Unusual Google PM Compensation Situation
Had on-site for Google PM (L5) & my recruiter told me to expect to hear back from HC in the next week or so. I might be getting ahead of myself, but this has prompted me to think about compensation. I think I'm in a decently unique circumstance for negotiating. In terms of my current work & comp, I'm juggling a couple different balls: - Fractional CPO/Product Management Consultant for 4-5 clients a year @ $120-250/hour with pre-determined retainers & engagement lengths - Data Science & Machine Learning Consultant for 2-3 clients a year @ $140-280/hour with pre-determined retainers & engagement lengths - Due Diligence & Expert Network type work for VCs, PEs, HFs , etc. a couple weeks a year @ $160-$280/hour (fairly variable) - Partner in an events company that personally nets me ~$50,000/year which I have to be operationally involved in (wouldn't be able to if I took Google) - Partner in a niche digital marketing firm that nets mw ~$80,000/year which I also have to be operationally involved in (wouldn't be able to if I took Google either) My total yearly compensation varies with how much I work & what deals I put together: 2016 - $205k 2017 - $220k 2018 - $243k 2019 - ~$275K (pro forma) Note: this is working about 10 months a year living in a relatively low COL (TX) compared to the MTV or NYC (the two places I'd consider). I know Google low-balls unless you have a competing offer from a public company. I wasn't looking for a job when Google reached out, but I given it was Google I figured I'd give it a shot; as such, I haven't interviewed with any other companies. In my case, could I ask Google to match or at least approach matching my average yearly earnings along with a small COL adjustment? Statically, the Bay Area is about twice as expensive before accounting for state taxes as where I am currently; I don't expect Google to double my current income of course, but I'm wondering if that would be factored into my compensation. It's taken a good bit of failing & struggle, but I know my current setup is pretty sweet. That said, I'm fairly weary of working completely independently 95% of the time, hustling for deal flow, and living in TX. I've been finding myself wanting more and more to be in an environment surrounded by world-class people I can learn from & grow with, focusing on crafting a single product, & moving back to SF. Also, given I don't a competing offer from a public company to leverage would I be able use my tax filings from previous years to show current compensation to match/use as an anchor? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks! TC: $275k YOE: 6
It always comes down to how badly google wants you. With your current life, you probably should only go to google for 350k or so. You also do not have to prove anything to anyone. Just be willing to walk away if they don't give you a number you like.
I'll second this. I didn't have any competing external offers, but I knew (thanks to Blind!) what the market rate was and basically made that my walk away number. If they really want you badly enough they will get there.
I definitely agree with you on proving anything to anyone and being willing to walk away. Iām just wondering if thereās anyway to get the numbers up after the initial offer in this situation. Assuming they want me a good amount and give me a number below $350k, Iām guessing I just tell them itās not enough then counter & wait to see if they come back with anything better?
275k for L5 PM is easy. Google PMs are on eng ladder. You can actually expect 325k per year for base+ bonus at CME + 1/4 of initial grant .
FYI in California itās illegal for them to ask you how much you currently or previously made. So they canāt really dig for your tax returns or anything to āproveā how much you could be making.
Ah, thatās right.
To clarify, it is illegal in California (and Washington) for employers to ask your salary history. You can still volunteer that information, at which point they can try to verify it if they wanted to (though I don't think any company would seek out your tax returns). I personally would find it incredibly weird and inappropriate if an employee shared their tax return. What you previously made has nothing to do with the job you'd be doing for them in the future. Prove you're worth whatever it is you want and be ready to walk away if they won't offer it.
They are not allowed to consider current comp at all, even if you provide it. All you can do is push back, and if the offer is not high enough, decline
Not true. They can and do consider current comp/offers That said, as you can tell from the responses, most folks think your deal is pretty sweet. Can goog give you 300k? Yes.
They can absolutely consider offers, even internal offers with the same company. They cannot consider current comp per policy, or at least that is what my comp contact told me this year.
@yfOz18 any update on this? fwiw: I just got approved by HC and my initial team matches included a role in Austin
did you make it OP?
How are you getting these gigs?
Worked for a PE & VC all through college, started & ran a product/ML agency for a couple years, & relentlessly built a well-serviced network over the better part of a decade or so š
What did you do for the VC? Tech or business related?