Anyone working for one of the tech giants?
E Double U
Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■
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, AWS
Comments
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JDMurray Admin Posts: 13,101 AdminE Double U said:I am sure that it varies per location and function, ...
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E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■JDMurray said:E Double U said:I am sure that it varies per location and function, ...
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.Alphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS -
UnixGuy Mod Posts: 4,570 ModCop out answer, but really "it depends" on the role, the boss, the location, the duties, etc etc etc.One thing they seem to have in common is plenty of opportunities to change teams and roles (dependent on the boss).I haven't heard anything positive about Amazon AWS whether in Australia or worldwide. The rest of the companies you mentioned are fine, but it really depends.
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DatabaseHead Member Posts: 2,760 ■■■■■■■■■■E Double U said:JDMurray said:E Double U said:I am sure that it varies per location and function, ...
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. -
E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■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. One of the big guys has shown interest in me twice and I know a guy at another that referred me for a position so we shall see what happens.Alphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS
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JDMurray Admin Posts: 13,101 AdminDatabaseHead said:If Kurt Cobain had lived in Southern California he would still be alive.
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DatabaseHead Member Posts: 2,760 ■■■■■■■■■■JDMurray said:DatabaseHead said:If Kurt Cobain had lived in Southern California he would still be alive.
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E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■As a L.A. native spoiled with SoCal sunshine for 30+ years, weather in The Netherlands does take a toll. Being happily married with children, a nice home, and a good job definitely helps me deal. I just checked the L.A. weather forecast which is sunshine, 80s, and getting warmer. My city's forecast is 60s and wet. Help me!Alphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS
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SteveLavoie Member Posts: 1,133 ■■■■■■■■■□I love rainy days.. I am not an outside kind of people (except to cook outside). I would take a Pacific North east weather anytime.
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JDMurray Admin Posts: 13,101 AdminE Double U said:My city's forecast is 60s and wet. Help me!
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E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■@SteveLavoie - I am ok with rainy nights, but prefer sunshine and clear skies throughout the day. I appreciate how green my city is because of all the rain, but is continuous warmth during the spring and summer so much to ask lol.
@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 thereAlphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS -
JDMurray Admin Posts: 13,101 AdminE Double U said: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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DZA_ Member Posts: 467 ■■■■■■■□□□For the last several months I've gotten a handful of AWS offers for their security consultants and some sales roles but always have turned it down. I have a few friends that work at AWS and it can be pretty cut throat (what job isn't?) although it is team specific. I've turned down roles for AWS as I'm not a fan of their aggressive PIP culture but may be I'm over exaggerating unless otherwise mentioned.
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E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■@DZA_ - Interesting that your friends describe it as cutthroat because I have a former colleague that works in an AWS data center and he used the exact same word to describe how it was in the beginning. I do wonder how much it varies per role.Alphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS
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UnixGuy Mod Posts: 4,570 ModThe thing about AWS, why work for AWS when there are so many other better options? yes AWS is one of the biggest names out there, but there is always red flags with AWS so why risk it when you can choose something so much better?
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SteveLavoie Member Posts: 1,133 ■■■■■■■■■□Amazon/AWS have the reputation to be a cuttroat and toxic environment.
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E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■@UnixGuy - From a big 5 perspective Google is the most interesting to me, but I have not rcvd a response from them. I read somewhere that they receive on avg 2 million applications annually. Apple is interesting as well, but none of the vacancies I am interested in are based here - mostly retail jobs in NL. I have an acquaintance that wants to get me into Microsoft, but similar to Apple I see the more interesting roles on the US side. So far AWS has been the only one to show interest in me for roles based here that I actually find attractive. Based on that I would entertain it because in the worst case scenario I can use the experience as a lessons learned and a resume booster. But nothing is written in stone so we shall see how this develops.Alphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS
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UnixGuy Mod Posts: 4,570 ModE Double U said:So far AWS has been the only one to show interest in me for roles based here that I actually find attractive. Based on that I would entertain it because in the worst case scenario I can use the experience as a lessons learned and a resume booster. But nothing is written in stone so we shall see how this develops.The title of the role and the listed duties are probably what's attractive, the reality of the role and the day to day duties may be very disappointingit could be a resume booster but at your level, your resume probably looks great alreadywe have the same problem in Australia, the exciting development are in the US and here it's just pre-sales mostly. They can't pay me enough to work for AWS, there are better ways out there to boost the resume in my opinion, like get involved with the community, publish something / present something / network with people, get a GSE, etc etc etc, all don't involve a burnout
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E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■UnixGuy said:E Double U said:So far AWS has been the only one to show interest in me for roles based here that I actually find attractive. Based on that I would entertain it because in the worst case scenario I can use the experience as a lessons learned and a resume booster. But nothing is written in stone so we shall see how this develops.The title of the role and the listed duties are probably what's attractive, the reality of the role and the day to day duties may be very disappointingAlphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS
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balance Member Posts: 244 ■■■■■□□□□□I turned down an offer from Microsoft and recently interviewed ( all 7ish rounds) with Amazon. I got rocked in the Amazon interview. I don't know if it was a combination of being nervous or what . What makes it worse is most of my work is at the TS/SCI level and has been for years .... so I can't even begin to describe what I do and how I do it .
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JDMurray Admin Posts: 13,101 Adminbalance said:.... so I can't even begin to describe what I do and how I do it .
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balance Member Posts: 244 ■■■■■□□□□□JDMurray said:balance said:.... so I can't even begin to describe what I do and how I do it .
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TechGromit Member Posts: 2,156 ■■■■■■■■■□E Double U said:My ultimate goal is to work with one of the big guys that has a presence in both NL and SoCal.Er why? Bragging rights? While many of these tech companies in the silicone valley pay well, the COL is insanely high, maybe not New York City high, but pretty close. A one bedroom apartment in Silicon Valley area would run you $2,700 to 3,200 a month, a two bedrooms are as high a 4k a month, a your look at around 1 million to have any chance of buying a house. You'll need a 240k a year household income to cover a $5,600 mortgage, that's 28% of your income, It's the ultimate rat race.If your really serious about getting a job where you actually have the income to buy a house, pay off those student loans and and save for retirement, you'll forget any dreams of working for Meta. you'll land a tech job in a company what is located an area of the country that the Cost Of Living is lower than the national average and Tech incomes high.I pay just 15% of my income to pay the mortgage a month, and 9% of our household income. This allows me and my Wife have no debt, to save for retirement, and buy crap with disposable income.
Still searching for the corner in a round room. -
JDMurray Admin Posts: 13,101 AdminTechGromit said:This allows me and my Wife have no debt, ...
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E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■TechGromit said:E Double U said:My ultimate goal is to work with one of the big guys that has a presence in both NL and SoCal.Er why? Bragging rights? While many of these tech companies in the silicone valley pay well, the COL is insanely high, maybe not New York City high, but pretty close. A one bedroom apartment in Silicon Valley area would run you $2,700 to 3,200 a month, a two bedrooms are as high a 4k a month, a your look at around 1 million to have any chance of buying a house. You'll need a 240k a year household income to cover a $5,600 mortgage, that's 28% of your income, It's the ultimate rat race.If your really serious about getting a job where you actually have the income to buy a house, pay off those student loans and and save for retirement, you'll forget any dreams of working for Meta. you'll land a tech job in a company what is located an area of the country that the Cost Of Living is lower than the national average and Tech incomes high.
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.
Alphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS -
E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■JDMurray said:TechGromit said:This allows me and my Wife have no debt, ...Alphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS
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LordQarlyn Member Posts: 693 ■■■■■■□□□□I did work for Intel a long time ago, not on your list but certainly a tech giant. Very positive experience. If I wasn't dying to be an expat, I probably would have stayed there. Yeah you know the old cliché, people quit bad managers not necessarily bad companies. You can work for a great company and have toxic managers, or work for a terrible company but have an awesome manager that makes it worth holding on a little longer until something better comes along.
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. -
E Double U Member Posts: 2,239 ■■■■■■■■■■LordQarlyn said:Yeah you know the old cliché, people quit bad managers not necessarily bad companies. You can work for a great company and have toxic managers, or work for a terrible company but have an awesome manager that makes it worth holding on a little longer until something better comes along.Alphabet soup from (ISC)2, ISACA, GIAC, EC-Council, Microsoft, ITIL, Cisco, Scrum, CompTIA, AWS
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TechGromit Member Posts: 2,156 ■■■■■■■■■□JDMurray said:TechGromit said:This allows me and my Wife have no debt, ...
Still searching for the corner in a round room. -
SteveLavoie Member Posts: 1,133 ■■■■■■■■■□TechGromit said:JDMurray said:TechGromit said:This allows me and my Wife have no debt, ...