Pros
Money's good - solid salary, stock options, and benefits that actually cover stuff Free food everywhere, plus gyms, massages, and other sweet perks You're working on tech that millions of people actually use Smart coworkers who push you to level up Can switch teams pretty easily if you get bored Google on your resume opens doors everywhere Access to crazy good tools and data most companies can't touch Still some freedom to work on side projects (though less than before)
Cons
The pressure is real - constant performance reviews and high expectations Work-life balance is hit or miss, lots of long hours Everything moves fast and changes constantly - can be exhausting Bay Area rent will eat your salary alive Golden handcuffs - hard to leave when your stock hasn't vested Can feel like just another number in a massive company Office politics and bureaucracy get annoying Some projects raise ethical red flags that might bug you Always competing with other overachievers "Move fast and break things" culture isn't for everyone
