Pros
- Being surrounded by world-class talent means my skills level up faster than I could've imagined - Because new hires are heavily screened, I don't have to deal with big egos or slacker behavior - The campus amenities are simply nuts; they take very good care of me while I'm at work - I've never been asked to stay late, come in early, or work weekends. Ever. - Significant others are given a strong social network to engage with, and are welcome to visit the campus - I'm allowed to give feedback across the board, to anyone, and they'll have a conversation with me about it - What I work on is largely up to me--if I take initiative in my interests, I am rewarded - The opportunities for growth are abundant. I see a clear pathway to follow at Riot, where I can be rewarded with all the skills and experiences I want.
Cons
- Lots of feedback comes to me from lots of directions - requires a humble attitude, and strong communication skills - Expensive cost of living nearby - slightly offset by higher pay rates, but given how ridiculously expensive LA is, wages would need to be much much higher to fully offset the cost - Rapid growth has left various systems with a fair amount of tech debt and related process dysfunction. It's annoying to work with, but has improved dramatically since I started (and is still improving. go team!). - Because we value making the right decision for players instead of a single manager's decision, stuff takes longer than usual. I'm okay with that, because I prefer the democratic approach. But I understand why some may get frustrated, and see this as a negative.