Pros

I found that I was able to work on mostly interesting projects and be creative at work. Plus you do have great perks.

Cons

Morale has gone way down and the googly culture that is projected as being amazing doesn't really exist anymore. Promotions happened less often, became more political and were harder to get.

Advice to Senior Management

Almost five years ago when I started in the sales organization the company was an amazing place to be - there was such respect from management and the projects you could work on outside your core responsibilities were abundant. As time went on, the company no longer became one where you could be innovative and involved in change - red tape and fighting over team ownership popped up every time you tried to do something new. I find blame in the waves of MBAs they hired to be managers - the leadership of the department became overwhelmingly uncooperative, political and self seeking which trickled down to the employees. Those of us who were there for years and embodied Googlieness were quickly drowned out by the hoards of MBAs and the recent college grads from Ivy League schools who were for the most part entitled and in the completely wrong role for them. Implementing the *ridiculous* hiring standards they currently have was probably the number one worst thing the company could have done.

While it is still a better company to have worked for than all others I've been at, don't expect that the same level of independence and culture and googliness to be there.