I am currently at L62 at Microsoft. Yoe : 8+ ( 1+ years at Microsoft, 7 years at non FANG ) Should I go for E4/E5 interview in google or fb? The reason am asking this is to have sure shot rather than missing it because I really want to exit Microsoft as soon as possible because of being burnt out. I know Microsoft has better WLB but not in my team and not worth it for my tc compared to fb and google. I would really appreciate all your inputs. TC: 170k
If you dont clear higher they downlevel so always go for e5. Also e5 interviews are probably easier for more experience candidates as you have system design interviews and leadership and not all LC questions.
Thanks for the suggestion. I really appreciate it.
Nah, I'd think about it this way: You can't fuck up any coding rounds in L5 because less coding data points, versus in L4 you have more buffer. The system design is used to determine if your L5 material assuming you ace coding. So only go for L5 if your coding is strong already. The down level happens when you ace the coding, but not so well the system design.
If you want good WLB, Facebook is probably not what you want. Google might be ok, but I don’t think Google or Facebook will offer you E5 unless you shine in the interview. You can find a good team at Microsoft to get a promotion first.
By good team ? You meant lots of work so that i can show an impact ?
My suggestion is to find a team with solid technical foundation, good culture and preferably clear vision. It actually might be better if the team is more stable. At this stage of your career, I think learning and growth is more important. If you understand all aspects of building a complicated system, I don’t think you need to worry about getting promoted at Microsoft or offers at more senior levels from other companies.
Which team r u on? I’m guessing Azure.
Yes
Which team at M?
Curious that your TC should have shooted up with increase in MS stock price
Not to a big extend since sign on stocks are usually peanuts here without competing offers.
Slim chance to get a L5 offer from G. Less than 5% chance to get E5 from F. You are still 62. So at this time, just focus on getting whatever offer, which is level 4. GCP might give you a L3 offer. I don't understand your confidence that you can pass the interviews of E5/L5 lol. Non-fang YOE is usually discounted. It's not that easy to pass a promoted-level for F/G. Anyway good luck!
Yeah i do agree in non fang part. As of now i am working in preparation. In my past i have done system designs at work but definitely i have to raise my bar with some more good preparations.
But L3 is for fresher's and i am definitely not in that level :) I have confidence in cracking E4 as well its just E5 i am not that sure since i don't know the key points that they look for in a system design rounds from a FANG perspective.
It curious to know the reasons for people voting to E4 ?
Go for senior, you do not want to be down leveled, esp not at G or F which are very hierarchical. At 8 YOE you shouldn’t being talking a 4 equivalent role anywhere. There are plenty of companies that will give you senior. I have half your YOE and most companies gave me senior interviews when I pushed. You’ll also make more as senior than top of 4 band at G or F. Make sure to prep systems design, that’s where you get leveled.
Thanks for your inputs. I will prepare more on system design. Do you know what are the key points that they look for system design rounds?
Always go for higher number. Higher is better
Thanks for the input. However i saw in blind that being E5 is stressful. Is that exaggerated for Google since they have good WLB ?
Google L5 should be solid. WLB shouldn’t be an issue. Fb will be another story however...