I started at Big Nerd Ranch just a couple of months ago as a Mobile UX/UI designer, and since then, I’ve been amazed by what I’ve learned and experienced. I wanted to share what brought me here, and what makes me want to stay.

A LITTLE HISTORY

I’m from Louisiana and as much as I love the place, design jobs out there are few and far between. I knew that relocating for a job was not just a possibility but a fact of life.

So after I graduated college, I started the job search. It was torture. I can’t even remember the number of jobs I applied for all over the U.S. But there was one company that caught my eye on a hot and humid Louisiana summer night, the smell of mosquito repellant wafting through the air. That place was Big Nerd Ranch. I remember thinking, “Big Nerd Ranch? No way that’s the real name of a company.”

I decided to find out more, and the next thing I knew, it was 3 a.m. I had watched all of the videos and I had creeped all the bios on the website. After all this research, I felt like I knew these people—and needless to say, I applied for the design position.

Out of all the jobs I applied for, Big Nerd Ranch was the one job I told people about. Like a teenage crush, I was obsessed. And just six weeks later, I had an offer letter in hand and two weeks to move from Lafayette to Atlanta.

THE FIRST WEEK

My first week working at Big Nerd Ranch was mind blowing. Not only did I have tons of information to process (from the amazing benefits to all the areas of expertise), but on my second day, there was a Bacon Bonanza! I mean, let’s be real, every college kid loves free food, and having breakfast with my coworkers was great.

I remember telling my family about my first week, and found that the best way to describe how I felt was that work felt like home. When I went to work, all my anxiety about living in a city by myself and not knowing anybody went away.

THE GOOD STUFF

One of the best parts about working here is the results-only work environment. This is what dreams are made of. I don’t have to worry if lunch takes too long, or if I get stuck in Atlanta traffic, which can be a nightmare at times. As long as I get my work done, nobody cares what time I get to the office in the morning, or if I work from home one day.

I like to change up my work environment to stay fresh and innovative. When it’s sunny, I have the freedom to work outside at a coffee shop. If it snows, I don’t have to drive to the office. (I don’t know how familiar you are with Louisiana winters but, some years they don’t happen, or the “low” is 50 degrees. This Louisiana girl is not driving in the snow. Mais, 50 degrees is cold, chère.)

I will say that the absolute greatest thing about Big Nerd Ranch is the people who work here. Everybody has a unique story about what they did before they found Nerdvana, whether it was earning a Ph.D. in physical chemistry or teaching high school English. Big Nerd Ranch doesn’t just hire on credentials, but also asks: Are you ready to continue learning? I get to work with people who are much smarter than me, and I can’t wait to continue learning from them.

I honestly have nothing bad to say about Big Nerd Ranch. How could I complain about a company that takes care of its employees and understands that it’s important for everyone to feel like they have a voice in what’s happening? Or about a company that allows me to eat copious amounts of free bacon and provides the best sandwich fixings ever? Seriously though, this place is the best. Look at the open positions and apply.