My Experience Joining Future

Joining Future

I recently started a new role as a Senior Software Engineer at Future, and I wanted to share a bit about how the first few weeks have gone—especially the recruitment process and how Future really values and treats its people.

After being made redundant when a smaller start-up I worked for lost a key investor, I was on the hunt for my next job, feeling a mix of caution in the current landscape and hope. Future quickly caught my eye for a few reasons. The company has a strong reputation, it's gone through a rapid period of growth recently, and that gave me some peace of mind about stability (which I definitely needed after my last experience). Plus, I’ve been a fan of some of Future’s brands for years, so the idea of working somewhere I actually use and enjoy the products was a big plus.

What really impressed me during the recruitment process was how personal it felt. Instead of just ticking boxes or making me jump through the usual hoops, the team took the time to get to know my background and my open source work.

Since they already knew about my open source contributions, they actually skipped the standard technical task. That saved everyone time and, honestly, made me feel respected—they valued my real-world experience and community work. It was great to see a company that cares about practical skills and impact, not just generic tests. It set a really positive tone for my start at Future.

After a couple of strong interviews, I knew Future was where I wanted to be. I’ve always believed in being upfront, so I shared my enthusiasm with them during my second interview on a Friday afternoon. Thankfully, the feeling was mutual. By Monday afternoon, we’d wrapped up negotiations and set a start date.

Onboarding and First Days

I’ve always found onboarding at new companies to be overwhelming—there’s usually a flood of paperwork and information all at once, making it hard to take everything in. Future’s approach was refreshingly different compared to what I've experienced before. In the weeks leading up to my start date, the People Team sent me a drip-feed of e-mails: sometimes paperwork, sometimes details about benefits, and occasionally short questionnaires about how I like to work and be managed.

At first, I assumed the questionnaires were just standard HR procedure, but I was pleasantly surprised to see my manager actually reference my answers during my first weeks. It was clear that Future genuinely wanted to tailor the onboarding experience to me as an individual, not just tick boxes. That thoughtful, personal touch made settling in much easier and set a positive tone for my time here.

My first days were mostly positive—my manager and team were very welcoming and made sure I had everything I needed to get started. Of course, joining a company that’s recently scaled up to enterprise level comes with some growing pains, especially around IT processes and standardisation. There are a few restrictions and a bit of red tape, which can be frustrating in the moment, but none of it has been a real obstacle. I see these as natural challenges for a company in transition, and I’m confident things will continue to improve as Future grows.

First Weeks

From the outset, I was trusted to approach things in the way that suits me best. I’ve always learnt most effectively by diving straight into real problems—reading code, experimenting, and asking targeted questions as they come up. Rather than being handed a rigid onboarding checklist or micromanaged through every step, I was encouraged to explore and contribute in my own way.

No one expected me to immediately pick up a major upgrade ticket that touched a lot of the codebase, but when I did, the team was supportive and genuinely pleased to see me take initiative. That level of trust and autonomy made a huge difference—it showed that Future values practical experience and is confident in the people they hire.

The onboarding plan remained flexible and tailored to my learning style, allowing me to ramp up at my own pace without unnecessary hand-holding. This approach not only helped me settle in quickly, but also made me feel respected as a professional. It’s always refreshing to be in an environment where independent thinking is encouraged and where I’m empowered to make an impact from day one.

Moving Forward

I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead at Future. The company’s culture of trust, autonomy, and respect for individual working styles has made me feel right at home from the start. It’s clear that Future values the same things I do—practical experience, independent thinking, and a collaborative approach—which makes me confident that I’ve found the right fit for how I work. I’m looking forward to growing with the team and making a meaningful impact as we move forward together.

What stands out most to me is that Future’s values don't seem to be just corporate slogans or HR buzzwords—they’re genuinely reflected in how people treat each other every day. The trust, autonomy, and respect I’ve experienced so far aren’t just talked about; they’re actively lived and reinforced across the company. That authenticity is rare, and it’s a big part of why I’m so optimistic about my future here.

The TL;DR

Future’s recruitment and onboarding process stood out for its personal touch, respect for real-world experience, and genuine effort to tailor the experience to individuals. The team was welcoming, and there’s a strong culture of trust, autonomy, and support for independent working styles. While there are some growing pains and red tape as the company scales, these haven’t been major obstacles. Overall, the positive, authentic culture and flexibility have made for a smooth transition, and I’m optimistic about what’s ahead.