Toxic teams, traumatized workers, opaque management hierarchy
Pros
Valve used to make good games, is well known, and it provides a somewhat competitive benefits package.
Cons
I'm writing this as an act of kindness to other developers. I worked here for many years and I still speak with insiders after leaving, and nothing fundamentally has changed yet. I waited a while before posting this review, so I could think about my overall experience here and what I would like to tell others about it. Overall, I highly recommend you avoid this company right now, because your long term health and sanity are more important than anything they can offer you. There's nothing negative I can write that hasn't already been said here publicly on the web already. If you do decide to go, then please remember this advice: First, if you are a new hot developer who's done something amazing for some other company, Valve will desire you basically like a trophy. If you do decide to go here, demand options, demand a startup bonus, and negotiate your initial salary upward. *Always* do each, without exception. The power is in your hands here, and Valve definitely has the ability to handle the upward pressure on its wages and benefits you and others will be applying. If you are someone Valve *really* wants, someone that they can proudly show off around town, they will have one or two workers discretely coach you before the actual interview. I witnessed this occur on two occasions. It won't matter if you flub the interview, you will be hired. If you aren't couched, they don't really want you. If you do get coached, then you better negotiate your butt off. If you can do so, talk to several teams before going to Valve. Try to find the least toxic team to join up with first. Find a team that is truly excited about you coming on board and helping them out. Ask them about their goals, when they are going to ship, who their customers are, and about the milestones they've already completed. Try to determine if results actually matter to this team. Identify the leaders of the team, ask them how long they've worked there, and see if you gel with them. Avoid teams like the plague that haven't shipped anything in years or are filled with old timers, as they will tend to be incredibly toxic. Avoid teams that don't have strong support from Gabe or a board member. Avoid teams without crystal clear product goals and a ship dates. The way to shut down these toxic, zombie-like teams inside of Valve is to starve them of new hires, and if Valve won't do it internally then ex-Valvers will do it externally by informing the world's developers about what to look for. Before you go to Valve, speak with at least a couple ex-Valvers about what it's actually like to work there. Do not go there unprepared, and do not believe the developer marketing.