Posting for a friend and since I have never lived at any of these places, it's hard for me to provide best advice. She has 4.5 exp in QA engineer position but she has very minimal auto scripting exp. She is in process of learning. She decided to go with a contractor to gain scripting and learning experience. Her current offers are: Google contractor mountain view, CA Tc 100k Sign on 5k Relocation 4.5k Must learn scripting herself since project doesnt rely on automation, but I can teach her. Can she survive with this TC at SV? Toyota Dallas TX TC 80k No sign on No relocation Must learn scripting/duties herself by creating test scenarios, plans, cases. But lovely work culture. Charter Colorado TC 92k No sign on No relocation Can work with others who are already scripting in python so she'll have colleagues to study with and learn from. I've mentioned to her, future will be automation all the way hence she should learn scripting and I believe even contractor G is way to go. She feels otherwise since SV living cost is stupendously high so she doesnt feel she can survive. What would be the best route for her for now and for her future. My TC: 320k Yoe: 6
She is in the wrong field buddy. How do people live on ~100k in CA?
Toyota, Google looks better on resume but she will starve to death in SV with that TC
So toyota would be the best
Definitely Colorado at 92k , definitely not a Google contractor at mountain view at 100k. Colorado has a lot of Telecom and networking talent and G and f b have offices there as well so she might be able to move up at some point in the future.
Wasnt aware of Colorado in that aspect. Appreciate it
Life will be good in colorado at 92k, but Google will look much better on the resume. I’d say google and then move to better pay elsewhere after a year when they have learned the fundamentals, had a friend who did this and got great offers due to that name on their resume. Question is if they can afford to live there on that salary
Appreciate this, this will boost her confidence
As a contractor though she will probably also need to cover her own insurance etc.
Insurance is provided with small premium around $100
While 100K is not good money , the experience and networking you get in SV is priceless. On top of that google on the resume , if she is determined she can get to your level easily. It’s good to see you are looking out for a Freind
Thanks. Appreciate your input and will let her know. I was thinking the same about networking and experience
Colorado if she prefers mountains, but job opportunity wise Dallas will be better than Colorado area. She can try dallas and keep leetcoding if she wish to get into faang.
Toyota, 80k is solid in Dallas and name is known enough (not G but still good)
I would do Dallas or Colorado. 80k is broke Money in SV
But wouldn't it look better on resume and be able to have a mentor at SV surrounded by googlers?
Putting the address of a tent never looks good on a resume.