> Google et al. has a revolving door of applicants, so they can make them suffer. Also, if you show that you can study 3 months for an interview to balance a re

> Google et al. has a revolving door of applicants, so they can make them suffer. Also, if you show that you can study 3 months for an interview to balance a red black tree, you likely will do whatever the firm tells you to do. You likely will be a good worker! Ehh, that's not what I've seen. Most engineers at Google I've met and interacted with, even worked with in the past who are now at Google - are absolutely, undisputedly and unarguably exceptional. Google is not your 1980's regimented company where the boss tells whatever and the employees just follow. I've seen that type of company culture more in Europe (esp Germany) and Japan than anywhere else. Google empowers their employees and the culture is right up there with creative and unconventional thinking. It's not as cool as it used to be but still good. Starting your own firm sometimes is a less creative endeavor. You're massively limited first and foremost with talent pool, experts and funding. At Google, you have one of the most rich environments for creativity - you've got funding, you have PMs, you have exceptional engineers all in great morale, all the resources to make you successful while getting paid well.