Intel

Intel is a bellwether company and a stable company to work for.

With over 100,000 employees, you are guaranteed to be working on cutting-edge computer projects ranging from smartphones to tablets to client processors, all the way up to server processors. You are guaranteed to meet some really smart people along the way, making sure you're not going at it alone.

Due to the size of Intel, they are really able to provide stellar benefits, such as:

• A heavily subsidized health insurance program
• 401k & Roth 401k options
• Profit sharing
• Two types of bonuses

Career options are plentiful, and many people are able to stay at Intel, doing many jobs over their career in different groups while moving horizontally or vertically. There's a technical track as well as a managerial track.

Intel also offers tuition assistance for getting an advanced engineering degree or MBA.

Employees receive a 6-week paid sabbatical after 7 years of tenure.

The "Great Place To Work" program offers tickets to many events for free or at a deeply discounted cost, which is great for a night out with friends and family.

There are also Passport Dining discounts.

The company may be too large for some. I found myself lost in the sheer amount of teams and people. It seemed whenever I wanted to get something done, I would have to talk to at least two to three people to get the go-ahead.

The scope of your position will be narrow. I found myself pigeon-holed into the position I was hired for (I love doing it but didn't get to branch out). I tried to step out of my narrow field of work a few times to explore my passions, but found that others felt that I was stepping on their toes and did not appreciate the help I was providing.

I also found the office politics too much for my liking.

Sticking behind your decisions is a sign of strong management. But at a checkpoint, when things aren't turning out as they are supposed to, please re-evaluate your decisions and be agile enough to come up with a plan B.