Google

Google still offers a glimpse into how IT systems should be built and maintained. I personally learned a lot.

There are still a lot of people who care about software engineering, but you have to find the right team.

Perks are still nice and compensation is OK.

Work-life balance can be good.

Bureaucracy rules the day.

Currently, Google offers the worst career progression among FAANG companies.

Culture is in decline – thanks to mismanagement, rolling layoffs, and a broken performance review system.

In 2023, Google entered a penny-pinching mode as they got rid of microkitchens, perks, etc. You can't even get a proper workstation anymore, even if you need it.

On the topic of mismanagement, it is everywhere. Plain bad people managers, products and features launched just to be turned down a year later, constant reprioritization... I could go on.

Is turning Google into an "IBM of the 21st century" the best you can do?