Apple

Preface: I was never an Apple fanboy. I didn't even use Apple products before working there.

Some of my proudest work I've done:

• Great benefits and pay.
• Quality and customer-impact focus aligns with my values, as opposed to cost-cutting focused companies.
• Challenging atmosphere working with some brilliant minds.
• I've had the opportunity to be visible to upper management up to VP level.
• With good management, it is possible to manage the workload. I've been able to improve my work-life balance by collaborating with my manager.

• Experience can vary greatly depending on team/manager. I've heard some horror stories.

• "You're here to do your life's best work" is a motto you hear a lot. It seems positive, but it's used to keep you working hard. It's also used to shoot down more remote days or a 4-day work week.

• A lot of people do drink the Kool-Aid, which is a bit off-putting.

• The interview process is an odyssey that can wear down applicants and current employees.

• Leverage the top-down structure to allow employees to be visible to upper management. My team has been successful at having ICTs present to director-level and above with proper training.
• Be open to having honest conversations about their workload. Most employees are open to working hard. Anyone can burn out eventually, so trust needs to be built so employees feel they can adjust and "do their life's best work."