When I switch jobs I have colleagues that we get along and keep in touch. When we meet I'm find myself in a situation where I have to explain about my current employer and the job I do and to give feedback whether is a good place to work or not.
I usually find myself stretched between the two absolutes:
The job is particularly uninteresting. Not having much in common with the colleagues, the pointy-haired clueless bosses, short deadlines, unneeded late nights, bureaucracy, etc. This is almost always true. But being honest it's not the worst job ever. It's software engineering, pays well, work from home. I don't want to be a pretentious Prima donna and should be grateful for just having a job.
"Amazing opportunities", "exceptional colleagues", "cutting-edge technologies" and being the optimistic show-off. It's the honeymoon description of a job, I've been in this situation but the last time I left after just a few months. Also it looks very superficial. You can see such flattering words in the farewell e-mails that just makes me sick. Let's be honest, I don't want this marketing fluff.
What's a good way to express slight dissatisfaction but general gratitude from a job to a person who's in your shoes?