Texas Instruments

Been at TI for almost two years. It's a good company to learn a lot early in your career, and the work will always be interesting because TI is involved in all kinds of cutting-edge areas. It's a company you can feel proud to work for, with good and ethical business practices.

Benefits are not sexy, but solid for a large engineering company. Flexible schedule – TI is not a sweatshop; you can put your family and personal life at a higher priority.

Raises are terrible for individual contributors, not sure about those that make it to manager level. Will not see most young engineers sticking around long term unless they love the location, the work, a flexible schedule, or the opportunity to move to different roles in the company. Lots of restructuring and bowing to the demands of Wall Street, lining the pockets of investors instead of employees. TI appreciates good engineers, but you are expendable. Layoffs come in big waves every couple of years.

A strategic view is good at 50,000 feet (LT level); it's good at execution (ground level), but there is some lacking at the 10,000 feet (upper/middle management strategy).