Apple

Smartest and most passionate people you may ever work with.

Things sometimes magically get done when many of your peers care about what they do.

You will grow through exposure to cutting-edge ideas and through adversity.

Under healthy leadership, your creativity can thrive, and you can live up to your potential.

There is always a secret new hot thing some group in your division is working on.

Sometimes your secret project never sees the light of day, and you can't talk about your work because of NDAs or secrecy.

Not all leaders are great to work for. Some micromanage or are fearful in ways that can ruin a team experience.

Your peers will have strong opinions and argue intelligently for them. Don't take it personally; be open to being wrong and pick your battles. Challenge your peers respectfully if you want to win them over.

It can be hard to shine brightly among so many stars—you must consistently exceed expectations to get the best compensation increases, bonuses, or promotions.

When peers work extra and you don't, it may be hard to exceed expectations and advance. If you value family time, find a group where most employees keep fairly regular hours and tell you to "go home" when you stay late.

Your example and sacrifice are much appreciated.

If you are not listening to your peers and subordinates, you will miss something important. Not everyone can make good decisions in an apparent vacuum like Steve Jobs.