The End of the Dream Job in Tech

When Rachel Grey joined Google as a software engineer in 2007, it was an exciting time to be a new employee, known internally as a noogler.

During a two-week orientation at Google’s Mountain View headquarters, Grey encountered a workplace utopia. The company cafeterias offered steak and shrimp, kitchens were stocked with fresh juices, and gyms provided free exercise classes. Employees received stock grants in addition to their salaries, a 50 percent match on retirement contributions, and a $1,000 Christmas bonus handed out in an envelope.

Grey was also impressed by Google's transparency during onboarding, noting how openly the company shared details about the number of machines in its data centers — information typically kept confidential.

However, over the years, her experience shifted as she advanced to a software engineering manager role. The Christmas bonus diminished, employees lost access to continuous corporate updates, and the company abandoned its pledge not to use artificial intelligence for weapon development. Promotion budgets ran dry, forcing Grey to lower performance ratings — a task she described as "painfully difficult." In April, at 48 years old and nearly 18 years with the company, Grey resigned from what had once been her dream job.

The reality for employees at Silicon Valley’s tech giants today is markedly different from the idealized vision that once drew talent to these firms.