Hey, Considering a tough choice right now. Currently L3 at Google Brain, 1.5YoE. Brain Pros: - top tier colleagues - interesting work - huge growth and learning opportunities - 190k TC Brain Cons: - underpaid and overworked - not sure of career path if I don’t go for a PhD JPM AI pros: - very nascent org, so huge potential upside on impact - better hours than Brain probably - 350k TC (I don’t think I could reach this number anywhere else within 2 years....) JPM Cons: - way less interesting work - quality of codebase and colleagues is a crapshoot - way more bureaucracy (but if I can wade through it, lots of potential impact?) Essentially... is 350k enough for me to “sell out”? Ideally I’d want to optimize for growth and be learning a balanced skill set that isn’t just academic research but isn’t just applying SOTA to cut and dry business problems. But I also am frustrated with TC at Brain and ladder mobility. Would appreciate advice as I’m still fairly early into my career.
What is the real difference in wage, aka what is adjusted TC? What is your goal from working — do you see it as a means to an end or as a journey? If real difference > desire to work, then the choice is clear.
Sorry what do you by adjusted TC? Like post Tax?
Probably cost of living...
For that raise? Fuck yeah
What's the comp difference?
Look like you have already decided. Stay at brain if you are a superstar who will do a PhD in near future. Otherwise, higher TC always.
200k 1.5 yoe underpaid what the fuck have you been smoking kiddo, do you realize your value to the company especially during the first year is likely negative? you barely started proving some value and already got on the highest horse you could find. to answer your actual question - i’d stay at google, non zero chance jp morgan will soon realize you all produce nothing of value and lay you off, close off the department or follow some new stupid trend.
underpaid is relative in my view (and colleagues). I’m comparing to similar roles as opposed to general SWE. Jumping to other industry labs (nvidia, Facebook) is a significant bump for AI-track roles. How much these TC ranges are fueld by AI-hype is another conversation altogether, IMO :)
dude stay at Google, maybe ask them to bump your comp showing some good competing offers from the competitors, you’re very early in the career and learning from good people trumps the TC bump. Save this reply, JPM will repivot in a year or two and you’d need to interview and take a pay cut. Don’t ever consider non-tech companies, you’ll regret big time, have multiple friends worked at some bloomberg and the culture, the people, it’s all shit and not worth the minor bump (short term), long term you’ll be ahead at valley tech giants anyway
Stay at brain or switch to similar research centric place if you want pay bump. Optimize for longer term career, not short jumps.
Longer term? He won’t get 350K for another 6 years at G
Just so you don't ruin a good opportunity, go with JP Morgan. If you want a balanced skillset and not just academic research, you will learn more there. Keep in mind two things for the world of finance: 1. Go in with an open mindset. The skills you learn in finance will serve you much more than any technical chop you can pick up at Brain in the long term. 2. They can and will fire you next year. That is why your TC is high. They might even pay you for an extra year after firing you depending on what projects you are on. It is normal and not a bad thing.
job stability / security is something I’ve never even given a second thought to in tech cus.... well, tech. More to consider, thanks for mentioning it!
Take the most TC while you are young and stack it away and invest it. Even if JP lays you off you're still young enough and with Google branding will find another job paying at least your current TC+inflation
I’d go to another tech company rather than JPMorgan. You could apply to HFTs if you’re interested in finance. The talent there is much better and the work is more interesting.
That is a huge difference in comp