In this video, I’m basically just chatting through the reality of working as a software engineer—especially in big tech—and the stuff people don’t really tell you upfront. One of the biggest caveats is that “big tech” isn’t one experience. The range between teams can vary dramatically: you can land on a super laid-back team with great work-life balance, or a hardcore team with intense schedules and strict on-call. And the tricky part is neither option is automatically “better.” A chill team can still make you anxious if you’re not learning or building real stories for your resume, while an intense team can burn you out fast. I also talk about what actually matters when you’re choosing a team: your manager and the product you’re working on. Even with a supportive team, if you’re not on a core product that makes money, you can still end up on the chopping block when priorities shift. I share how I think about promotion pressure too—working hard doesn’t always translate to recognition, especially when everyone around you is grinding. My personal goal isn’t just climbing the ladder; it’s picking up valuable skills that will pay dividends later, and finding a team/mission that makes the work feel more sustainable and fulfilling.