I think this highlights the fundamental problem with hiring at many large companies. They think they are getting the best, but are they? They sure are overpaying for their employees.
I think if OP isn't motivated enough to learn, excel, and build cool things on the side while he has a catered life at google, I don't think she/he will put in much effort elsewhere? That intrinsic motivation isn't there. And it honestly doesn't make sense to leave, take a pay cut, and hope that you will be given responsibilities to do new things that require learning. If you haven't been learning new things on the fly, you missed years of practice trying new things, and they won't give those responsibilities to you.
I have issues with the leetcode hiring process. I think it is unfair to people with performance anxiety and that there is much more bias than people realize, in terms of the demographics of people making hiring decisions.
But I think this reverse circle jerk about FANG is so silly. Its super subjective, but having worked at a couple and having worked at a multitude of non-FANG organizations, it's hard to argue that people there are not pretty impressive. You could say this about any elite institution. Who is to say that Harvard is getting the best?
As far as the overpaying, FANG companies are not even the highest paying. And moreover, they pay a salary that is a function of a market and the value generated by employees. Are NBA players overpaid?
I'll probably get a little downvoted for being a bit defensive, but I really think the backlash is getting a bit out of hand. Yes, large tech companies are not the end all be all. Yes, you often wont work on the coolest thing. But compared to the work that 99.9% of people on the planet have to do every day, it's pretty spectacular.
Yeah just having to be at my office for 9 hours makes me sleep worse, and drains your spice for life that you would normally be able to parlay into diving into your interests.
Did you just quit and spend a year or whatever with your interests and thinking of business ideas?
I took a new job in a new city. Moving to the new city made me focus on my interests, I think after realizing that I could leave work at 4pm and head straight to the mountain made me realize I have control of my life. I spent 2-3 months exploring this, then ideas just sort of came out of the woodworks. Taking control of my life was instrumental to pursuing the business idea. I wouldn't have put up $30k before then, and it took losing $30k in this venture to realize the freedom that owning your own business really provides.
I ended up quitting the new job and for the next 6 months worked on a business plan and opened up shop. Today I am back to sitting in a strict 8-5 and spend all of my free time honing the next venture.
So you went from a city city like NYC to a city closer to nature like Seattle? I find NYC constricting sometimes because you're always around people and products of people, never just out on a trail going for a run/bike/hike.
I am thinking that whatever it takes to rekindle that sense of agency, that's the way to go. Everyone had some sense of agency as a kid playing with legos, games, etc.
You have to ask yourself: Do people join FAANG companies because they feel those are the places where they'll get most challenged, and where they're able to develop their craft to the fullest extent
OR
Is it because they know the experience is worth its weight in gold on a resume, for any future endeavors - very much like how going to HYPS schools will open up doors which remain locked up for others.
In any case, I think you will get a bunch of both. Some talented devs that think too highly of said companies, some type-A go-getters that just want to put in their 2-3 years, etc.
I know its entirely possible to end up at the "best" companies in the world, and still get disillusioned. Hell, a lot of people don't even hold the same interests after 5-10 years. Things change, and being trapped in some place due to inactiveness can slowly eat you away. Doesn't help that you may fall victim to sunk-cost fallacy after a couple of years, where you feel too invested to leave, but too indifferent to take charge.
I think if OP isn't motivated enough to learn, excel, and build cool things on the side while he has a catered life at google, I don't think she/he will put in much effort elsewhere? That intrinsic motivation isn't there. And it honestly doesn't make sense to leave, take a pay cut, and hope that you will be given responsibilities to do new things that require learning. If you haven't been learning new things on the fly, you missed years of practice trying new things, and they won't give those responsibilities to you.