Tesla doesn’t quite have the same mystique that Apple does but it is still a company that inspires a lot of intrigue. An anonymous Reddit user claiming to be a former Tesla employee who worked at a retail location recently had an Ask Me Anything session over at /r/teslamotors and he offered an illuminating glimpse into what it’s really like to work for Tesla. The employee posted his original offer letter from Elon Musk as proof of his former employment, although he didn’t answer any questions on future products since he’s still under a nondisclosure agreement.
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One of the most interesting things that the employee revealed is that many Tesla employees are “zealots” about their mission to change the world and bring about the use of clean energy. The employee also shared this level of enthusiasm for Tesla’s cars even though he doesn’t work there anymore.
“Tesla has done a great job of hiring people who truly believe and those on the fence mostly bought in,” he explains. “The company’s mission is steadfast and for the most part we truly believed that what we were doing was more about long-term energy sustainability, even though the current oil prices may appear to be a challenge in the short run.”
That said, he also explains that the job isn’t for everyone. You have to be really committed and you should accept that you won’t have much of a life out of work.
“Work life balance can be a bit wonky but if you understand that your work is changing the world and believe in the mission you won’t really feel like you’re working,” he writes.
Finally, when asked for advice on buying a Tesla, the employee recommends splurging to get a pricey interior because “I would always be baffled by people who ordered a $70K car without spending the extra $3k for premium interior.”
To see the rest of his impressions of what it’s like to work for Tesla, check out the full post here.
