Google vs Snap L4

Nov 13, 2021 56 Comments

Hi,

Currently evaluating L4 offers from Google and Snap (both bay area), and wanted to get thoughts from people who work at either company.

Google TC: 290k (front loaded)
Snap TC: no numbers yet, likely 320-350k without competing offers
Current: 180k
YOE: 2

From my own research:
Snap pros - bigger scope, faster moving, higher tc
Google pros - better wlb (and no on call), better code quality, better path to L5, slightly better culture/community

Both teams seem good, with reasonable wlb even at Snap (I’ve been told 40 hours, but with on call too and probably extra workload due to uplevel).

Overall I’m really torn. I think both are great companies. Both come with a slight uplevel, though Snap slightly more. That could be good or bad, with more scope but higher expectations and stress. I also think I could probably be considered for an L4 at Snap again in a year if it came to it, with a year at Google (though passing the interview would be iffy). Due to refreshers at Snap and no guaranteed annual bonus, seems like comp comes out to about to same in the end even though 290 is front loaded (not anticipating promo at either for at least 2 years, and not sure I’d want it before then anyways). Trying not to let comp be the decider, and would like to maximize long-term learning and exploring which areas I’m interested in. Purely comp wise, snap looks like a good stock entry point but stocks also drop for a reason, so not sure. I also value the stability at google - I’m not sure I could stomach a big stock drop and stay motivated (though could be extra motivated by a big gain). Not planning to leave either company for a long time.

Any thoughts? Especially from people who made the same decision before would be great.

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TOP 56 Comments
  • Financial Services Company / Eng
    fangMan6

    Financial Services Company Eng

    fangMan6
    use snap’s offer to negotiate for google

    don’t think snap is a good choice at the moment
    Nov 13, 2021 7
  • Google
    XtXP85

    Go to company page Google

    XtXP85
    firstly, believe in yourself! you can handle l4 at both companies, dont worry about any pressure these companies NEED engineers and will let you grow and rise up. your team will respect you if you put an honest effort.

    id say go with snap if you can get a 350k+ offer -- their stock took a hit and will bounce back after a good quarter.

    google stock has seen a lot of growth this past year so not sure how much more there is to capture (keep in mind google was undervalued past few years).

    snap also, in my opinion, a cooler product to work on. they've been correct in making their app privacy-centric, and were first movers in ar/vr. they make things fun
    Nov 13, 2021 0
  • Snap
    sonofdark

    Go to company page Snap

    sonofdark
    If you care about L5/long term, easily Google. Snap path to L5 is atrocious.
    Google at least has a reasonable system in place up till L5 for good contributors.

    Plus, at Google one could rest and vest at L5 if one wants to. At Snap, I don’t know a single recently promoted L5 who can rest and vest.

    I was in a similar boat to you, but chose Snap in 2020 as a gamble on the 🚀 stock. No complaints there. But ofc that is a short term strategy. The same calculation in 2021 would favor Google.
    Nov 13, 2021 8
  • Google
    wvprjq

    Go to company page Google

    wvprjq
    The tc diff isnt much. Snap stock is still overvalued
    Nov 13, 2021 7
  • Google matched my snap offer for Year1 and 2, negotiate hard
    Nov 13, 2021 4
    • I mean the fact that snap doesn’t have stacking refreshers and promo from L4 to L5 is super hard made Google an easy choice for me at L4. By edge you mean LC skills, lol. I felt my G interviews were harder on average. Snap was all LC hard but straight out of or very similar to Leetcode.

      That being said if snap was 10-20% higher then I’d definitely choose snap, but at the same TC it didn’t make sense to pick it over Google.
      Nov 14, 2021
    • Snap
      lolnopes

      Go to company page Snap

      lolnopes
      Nah, I mean overall better engineers that are driven. Google is 75% engineers who dont care cause theyll never be fired doing work that has almost zero impact on the company.

      That 10-20% is in equity growth and its easily surapssed for everyone excpet those hired between may and sept
      Nov 14, 2021