Zurich vs. Mountain View - Google TC Offer?
Did good on my on site. 5/5 hire. Now in team matching. I'm deciding between roles in Zurich vs. mountain view. Would the TC be more in Zurich because of COL? or less because demand is less?
Go with Zurich. Start learning German now.
Working in satellite offices could be a career limiting move. Also TC, especially RSU grants are weaker than the HQ given more competition in satellites. I’d go with MV to maximize TC, then transfer zurich. You’ll always keep RSUs but there will be base salary adjustment. Even if you are so determined for Zurich, I’d say go for MV to see the comp and then try Zurich comp comittee to match it.
+1
For example, an ML guru, interviewed Paris at G and got declined for E5 role. He came back and interviewed FB and got E7. It’s not apple to apple comparision but his G recruiter told him that Paris team is very picky given so many high quality candidates applying there. Zurich may be within the same lines. Even you made it through the hiring commitee, the comp team won’t be compelled to throw big bucks at you.
You don’t need another interview to work at another office as an external hire?
TC is similar. They set it based on what other companies pay in the area, not COL. In ZRH you get 25 days vacation instead of 15, decent public transportation instead of US 101, and 3 drunkards instead of 2000 heroin addicts.
Zurich might be more base but refreshers may be less. Plus if your a US citizen, you’ll pay taxes on foreign income so the Low Swiss taxes won’t really feel that low at the end of the year. Plus COL will eat away whatever surplus you have left, because Switzerland is expensive as hell. If it’s about money, don’t go to Zurich. Go to Zurich if you want to be based in Europe and travel. Finally the Swiss aren’t the warmest of people. It’s a tough nut to crack. Even Germanic non-Swiss people get the cold shoulder there. If you’re not Swiss. You’re a second or third class citizen depending on your ethnic origin. I have Eastern European relatives there who are treated like Mexican labor over there. Personally I’d go to Zurich and give it 2 years just for the experience of galavanting across Europe with non-EMEA TC. But if career and money is your focus, then go to MV.
Mountain View. There's the possibility to transfer later. Several people on my team visit Zurich on business, so at least in my org it wouldn't be unusual.
What about Google Seattle vs. Austin TC? Do they lower the TV offer and typically by what % on average?