Just got approved by Google HC for L5 PM. Initial team matching includes roles all over the bay area and one in Austin,TX. My question mainly to Google employees: How would working in Austin effect my Google career long-term? Housing costs (about half of bay area costs) and no state income taxes makes Austin very attractive, but I wouldn’t even consider it if I felt like it would hurt my opportunity for career advancement. Do Google-Austin employees get the same respect and opportunities for advancement as Bay Area (or NYC) employees? Let’s say a year from now, I decide I want to do an internal transfer to a bay area PM role. Is it harder to transition to a bay area PM role if you are coming from an Austin PM role (vs say Sunnyvale PM to MTV PM)? TC: don’t have it yet, I will update when I do. Also have upcoming interviews with FB and Lyft, but strongly leaning toward G. Thanks in advance
Austin is a cool city and low-ish cost of living is nice, but it's a dead end for career advancement and the work done out of the smaller satellite offices is not typically the cool stuff. If you're happy to stay at L5 for an extended period and work on potentially unexciting stuff, then Austin is fine but otherwise might be worth putting a few years in at HQ.
Advancing your career as a PM is all about networking, exposure to leadership and stakeholders, and working on high impact projects. All those things are way easier if you’re in the Bay Area, at or near HQ. If you value WLB more, go with Austin. If career growth is your number one priority, go with MTV.
The PMs I know based in SF all come into MTV to be close to leadership. It sucks but it's your ladder.
I think better to start in MTV, and if down the road you want to go to Austin, transfer that way.
If career, growth and opportunity is your main goal, stay in the Bay Area. I will use an acting analogy. In the bay area you will have chances to star alongside Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence. Austin you are looking at roles with Bette Midler, Shia Lebouf That in itself is not bad. But most Austin tech companies like to think they are tiers 1 & 2.
Damn, Oracle in every Austin thread shitting all over the city. Show me on the doll where Austin hurt you.
@solar Just stating the facts