I visited one of the local big companies this week (e.g Amazon, Microsoft, or Google). Yes -- there are other big companies in Seattle but in my myopic technology world view, I don't know of any.
I made the following short list of the superficial things that distinguish big technology companies from small ones while waiting for my appointment to show up:
- Security at the front desk -- this always makes me smile and feel welcome. I particularly like signing an NDA that I don't get to read in order to get a badge with my name on it.
- Multiple daily newspapers in the waiting room -- I might just have said newspapers in the waiting room because I can't name one small company that has a newspaper in the waiting room.
- Secretaries or personal assistants -- the addition of people to manage professionals calendars and lives
- Lunch Room -- The presence of oatmeal for breakfast with your choice of raisins or nuts. A drink selection comparable to 7-11.
- No first names on email address -- Have you tried emailing bill@microsoft.com?
- The number of lawyers on staff sure distinguishes a big company from a small one.
- Matching chairs and desks -- The furniture always looks so nice and uniform at big companies. It's obvious that the desks aren't purchased at Office Max, Ikea or Home Depot and the chairs definately aren't from Craigslist.
- Office campuses -- There isn't office space, just office compounds and campuses.