Start ups when that VC funding kicks in

and god help you if you ever use any of them, obviously you have time to play games you don't have enough work to do. It's all for show.

I remember a Meta recruiter reached out to me. We had a couple of talks, and then on one of them I asked "So how's the work life balance"

Oh it's great! We have a 24/7 cafeteria here, so if you ever need a snack it's always available. We have sleeping pods, so you can easily sleep, and even 24/7 laundry services, so it's all around a very relaxing place.

Uhhh yeah man. I'm not some kid fresh out of college. I own a home, and I'm very aware of my work time vs my personal time. Hard pass all around. Kids, if the company sounds too good to be true, there's an ulterior motive. Those things sound super great..... but they're of course all meant to keep you working around the clock, meeting deadlines. The companies aren't "hip" or "cool", it's all to attract you, and then work you to the bone. A strict 40 hour work week is better than foosball anyday.

I know I'm preaching to the choir but for the people interviewing for their first software gig - well maybe one of them will read this.

When employers can't afford pizza parties, they come up with stuff like "dogs at work"

I wish I hadn't needed to learn these lessons about start ups by working in start ups. I just want to be a mailman or something at this point.

I'm allergic to dogs and don't drink, bad recruiter, shoo! Shoo! spray bottle noises

Foosball

Mama says foosball is the devil!

I misread the last one as “Drugs as work, happy hours”.

Bean to cup coffee machines legitimately was part of the reason i took a job at my current company.

Then during covid they downsized offices and got rid of them all.

Now all we get is instant coffee.....

scumbags......

Did you say "Dogs at work"? Deal.

How about you only have to work 28.8 hours a week?

The only happy hours are the hours you don't work by going home early. About 2 hours per work day, to be exact.

So you're saying there are no cats? That could be a problem.

People bring their dogs to work all the time in my office. Fortunately, all of us are dog lovers, so we all enjoy it.

The other trend that doesn't bother me, but surprises me is that I'd estimate about two thirds of the people in my office vape at their desks.

We also have bean to cup espresso, which is nice. People will go find high end beans and contribute them. It works out nicely.

We're highly educated professionals, damnit!

everything except pay me a decent wage and let me have free time.

Hey, we're a family now, Your best friends for a perfect work - work balance!

I stayed at a shitty job for 5 years because jobs here where you can bring your dog is non-existing. Hes gone now and every shit day was so worth it to be with him.

mobbing-free Fridays!

I've run into this a few times. If the culture and benefits are good but we can't level on pay, I let them know that I can't accept the offer but I refer them to a colleague with less experience for whom the pay would be appropriate. After over a decade in leadership I've had many employees, and I'm always looking out for ways they can step up the ladder. We've gotta have each other's back in this job market.

These jobs are all pushing 6 figures tho. Not sure what kind of job would try to push 36k on a professional position.