Microsoft

Microsoft excels in balance from my experience there as someone who has interned multiple times in various parts of the company.

Like the rest of big tech, the options for what kind of technology you could be working on are massive, and most people I have met are excited about the impact that their product has, even if it seems mundane from a high level.

There is more buy-in to the mission and trust in the leadership team than even I expected, and the culture shift they have advertised over the last half-decade is more accurate than I even hoped.

Pay is great. The vast majority of people I have met have been incredibly smart and always excited to talk, give advice, share what they do, etc.

I have yet to do busy work or meet an intern who has felt their work hasn't been meaningful. They are really ready to trust you with shippable feature work and meaningful projects that have impacts both internal and external facing.

So, going back to balance, you get all of this without sacrificing work/life balance and morals. In fact, in two of my internships (pre-COVID), I wasn't even given a laptop for the reason that they wanted me to work at work, but then leave to explore the city, go to intern events, and enjoy the summer without the ability to take work with me.

I think, like any big company, it is possible to feel like a cog in an endless machine. In my experience, almost everyone I have talked to sees the value in the work they are doing and is proud of the impact, even if it may seem small relative to the much more visible impact someone may be making at an early-stage startup. So while I haven't felt this issue myself, I could see it being true for someone who needs to feel and see their impact in a more direct way than you get. But I'd say if you are that kind of person, avoid all big tech. This isn't Microsoft-specific.

Continue to lean into and fund ERGs in a way that empowers and enables them to celebrate their identities and share that with their teammates. Events that have the funding for expensed lunches, interesting speakers, etc., make it easy for non-members to lean into to gain proximity to identities they are less familiar with and get closer with their teammates. It's a net win that can compound.