I finally received a verbal offer after 3 and a half months from my first on-site. The interview was originally for L4 but they down leveled to L3 and currently, they are not hiring L3s, so it would probably take a few months to match with a team. The recruiter said they are having the worst time in terms of hiring. About the offer, it would probably be in San Bruno with about 200k TC. They would increase the TC if I have a competing offer but not sure how much. What do you think about the offer? Do you know if there is a cap for L3 TC? I have a couple of interviews coming up so I might get other offers. I really like Google but it is taking so long and I am kind of disappointed with the downlevel after about 4-5 months process. Please let me know if you have any advice. I have a Ph.D. with 3 YOE
How was the interview in terms of leetcode hard and medium?
mostly mediums and some hards
Oh shit if you decline the offer can you let me know what team? I'm trying to find a team with L3 openings 😭😭
how long have you been waiting?
Just a month and a half but sounds like the recruiter is leaning towards not looking anymore
I will at the least negotiate on the level. Because going into the company a level down than what you originally wanted might not help you in the long run (esp job satisfaction part). 200K total compensation sounds reasonable. Based on your experience and a PhD
I think the level is not negotiable
I wouldn't take it. I think a PhD should either be getting a L4 or a top of the range L3 offer around $250K or so. If you really want Google, I would use those competing offers to push the TC. An offer from Facebook would be especially helpful. The top L3 offer I have heard of was $270K. Yeah, the process is quite slow and they might even push you with a deadline if you have competing offers or interviews. Have you mentioned to your recruiter about these other interviews?
Yeah, he said let me know if you get the offers so we negotiate on the TC. But the level is not gonna change, which concerns me
Mention the competing offers or interviews and they might up the signing bonus and/or equity. I had a pending Onsite with another one of the FAANGs when I got my Google offer and they upped some numbers to convince me to take the offer
Ask them to go f u ck themselves. Absolutely do not take the offer and instead continue interviewing elsewhere. When interviewing at other places tell them you have Google offer
Not a good idea. That could get you blacklisted.
You will get blacklisted, if you accept offer and then reject it. I am not asking op to accept or reject
hahahaha, I have watched that show, it feels exactly the same
Which show ?
Google is digging its own grave ⚰️⛏️
the interview process here has always sucked, both for the interviewers and the interviewees. not sure why it's still not fixed.
PhD and 3 yoe, yeah they are lowballing you dude. Which company did you work at? How well did you do in interviews? Definitely interview at other tech cos.
Interviews were good overall. especially my first onsite which was 5 coding interviews (unfortunately). 3 medium 2 hards (Leetcode standards) and I coded everything optimally for all of them. In the hard interviews, I had to get hints which they did not like I believe. They called me for two more interviews, the first one was very good the second one not so good for some reasons which I don't wanna board you with. I went there twice with 9 hours flights which makes even more frustrating.
Wow that sucks, sorry you had to go through that. Definitely interview more, as someone below said, you would be very unhappy at L3, that's what college grad with no experience gets.
What's your current TC? Did you give them your numbers?
No job currently
Apply to other companies and use the Google offer as leverage. Don't take it. Imagine doing a PhD to be at the same level as some UCLA bro who grinded leetcode for a week
Words of wisdom
BuT lEeTCoODE MAkEs U gUD ENGiNeer