Electronic Arts

Chance to work on some interesting titles.

Experience in the industry (so hard to break in, and this is somewhat easier than average).

Large team of people around you that's generally been quite nice.

Very nice studio with great facilities (if you get access).

Low pay. Terrible work-life balance. No benefits. Exclusion from company team-building events. Very low job security. Management was insanely distant, giving no personal connection.

All my experiences are a few years old now, but if they remain accurate, there is definitely something management needs to consider. Employee morale amongst testers was brutally low.

It's not hard to understand why, with 80+ hour weeks (fired if you refuse), no benefits, and little respect given from anyone else in the company. Testing is a very detail-oriented job, and depressed, exhausted testers do not create good results.

It might not be possible to control hours, but it is possible to show respect and create a positive environment. Paying just above minimum wage and denying all benefits is not a great place to start.