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I recently passed #google SWE interview. Didn’t get L5 but L4 is a go from HC. Currently doing team match with multiple teams and i’m a bit stressed out for the following reason: i wanted to work on backend infra so i got couple of meetings scheduled with GCP. The problem is, i have been working on application services and API (a.k.a CRUD) at amazon for the past few years. it is not really a good match techinically. and one manager kept asking me what distributed system experiences do i have. i have been honest and saying i know how to build applications using common AWS components but i did not work on AWS infra at all. Is it possible to match with one of these teams and what strategy should i use to negotiate? i am really sick of doing CRUD and i want to switch to systems which is more challenging technically. any advice is welcome. yoe: 5 current tc: 270k
What was the reason for not getting L5?
Well, I think I could have done better in the sys design interview. I felt like I took the wrong approach. I tried to compare different common subsystems and how to use them correctly; the interviewer wanted me to start from scratch and know more low level details
5 yoe is not a good enough reason?
Does the new role/team require you to build systems/infra?
I assume yes. GCP teams descriptions look like low level infra.
Currently you might get fit calls with only teams that have headcount. Just pick one and change a team next year.
Well, i like these teams and I could give it a shot for sure. I thought this process is mainly about them picking me.
It’s good to tell hiring managers that you don’t have experience in infra but you have interests. They may ask you why, so prepare a good answer. Don’t just say “I’m sick of doing CRUD”. Google has google way in most of work, so even if you have experience in infra, it might not be applicable at Google. I think this is one of the reasons why lots of senior engineers get L4 offer instead of L5.
Tips on how to handle “distributed system experience” question?
No. Not to forge fake answers. The question is what to talk about in team match if I have been doing API work while the host team works on backend infra. It is not matching but I want to switch.
Yeah but I’m asking forge fake answers, or rephrase work I’ve been doing to be more distributed
What team were you team matching for?
Some GCE teams
Same here 😂 don’t take them
how many teams did contact you? you're very lucky. I've been contacted by only one team from GC
3 at a time. Be patient, they will come
thank you.
Same here. Doing CRUD for life and now moving to infra. Were you senior L6 at Amazon?
I am still L5. Amazon L6 TC is at least 300+ Amazon L6 is better than Google L4. I won’t do that jump.
Managers asking for experience at L4? Must be GCP. Try a product team instead. Anyways google ecosystem is so different, it won’t matter much at L4.
What? Isn’t L4 like 2-6 years experience? Why wouldn’t they ask for experience?
I meant specific experience. Like do you know Android or distributed systems? SWEs at G are hired as generalists.
Yeah. Feels like GCP is a lot different from other google teams. It feels like AWS
Yo same here 😂