Hi Blind, Help me decide between these two companies: Amazon (AWS) Toronto SDE2 TC: 205K CAD Spotify Stockholm SWE 2 or Senior (interviewed for Senior, waiting for confirmation on level) TC: TBA I suspect compensation-wise Amazon will be stronger, but there are other aspects to consider. The culture at Spotify seemed better (collaborative, better WLB?). Not sure about growth. I am not worried about the location since at Spotify I could move to NY or London and at Amazon, well, pretty much anywhere in the world. Is the WLB at Amazon Canada as bad as in the US? Am I right in thinking the scope for an SDE2 at Amazon is not much different from Senior at Spotify? About me: I am 32 (yoe: 10) and have kids. WLB is important but at the same time I want to grow. I am European and at Amazon I'd be on a work visa. What is your take, Blind? What else should I take into account? #engineering #swe
The Spotify salary and Swedish tax rate will make you cry.
With kids, personally I’d start factoring in health insurance. That’s a non trivial amount of money TC wise. Spotify healthcare is free
I’d rather have my kids grow up in Canada rather than Stockholm if neither me nor my partner are Swedish (the culture is very tight knit so it’s not welcoming to outsiders). That being side the parental benefits are pretty insane.
Good point and in fact, I am a bit worried about that. Do you know if transfers to Spotify London are possible/easy?
I’ve seen plenty of transfers between offices. But I wouldn’t call it easy per say. I’d make my intentions known to the hiring manager.
The parental benefits are amazing in Sweden. Compensation wise outside US I didn’t see much difference between aws and Spotify when I interviewed. It wasn’t for senior level though.
How did you get Amazon canada interview ?
I applied for a position on their careers page
Thanks
I would be concerned about how the COVID situation is handled in Sweden. Other than that, both seem to be good countries. Regarding work visa, once you are in Canada you can start with the PR process which is pretty straight forward and you get all the support needed for that from Amazon. With the PR you will be no longer bound to Amazon.
you should be able to push for 220 for Amazon Toronto as a fairy experienced SDE2
Go the fuck to Sweden. Your kids will have great opportunities growing up there and you can emigrate
I have worked at Amazon both in Canada and the US and the WLB stories are overblown. I work 8 hours a day like I would at any other job. In your case the location would probably influence my decision more than the company, Toronto and Stockholm are pretty different places and it depends where you want to be.
Thanks for the comment. Any tips to have WLB and still get good ratings?
Work smarter not harder. The people pulling crazy hours definitely exist and it's mostly caused by them managing their own time badly.