When I was younger I used to think I wasn’t good enough to work for a FAANG company and so avoided all the unpleasant interviews with them.
Whilst that’s probably still true, I now also wouldn’t want to work somewhere like that if the “prize” for being accepted is to be treated like a machine or worse.
Being a contractor seems like a much more honest bargain. You pay me and I make something for you.
How I do that is my business as long as it meets the spec.
I used to care about that too until I got enough money (not a TON, but enough to put my worries aside for 5-10 years) from equity working at a smaller company.
Now I'd rather keep a simple job and work on side projects that interest me than working at a FAANG.
Whilst that’s probably still true, I now also wouldn’t want to work somewhere like that if the “prize” for being accepted is to be treated like a machine or worse.
Being a contractor seems like a much more honest bargain. You pay me and I make something for you.
How I do that is my business as long as it meets the spec.