IBM

Very interesting work, particularly in the more technical areas. Lots of smart people to work with. Lots of opportunity to move, and if you are lucky you can gradually move into a job that is a good fit for you. This might be harder in a smaller company.

Very big company – not all parts of the company are equally well run. Some parts don't seem to be as good as others, in terms of being a good place to work.

Try not to let short-term market realities drive how the company is run. Don't become yet another big company that makes decisions good for short-term gains at the expense of long-term strength and growth. Look at the hiring and staffing strategies of companies like Google. Be very selective, hire the best people, and treat them very well.