How is the compensation in countries outside of US when working at Google? I'm thinking of applying for a job in Singapore. Is it hard to get visa, be transferred, etc?
I would suggest asking if you can work out of the Singapore office rather than a transfer. Typically google will let you work out of other offices if you cover the cost of your flight, housing, etc. As long as your job can be done remotely and off hours I’ve heard the option is possible.
You don't need a car in SG, period. About "bored", it depends on your temperament. I lived there for two years, and was not bored a single moment. And yeah, I flew from SG to the States next to two Singaporeans who planned how to "screw gals" all the flight. Yes, all 18 hours or so. They were clearly bored 😄
I'm actually a super active and social person and finding things to do is the least of my problems :) I was more thinking if the pay is as good there as it is in the US? Will I be able to live really good and save money at the same time?
One thing you can do is make Singapore your base and visit all the South East and North East Asian countries in your two years there. If you are a white and single, you can have a life style of a Casanova. I was there recently. Public transit is good. Local cuisine is cheap if you know your places. I am not sure about rent.
I used to live in Thailand while freelancing for well paying Norwegian clients :) 3 days of work covered my base expenses. I... lived like a king 😭 miss it so much!
People complain Singapore is very expensive. To other SEA countries, not USA. Some things are cheap there (food, transportation, cab fare was super cheap! entertainment) others are not (rent... Though, honestly, you cannot compare different countries. Don't dream about a house on a 2 acres lot, and you'll be fine. Think more about 2 bdrm appt 😄). Changing jobs may be tougher. Some things are challenging to find (clothes of xxl size, European food)
How would you guess a Google salary would be for Technical Specialist? You think it would be possible to live near the office in an OK apartment and still be able to save some money? I live in New York now and have a nice 700sqft apt on 40th floor. So if I land that job at Google in Singapore, I would like to be able to live nice and save some money. I have lived and travelled a lot in Asia before, but don't know much about Singapore and compensation there.
I'd say "definitely yes". Can you share how much are you offered? Condo for rent are abundant and of great quality, crime is non existent, I'd say I'd personally go for it without hesitating a moment. I worked in downtown and lived in a suburb, coz it was green and not as noisy and cheaper. Commute is not an issue at all. Bus/MRT is very cheap, clean and efficient. Damn, cabs are cheap... I paid for medical care out of the pocket, for prestige school for the kid. At the end of the day it was not saving that I thought about, but finding time to spend. And it was the adventure of my life. Just remember, "no cannabis" 😄
hard to say exact numbers, but Google salaries outside of the US are generally much lower – I'd expect between 50-70% of SF/NY in Singapore/Sydney/Tokyo/London/Dublin.
OP: how did the interviews/transfer go? I am also thinking of transferring there next year and cannot find the salary range for my level internally
I actually failed on the last rounds - they said it was super close and wanted me to re-apply in a year. I’m moving to Thailand in a few months where I will be freelancing while studying so I’ll be fully ready for next application! I already resigned from my current position.
Oh no! I always thought that transfers will be super easy. Enjoy Thailand and all the best!
Any luck on understanding the pay scale in SG?
SG taxes are super low, like fiscal paradise low (highest tax band is 18%), so you might get lower TC, but your take home after tax pay will be much higher.
True, but if you’re a US citizen, you still get caught for US Federal tax when earning abroad.
You get bored in Singapore within 1 month
Yeah. Even the Singaporeans call it the fish bowl. In peak traffic you can get from one end to the other in 45 mins (by car). Its like USA is made of just I-405 and 25 miles around it.