Anyone working for one of the tech giants?

Curious to hear from anyone that currently works (or has previously worked) for one of the big guys (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Meta). I see mixed reviews about these places online, but by placing the questions here with other techies I have talked to over the years I might receive more useful input. I am sure that it varies per location and function, but still interested in any feedback.
All of them have opportunities where I am located so just performing my due diligence. Thanks in advance!
All of them have opportunities where I am located so just performing my due diligence. Thanks in advance!
Alphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS2022 goal(s): CRISC, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner"You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try." - Homer Simpson
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I have a few former colleagues that joined AWS in different parts of the world and their experiences have been so different. I don't know anyone at Apple, Meta, or Google (yet), but I know one guy at Microsoft that loves it.
When asked about his experience he said. If Kurt Cobain had lived in Southern California he would still be alive. And I feel good to be apart of X company (basically dodging the question). My take - Hated living in Seattle and didn't care for the company.
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Forum Admin at www.techexams.net
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdmurray
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jdmurray
@JDMurray - There is a large gap between common knowledge of something and experiencing it. SoCal has conditioned me into thinking everyday of summer should have beach-worthy weather. Well, NL has taught me otherwise lol. Honestly, after reaching the 49% tax range in NL I don't think Cali taxes are that bad. I think the weather justifies the prices there
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Forum Admin at www.techexams.net
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdmurray
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jdmurray
Forum Admin at www.techexams.net
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdmurray
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jdmurray
My ultimate goal is to work with one of the big guys that has a presence in both NL and SoCal. I want Amsterdam to be my EMEA base and spend entire summers in LA mixing work with vacation. Never had the big tech experience and I am just interested in seeing it for myself.
I already own a home in The Netherlands and have no plan of relocating to Silicon Valley (NoCal) as most of my family is in Los Angeles (SoCal). Could be a pipe dream, but ideally I would work for a large enough org that has the presence in LA so I could work with stakeholders in that time zone while I am there and even get my employer to fund some of the trip. Technically I could do my current job from LA for some time, but all of my stakeholders are in NL and my job is mostly meetings so that nine hour time difference would be painful. Definitely not looking to relocate before both kids are finished with high school which should be another nine years.
By the way, they should arrange the company order as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, then it spells GAMMA. Just sounds cool then, like, "I work for a GAMMA company", or "I am a consultant to the GAMMAs". Yeah I know, warped mind.