Joining Tendo: My first five months at a healthcare startup.

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It’s been five months since joining Tendo’s foundational team, and I’ve had an incredible experience throughout this journey.

Before starting here, I worked as a writer for an innovation hub at Jefferson Health — a 14-hospital healthcare system and university in the Philadelphia region. I had also just enrolled in the inaugural class for Jefferson’s Health Communication Design master’s program, which seeks to create a healthier and more equitable world through human-centered research and design.

So when I first heard about Tendo, their mission to create a more seamless, connected healthcare landscape resonated with me, and I jumped at the opportunity to get in on the ground floor. I wasn’t sure what to expect at an early-stage start-up, but looking back on the past few months, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

After coming on board as a technical writer, I’ve had the opportunity to wear multiple hats, help lay the groundwork for our initial branding and messaging, and collaborate with awesome coworkers who inspire me to grow in new ways. Today, I wanted to share my experience working here, provide information about our hiring process, and walk you through some questions we get asked a lot. Let’s dive in!

What’s it like to start a new job remotely?

Starting a new job remotely always comes with a learning curve — especially during a pandemic. However, with events like virtual jeopardy, trivia, and scavenger hunts, my new colleagues made me feel welcome right away. Plus, since everyone is working remotely for the foreseeable future, we’re all on the same playing field!

Proactive, frequent communication is key to transitioning successfully into a remote role. And at Tendo, my team is always around to help, even if they’re on the other side of the country.

How does Tendo help new team members get acclimated?

We encourage coworkers to form friendships by regularly hosting team-building events, parties, and celebrations over Zoom. We also have a “buddy program” for all new hires so they can learn the ropes and have someone they can go to for any questions.

Personally, I have at least one virtual social on my calendar every week. Even if I can’t be with my coworkers physically, I’ve still had the opportunity to make genuine friendships and connections throughout my time here. Tendo’s a fun place to work, and the team goes out of their way to ensure new employees feel like they belong.

How do I know if Tendo could be the right company for me?

We want every employee to feel aligned with our mission to deliver exceptional experiences, better clinical outcomes, and greater efficiency for patients, providers, and caregivers. If this resonates with you, I encourage you to check out some of our open positions. We put a lot of thought into our job descriptions, so they’ll be the best resource for determining a potential match.

What’s the culture like?

One of our top priorities is creating a tight-knit team and a flexible, “family room” culture. We’re building an inclusive, collaborative environment around our three core values:

  • Impact
    Improving the lives of our customers, employees, and communities.
  • Openness
    Communicating, building, and partnering with openness and empathy.
  • Speed
    Operating with a sense of urgency and focusing on what matters most.

This allows our team to connect, share ideas freely, and grow both personally and professionally.

Why’s the company called Tendo?

We reviewed thousands of names before landing on “Tendo.” We wanted to find something easy to say, easy to spell, and easy to remember tied into our company vision.

The root word “Tendo” is related to connectivity and connective tissue. It also calls to mind the idea of “tending to,” or providing care for someone, which perfectly fits our vision for the healthcare space.

How’s the work/life balance?

Tendo believes employee wellbeing is critical to our success. That’s why we have a flexible time-off policy and a company-wide “Dim the Lights” over the holidays, where everyone can enjoy some downtime.

We also have an awesome personal wellness benefit called Tendo Breathe. It’s an annual stipend for each employee to spend on their personal wellbeing. Think gym memberships, spa days, and weekend getaways (Here’s looking at you, island yoga retreat)! The only requirement is you have to share how you spent your Breathe money with the rest of the team. It’s another way we can connect personally and inspire each other.

However you slice it, work/life balance is pretty great, and Tendo Breathe is the icing on the cake.

Are there opportunities to grow at Tendo?

Yes. Tendo encourages each employee to step out of their comfort zone and learn new skills. As a start-up, we’re looking for team members with a diverse set of skills who want to jump in the deep end, offer unique perspectives, and deliver creative solutions. If you have a growth mindset and an entrepreneurial drive, we think you’d fit right in.

Does Tendo plan on opening offices eventually?

Yes. Since Tendo was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, our team is 100% remote, but we have plans to anchor around Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco. Regardless of location, we’re exploring new, dynamic ways of working together and want to hire extraordinary people who are driven to impact healthcare.

What roles are you hiring for now?

Building a solid software platform and creating multiple healthcare applications takes a village. Tendo is a diverse team with diverse needs, and we’re looking for people from a wide range of backgrounds to join us.

Currently, we have openings for roles in engineering, design, marketing, research, and operations. If you’re drawn to our mission and passionate about helping to improve human health through technology, we want to hear from you.

It’s an exciting time to work at Tendo. Our team is growing quickly and we’re looking for motivated, highly collaborative people to join us. If you’re a mission-driven person looking to create change in healthcare, I’d love to have you on my team. Check out our open positions, and if there’s a potential match, apply today!