Pros
Smart, capable coworkers many of whom are burned out but still doing their best. Solid pay and benefits, which is likely the only reason many stay. Opportunities to work on interesting projects (if you're in the right crowd)
Cons
Very cliquey and political; success feels more tied to popularity than performance. Constant pressure to do more with fewer people, shrinking budgets, and unclear direction. Culture of overwork and under appreciation, especially for roles that operate behind the scenes or outside the spotlight. Work-life balance is talked about often, but rarely respected in practice "depending on your location". Some leaders view family obligations or boundaries as signs of weak commitment. Some higher senior leadership don't see operational reality or don’t believe in tech debt as a real issue. Morale is low across departments, people talk about it constantly, but no one above listens. The cycle is: survive, get paid, burn out, exit quietly.
