Non-Tech Apple vs Cisco

New
ryRS54

New

ryRS54
Jan 26 31 Comments

Received two non-tech offers

Apple (Texas): ~$193k TC
$140k base, 15% bonus, 70k RSU/4 years, $15k sign-on, IC4
Pros: Apple brand name
Cons: Move to Austin, TX with family, sell/buy house, undetermined work-life balance, TC is peanuts for level and non-negotiable.

Cisco (Remote): ~$204k TC
$160k base, 15% bonus, $20k sign-on, L10
Pros: Good work-life balance, great benefits, remote
Cons: Not as sexy as Apple, no RSUs

Current (Bay Area): ~$174k TC, YOE 10
$152k base, 15% bonus, no RSUs

What would you do?
Edit: I am eager to grow in my career and willing to work hard for it. At the same time, I have young kids and don't want to sacrifice ALL of my time for my next role.

Update: Thanks all for your feedback and advice, I truly appreciate it. I decided to go with Cisco. Cisco did end up giving me RSUs and the HM personally reached out to me to share my growth opportunities in addition to discussing RSUs. I think this is a good choice for my family at this moment. A couple things I know: 1) I'm still in the early stages of my career and can move into another company, potentially FAANG in the future, and 2) It's not FAANG or bust in the market haha. Cisco's a terrific company. Cheers all!

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TOP 31 Comments
  • Intuit
    bungi

    Go to company page Intuit

    bungi
    OP what matters to you more? Are you trying to grow your career or cruise?

    Apple is a great company to have on resume but they lowballed you for 10 YOE. Cisco is objectively the better offer; higher TC, better WLB, remote… if you’re tryna start a family or settle down, go Cisco and chill in a LCOL area.

    Btw isn’t L4 for someone with 5 YOE? Like a data analyst or marketing manager?
    Jan 26 4
    • Samsung / Eng
      doomtomb

      Go to company page Samsung Eng

      PRE
      Samsung Electronics
      doomtomb
      L4 is senior Eng more like 7-8 YOE
      Jan 27
    • Apple
      bishwal

      Go to company page Apple

      bishwal
      I think u shd also factor yearly base raises, bonuses and refresher. I was in similar boat as u and ended up going with Apple and now I'm glad I made that choice. Apple seriously low balled me but after 1 year I realized my total TC was better off because of the refresher I was getting. Also by my 3rd year I started getting mid year adjustments to level my base with market rate. So find out from both companies what u will get at the end of the year as compensation. Good luck and sucks that Apple does this. Why low ball if you will adjust eventually?
      Jan 28
  • AT&T / Strategy
    JackOfAl

    Go to company page AT&T Strategy

    JackOfAl
    Cisco will go through twice a year layoffs. Even moving within, they already have candidates, whovthey want to hire and just showcase the opening. Rigged. Lots of big company politics. Your experience will vary with the group. Stock is stuck typically. Their culture is to buy companies, not grow organically and then layoff the existing employees. You are young. Go to apple
    Jan 26 5
  • Cisco
    DrDreW

    Go to company page Cisco

    DrDreW
    Ask Cisco for RSUs. You can get it. While Apple looks good on resume, wlb might be really bad. Cisco, depends on team, wlb might not be a problem but no guarantee. Both AAPL and CSCO stock growth potential is similar at this point IMO
    Jan 26 3
    • New
      ryRS54

      New

      ryRS54
      OP
      Thanks - wasn't able to get RSUs and already talked with both recruiter and HM unfortunately.
      Jan 26
    • Cisco
      DrDreW

      Go to company page Cisco

      DrDreW
      That’s sad, I guess you are not their first choice and thus go for APPLE. That’s the beauty of multiple offers in hand. Just tell Cisco that you have a better offer in hand so you can’t join without RSUs and that too a good amount.
      Jan 26
  • Apple
    topmafia

    Go to company page Apple

    topmafia
    Always a FAANG
    Jan 26 0
  • New
    srane

    New

    srane
    Apple is a great brand to work for.

    Also, 194k in Austin will likely provide for a better quality of life in Austin than 204k in Cali. In the end, really depends on whether being in Cali is important or not. (I am biased towards ATX since i have been living here for 15 yrs)

    Good luck.
    Jan 27 0