As a software engineer in the very general "web development" space, what is your opinion about looking to work at big companies like Cisco, Pizza Hut, Nike, and the like? I know it's a very generalized question, but if you ignore FANG and the flashy startups of the world, what kind of companies are worth shooting for if you're optimizing for learning and career growth, especially for non-traditional applicants? (most of the engineers at my company don't have a CS degree).
A few more more-or-less representative examples:
-Bank of (insert anything here), excluding quant-trading positions
-Macy's/Nordstrom/H&M
-Walmart, Kroger, Costco
-VMware, Adobe, Intuit
-Adidas, Under Armour, Sports Authority
-Ford, GE, Texas Instruments
I could go on, but hopefully that gets the point across. Hit me with any questions, or if I'm just asking the wrong/dumb questions. Thanks people.
comments
This distinction is more important than big-boring vs small-exciting.
As they are actually SW companies...
As oppose to rest of list
It is slow boring and all white but the company wont lay you off. People's entire families work there, kids, dad's, grandparents. It is crazy. If you worked in the store or as a store manager, youre annoited for corporate management.
CEO is super humble, cheap house and he knew my work personally. Not kidding. I wasnt even that high up. Spoke with him a few times.
Id find him on late night commercial flights back from Atlanta to Cincinnati. That stuck with me. No other CEO I know does that.
My answer assumes that you don't need the incremental security of a stable established company. With a family to feed, one might prioritize stability over growth.
I know a dozen people who have relocated for a higher TC but hate it because their family is elsewhere. I know that nothing, not even TC, can replace time with loved ones.
Some of those people who have relocated have actually been offered jobs at higher positions.
Thus, from my anecdotal experience, pursuing TC isn't the be all and end all.
I would also think about wealth and how it goes down from generation to generation. Most of that wealth will be expended by generation 3. So this TC rat race is causing harm to nothing but yourself and your loved ones.
I recruit for Little Caesars, our IT team works on LCE and 12 other sister companies software engineering, infrastructure, data analytics, and more. We do it with a shockingly small team that was 20 people 5 years ago and now above 150 and still growing.
Mid level companies are just as exciting as FANG, and not as boring as a large company.
Just my thoughts.