Netflix Jobs: Netflix's Unique Corporate Culture and the Secret to Its Success

Netflix is a company dedicated to entertaining, inspiring, and continuously providing better entertainment to people around the world. To achieve this, Netflix has developed a unique corporate culture centered on excellence. This culture focuses on creating an environment where talented people can grow and elevate one another. This document details the four core principles that make up Netflix's corporate culture and how they are put into practice.

1. The Dream Team

Netflix believes that a great workplace comes not from fancy offices, free meals, or massages, but from people. Netflix models itself not as a family but as a professional sports team. While families are based on unconditional love, which can sometimes be inefficient, professional sports teams focus on performance and putting the right people in the right positions.

"Families are based on unconditional love, but professional sports teams focus on performance and putting the right people in the right positions."

Core Values of the Dream Team

Netflix expects all members to possess shared strengths that make each other better. Here are the values Netflix considers important:

Selflessness: Prioritize Netflix as a whole over individuals or teams, and help colleagues succeed.
Judgment: Prefer long-term solutions over short-term fixes, and make wise decisions even in uncertain situations.
Candor: Give and receive feedback without hesitation, acknowledge mistakes, and share lessons learned.
Creativity: Welcome new ideas and pursue innovative solutions with persistence.
Courage: Don't fear failure, pursue truth, and don't hesitate to break conventions.
Inclusion: Recognize and overcome biases, and help colleagues from diverse backgrounds do their best work.
Curiosity: Be passionate about learning and show interest not just in your own ideas but in others' as well.
Resilience: Adapt quickly to change, make tough decisions swiftly, and embrace challenges.

"Candor is a part of our daily work. Like brushing your teeth."

Netflix maintains team performance through the concept of the "Keeper Test." This involves managers asking about a specific employee: "If this person were leaving, would I fight to keep them?" or "Would I hire this person again right now?" If the answer is "no," they choose a fair parting.

"We operate based on performance. Not seniority, tenure, or unconditional loyalty — performance is the standard."

2. People Over Process

Netflix believes that people matter more than process. They believe that providing employees with the information and freedom to make their own decisions leads to better outcomes.

Core Principles

Context, Not Control: Managers provide team members with clear context and information but don't micromanage.
Responsible Freedom: Netflix hires people with autonomy and accountability, helping them be self-motivated and exercise judgment.
Farming for Dissent: When making important decisions, they actively solicit diverse opinions. However, not all opinions carry equal weight — the weight varies by expertise.
Disagree Then Commit: Once a decision is made, everyone supports it and gives their best effort to execute it.

Netflix strives to minimize rules. For example, the vacation policy is summarized in just two words: "Take vacation." The expense policy consists of five words: "Act in Netflix's best interests."

"Minimizing rules and giving employees the freedom to exercise judgment is the key to long-term success."

3. Uncomfortably Exciting

Netflix serves programming to over 500 million viewers worldwide. This is something no other entertainment company has attempted. To achieve this, Netflix sets bold and ambitious goals and repeats experimentation and adaptation.

"Netflix may not be suitable for those who prefer stability or minimal risk-taking."

Netflix provides an environment suited to people who enjoy the uncomfortable excitement that comes from new challenges and projects and who can grow through it.

4. Great and Always Better

Netflix started as a DVD rental service in 1998 but has grown into the world's leading streaming platform. However, Netflix doesn't rest on its current position and constantly pursues improvement for a better future.

"Netflix always keeps in mind the possibility that tomorrow can be better than today."

Continuous Improvement

Netflix encourages new employees to contribute to shaping the company culture.
They create an environment where all members can find better methods, enabling both the company and individuals to grow.

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and assign tasks. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince)

Summary of Netflix's Success Formula

Maintains a Dream Team of outstanding talent with a performance-oriented culture.
People matter more than process, and employees are given autonomy and accountability.
Through bold challenges and experimentation, they embrace uncertainty and turn it into growth opportunities.
Never resting on current success, always pursuing a better future.

Netflix is not just a workplace but a place that provides an environment for achieving peak performance. If this culture excites you, Netflix may be the perfect fit. But if all of this feels overwhelming, Netflix may not be right for you.