Had to interview with 5 people before I got an offer and they're very picky with performance on paper. That said, I sometimes wonder why a lot of people at the company perform below my standards.

The work is frequently engaging and intellectually stimulating. Sometimes you wonder what the business decision makers were thinking, but I'm guessing that's true just about anywhere.

Recently I've occassionally picked up work roles outside my job description which is a mixed bag. On the downside, I didn't choose those roles for a reason. On the plus side I pick up new skill sets. Still, with the industry the way it is these days, it's understood that people have to wear multiple hats.

The mortgage industry is in a major funk and the malaise is in the air. Ironically, the division most upbeat is marketing (which would get a "Love it here").

Official boosts in title and corresponding changes in pay are rare and hard to come by. For example, a developer friend of mine who came straight from university and practically ran the show didn't get one promotion in two years. He later got picked up by Google, which offered a 50% raise plus signing bonuses and stock options. Despite a more than competitive starting pay, the lack of professional and financial acknowledgment basically guaranteed that he'd jump ship after a couple years of experience.

Great starting pay with modest annual raises and bonuses based on performance review.