My experience is that the least interesting work of my entire career happened during my times at FAANG corps. They have too many overqualified people and too little difficult work to do, so more than anything you just end up playing code games, and "showing impact" by convincing people to adopt new restrictive policies and whatnot.

If you want real tough, new, interesting work, join a startup or a non-tech company where you can have true impact. Alas the pay will be shit in comparison, that's the tradeoff.

Better, start your own startup. These days anyone who can build a weekend demo and talk coherently for 45 minutes to an investor can raise a few million. Not even throwing shade or joking, it's a literal free money fiesta right now, at least until interest rates go nonzero (which will be soon).

> There are expectations

Sounds miserable!

In all seriousness, it’s awesome and better than most.

Apple has a toxic side covered up by silence that is unique among most tech companies.

And you want to talk about ungodly money and ungodly benefits, yet there are suicides at Facebook and Amazon. Not to mention in investment banking. All of these things come at a cost.

Okay. So what is your point?

That there are hard jobs everywhere and hard jobs are… hard?

I would also bet stats show suicide rates are higher in other industries.

These are some of the most balanced and progressive organizations between pay and lifestyle.

If your golden ticket is so toxic go get a job that is not at 1/3 the pay. You’ll still be richer than most and I would bet many still find a way to be miserable.

Not all FAANG companies are the same, and your carefree experience does not overwrite others’. You cannot presume to know the experience of companies that encompass tens of thousands of individuals, with untold number of departments and teams. So you were on a low-stress team. Bully for you.