In this video I’m giving a reality check on what it’s actually like working as a software engineer in big tech/FAANG in 2023. I’ve been in the industry for about five years now, and I started during what felt like the “golden age” of tech—great perks, high optimism, and the vibe that these companies really had your back. Even during early pandemic days, it was like “work from home, here’s money for your setup, we’ll get through this together.” But fast forward to 2023, and the energy is completely different: layoffs, inflation, recession talk, perks getting cut, and a hard push back to the office. I also talk about the stress people don’t see. Even if you survive layoffs, you still deal with that survivor guilt and the constant feeling that it can happen again—sometimes randomly. On a lot of teams, projects never stop, and if you’re trying to get promoted, you’re expected to perform at the next level for a long time before anyone officially recognizes it. Add on-call, re-orgs, project cuts, and the pressure to show “impact,” and it can get draining fast. Finally, I share what I’ve learned: continuous learning is non-negotiable, switching tech stacks can be brutal (especially if you’re the only person with that specialty), and pacing yourself is key. Big tech can be exciting and rewarding, but it’s not always bright—and you need to protect your energy and be intentional about what you’re optimizing for.