I have 2 offers lined up- 1. Google | Mountain View | L3 (SDE-1 I am guessing?) 2. Amazon | Seattle | L5 (SDE 2) I am yet to negotiate offers with them. Just wanted to get some clarity on the below questions. Thanks in advance! 1. Which do I pick? 2. If Amazon, what is a reasonable compensation? 3. If Google, what is a reasonable compensation? PS: My qualifications: MS in CS | 2y work experience as a backend engineer
Which ever one has higher TC.
What did you tell recruiters for such frequent job hops ??
Wtf !! Like 3 jobs in 2 years ?
MS is Masters, haha. Not a company.
I'd go with Google. Much less drama and manager issues than Amazon. Plus Google pays much better (with refreshers and so). Culture is also better and the environment is much healthier.
Try talking to the team manager over 30 mins chat to know more about the team, levels, wlb, ops vs development time, and pain points, tech stack, role responsibility and expectations on onboarding and deliveries. It may help OP in more informed decision making.
@alsnd, that really helps. Thanks! @seattle'd, just to add more context. From speaking to the managers about all those you mentioned, I see that the tech stacks are pretty similar, although the DEV culture, and expectations in Google seems far better and realistic. Will mostly stick to Google although they might not beat Amazon's offer. Work >>> Pay (if TC is decent).
It's hard to tell you which one to pick without numbers! My guess is that the Amazon offer may compete with or be better than your Google offer due to the higher level. Also, since Amazon is in Seattle with lower taxes and cost of living, you'll have to take 15-20% off of the Google offer to compare them fairly. In Google's defense, better perks, WLB, prestige (if you care), and culture. I'll also assume you would enjoy living in the bay area more than Seattle. So it comes down to how much more you value TC. Although given Google's refresher policy, and that you could get promoted in 2 or 3 years to L4, you might end up making more at Google even if your Amazon offer is higher. I say go Google.
Yea, when you reach at L4 after ~ 3 years, because of Google's refresher policy, you may be making more at Google.
@going2g That's a neat way of putting it. I think at the end of the day, I want to be in a room where I am the dumbest, surrounded by learning opportunities and good culture. I think Google is better suited for me. Thanks!
Definitely Google.
This is an no brainier. You're getting a promotion if you take SDE2 at Amazon. You can then apply and get L4 at Google. You're used to switching companies often anyway
All the people saying google are truly clueless. You can go to google later at higher level. Why would you take a demotion?
Exactly what I was thinking
I partly agree with you that going to Amazon is a level up. But, with the same comes responsibilities and expectations, which from majority of what I've heard is unrealistic at Amazon. So, I'd rather pick Google, where I'm certain that the same level engineers are far more smarter than my current peers, which helps me grow and eventually deservingly become a Google L4. I somehow feel I personally need a little more time before I consider myself as a worthy L5 at Amazon/L4 at Google. Amazon offers such as this make people take it and they don't realize that you've to start delivering from possibly week 2 and the money sort of masks this fact. And I prefer to not work in such a stressful work environment. Is it just me thinking this or does it make sense? :)
Okay guys, update. Amazon offered me a TC of 215K. I personally feel that's reasonable. What do you guys think?
How much is Google's offer? Believe me you'll regret favoring Amazon over Google. Aside from the main TC, their perks and general benefits, and their annual refreshers go higher than Amazon's TC.
Oh, no I didn't mean I would be favoring Amazon over Google. I just meant that I feel like that TC is reasonable in general. I am still awaiting Google's match for that offer. Hopefully they match/beat it. Will be picking Google mostly no matter what though! :)
I have recently moved from Amazon to Google and I would’t go back to Amazon even if they promoted me to the next level. After your annual refreshers, it’s likely that you will be better off in Google anyways.
Okay, this is more than reassuring. Thanks! :D
I was in the same situation. However, levels.fyi shows L4@G ~ L5@A in terms of role responsibilities and comp range.