- I'm 29. - Not American - also from one of those countries for which US visa is a huge pain. - Don't have a degree. - I can pass an LC + GrokkingSystemDesign style interview. - Got 10 years of experience doing full stack work, but nothing at scale. - I got no family commitments as such, single etc. I want the huge comps y'all are making in the US. What is a good strategy for me to make it into FAANG in either the valley / Seattle / NYC? Here's what I'm thinking of: OPTION 1: - Get into FAANG in home country or wherever else they will take me, that's not US. - Work for a couple years and try to transfer to US offices. OPTION 2: - Come to US to study a UG course in CS. - Get a job 4-5 years from now out of college (I'll be 'old', though?). OPTION 3: - Get a distance UG degree from Coursera in CS, while continuing to work outside US, and keep trying stuff in Option 1. (I guess I should be doing this anyhow). Questions: 1. Is there another option I'm not seeing? 2. What are possible things that can go wrong in my strategy? Last TC outside US (in SG), noname consulting company: USD 72K. Good advice on this can change my life. Look forward to your thoughts.
Why not just apply directly to the companies you are interested in. If you are good enough they will probably sponsor your visa directly. Otherwise option 1.
If they don't have a relevant degree to the job they take, they're not eligible for H1b
Yelp - I suppose that would be a slightly modified version of "Option 1" from my question. But like Bingpot said, directly coming in on H1B is near impossible (in fact GOOG recruiter told me they won't even interview me for US b/c of this). So I'm thinking L1 route...
Sg = Singapore? 72K local currency or converted to USD?
Yes - and, converted.
Okay. I would think that’s greaaat salary for Asia Maybe not so for Singapore. I do realize sg is more expensive than most se asia. But didn’t think it would be anywhere close to like Texas. Cuz 72k is not bad for a new grad in Texas. Anyways. I think if u have local fang office they might be willing to interview u locally for a Bay Area job. I applied to G in Switzerland and they were willing to do my interview in Bay Area for job there. So maybe worth a try.
Dude 72k usd in Singapore is way better than 200k usd in sv/sf
Perhaps - but I want to make it to the level of 500k USD in the US (L5/L6 etc) eventually at FAANGs - you can't do that in SG.
Why? You’ll have no life if you want to get to that level. And if you want a family SV sucks. Money doesn’t make you happy despite what you think
I would say start with Option 1, give yourself a timeline, if Option 1 does not work move to Option 2.
Interesting... I already feel worried that starting now down the road of Option 2 would mean I'm around 34 by the time I'm a fresh grad, and also I don't know how long the journey to L5/L6 will take (that's my goal) after that. Risking another 2 years trying to make Option 1 work, sounds painful at this time... but thanks for chipping in and will consider it.
OP, you may be able to make #2 shorter if you start a UG degree in SG and then transfer to a US college to complete the degree. Don't know how much credit you'll get, but it's worth looking into. Btw, based on the numbers I see around here, you need at least L6 for those 400k's. If you make it, it'll take you quit a few years, and given your UG plans, you're late into the game. Nothing wrong with setting stretch goals, but have a plan b.
Come to the US on vacation and charm yourself into an American wife
That sounds like an interesting Option 4 :-D I keep forgetting about it. TBH I want to feel like I made it by myself though... also I heard that the US govt. interviews on whether your marriage is 'real' or just for the GC - are very invasive and humiliating - "Do you share your toothbrush" was one such thing someone told me they were asked. Nasty.
I don’t find anything about this particular q very humiliating. They do get v personal I understand. U can also come here on vacation and do interviews. V hard path.
You don’t need a degree
Could you please expand a bit more? How would you go about it?
Find any Master programs that will take you without a UG degree?
This is a good option as well
@techladki - ah, yes I once heard about that, but didn’t find any US based Unis that will do it (did find a UK option). Thanks for reminding me. I will also consult an Immi lawyer as well to understand my options - I will ask them if USCIS looks poorly on people who have an MS without a BS.
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UG is your best bet, and you won't be "old". This "old" stuff is bs.
Thank you, more and more, I am coming to realise this path seems to make sense... I wasn't very accepting of it initially.
What is UG? University Graduate?