Pizza stations, gyms, lavish headquarters conceptualized by starchitects, and the promise of a lucrative career that also has the potential to solve world problems. For a long time, working in Big Tech was the dream for many young people. But is its status starting to change?
Big Tech might be concerned about government fines and PR emergencies, but its biggest problem could be failing to recruit and keep talented staff. Some high-profile leavers are going public with their complaints about the companies and the lure of Big Tech for graduates is being eroded.
Last month, for example, Meredith Whittaker — one of the leaders of 2018’s 20,000-strong Google staff walkout to protest against the company’s handling of sexual misconduct cases — announced she was leaving the company to focus on her work at the AI Now Institute (which researches the ethical implications of artificial intelligence). In April, Ms Whittaker said she had been told she would have to “abandon” that work if she wanted to remain at the group.
This month, an anonymous employee memo went viral at Google. “I’m Not Returning to Google after Maternity Leave, and Here is Why” alleged discrimination by a manager.
According to a recent CNBC report based on conversations with former Facebook recruiters, the company has been struggling to win over graduates in the wake of last year’s Cambridge Analytica scandal. (Facebook has denied this.) The report says: “Among top schools, Facebook’s acceptance rate for full- time positions offered to new graduates has fallen from an average of 85 percent for the 2017- 2018 school year to between 35 percent and 55 percent as of December.”
It also charted a flight from Facebook to competitors (Google), or rising companies such as Airbnb, Stripe, and Lyft. The report cited ethical and political concerns among candidates, as well as the relevance of Facebook as a brand among young people.
