talks about supporting mental health, the day-to-day culture does not always reflect that message. There is also growing uncertainty about long-term job stability as AI becomes more integrated into the work.

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