Pros
Riot is a great place to work if you have effective time management skills, are able to self-direct well, and have that "entrepreneurial spirit" that a lot of tech companies look for. There is a lot of autonomy when it comes to your job, and if you like that, and are good at it, then you will succeed. Culture is key at Riot, and if you "fit in" with their mindset, you will have an amazing opportunity to impact the organization no matter what position you hold. Management is always willing to listen to your feedback and in fact, encourages you to speak-up when you feel something is going in the wrong direction, or needs improvement. This is not a place where you can do the minimum and just skirt by; this is a high-performance, demanding, but fun place to work. They do have really high expectations, and if you cannot fulfill those expectations, then you will not succeed there. Everyone thinks that they have what it takes to work in an environment like this, which in theory sounds amazing (who wouldn't want to have control over what they do every day?), but in practice is a lot more difficult than it sounds. Some people are more successful being told what to do every day (soldiers), while others want to be in charge (leaders). It really takes a leadership mindset to be successful at Riot imo. It's like a sports team, they look for "all-stars," and cut the ones that don't perform at that level. Passion (for your job, the company and the game), determination (no constraints), and a high-level of accountability are some of the key attributes they look for in Rioters. The benefits and perks are amazing; they say there is work-life balance, but I know many, including myself, who pulled 10-12 hours daily. Not that they have to, but because of the culture that compels them to do so. And that is great at first, because almost everyone around you is doing it, and you build great rapport with your coworkers. But that kind of work style is unsustainable in the long run, and eventually it leads to burnout. Important takeaway for those that want to work there: if you don't play the game (League of Legends), you best sign-up and start playing before even thinking about applying for a position. Drink the Riot kool-aide and magical things will happen.
Cons
I don't have too many negatives to say about Riot. My time there was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I learned more working there than in any of the positions I've held at any other organization in my 10+ years working as a professional. I work smarter, not harder now, and I owe a lot of that to what I learned from senior management and my coworkers. My only negative is the whole work-life balance issue. Working ridiculous hours is something that you impose on yourself though, no one makes you do it. So make sure you're working efficiently in the hours you do clock-in; having effective time-management skills will benefit you in the long run.
