Should I accept this offer?

Vanguard
Prescence

Go to company page Vanguard

PRE
Vanguard
Prescence
Dec 5, 2018 36 Comments

I was just recently offered a position of Software Engineer with the Yahoo Mail team doing Android development in Kotlin in Sunnyvale, CA. And I’m slated to start in early January. Today is actually the last day for me to accept it as I was given the official offer two days ago and they said it expires within 2 days.

It’s 125k base (after negotiation from 120)
10k signing
60k vesting over 3 years in Verizon stock

But I’m hesitant in accepting it. For the following reasons(I was given verbal offer at a late night yahoo event that was held during a tech conference );

1. Even though there was onsite hiring at this conference , when I wen to this company’s happy hour (was late at night), I didn’t know I was being interviewed. I pretty much got ambushed and put in a room answered some simple questions.

2. The interview itself was barely technical, I was asked how to implement infinite scroll and some technical questions about the difference between redux and mobx.

3. At that event, the other people who attended could smell the desperation of the company.

4. They’re having me do Android Development in Kotlin after I had explicitly said all my mobile development experience is in React Native and I’d like to stick to React Native. I have absolutely no interest in android development.

5. Recruiter came in and told me that I had 3 days to accept offer but once I told her than I was interviewing at other places she gave me until the end of month.

6. The recruiter was really really trying to sell me on the job. I kept hearing how great the team was and how “surprised” she was they found a candidate.

I’ve been looking for a job since August of last year and during that time I’ve had six Silicon Valley onsites(Facebook, Yahoo but another position, LinkedIn, Mozilla, Oculus and Yelp) with more interviews to come , so I don’t wanna shoot myself in the foot by not taking a reasonable offer but I also don’t want to travel to the opposite coast of the country for a job I could potentially hate. I actually just quit my job (3 weeks ago) because I had no more PTO days and could no longer work from home bc our team members were leaving.

Can anyone who currently works here or on the Yahoo Mail team give insight into what it’s like to work there?


Not sure if it’s clear but I’m no longer with vanguard , I quit it a month ago , 18 hours before I received this offer in the post

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TOP 36 Comments
  • Apple / Eng
    iPhoneXMen

    Go to company page Apple Eng

    iPhoneXMen
    Disclaimer, I don’t work there.

    1. Who uses Yahoo Mail anymore? Any yahoo email account you come across was probably comprised at some point.
    2. If the interview was too easy, then the people that you work with will probably be mediocre.
    Dec 5, 2018 0
  • Amazon
    Bholaa

    Go to company page Amazon

    Bholaa
    Assuming you didn’t take this job and no Big offers came what’s the backup plan?

    I’ll advise taking job since you don’t have any job currently. Keep looking in parallel. Yahoo is still better brand than Vanguard.

    Best of luck.
    Dec 5, 2018 5
    • Vanguard
      Prescence

      Go to company page Vanguard

      PRE
      Vanguard
      Prescence
      OP
      That’s what I was thinking but I currently live in PA and this job is on the opposite side of the coast
      Dec 6, 2018
    • Amazon
      Bholaa

      Go to company page Amazon

      Bholaa
      You will get much better opportunities in CA. Do it. If you don’t like you can always go back. Nothing to loose.

      Equation will be different if you got some commitments(kids or parents).

      Just make sure to keep zeal to look for better paying job.
      Dec 6, 2018
  • New
    ApF51

    New

    ApF51
    If you don’t plan to applying to Yahoo in the future, then take it and set start date end of Jan or later. Then if one of your other interviews goes well, renege you initial acceptance.
    Dec 5, 2018 2
    • Vanguard
      Prescence

      Go to company page Vanguard

      PRE
      Vanguard
      Prescence
      OP
      That’s what I was thinking of doing, but my start date is a HARD early January. They actually wanted me to start next week but I couldn’t, I’m leaning on declining all together because if I accept that means I have to do it for a year
      Dec 6, 2018
    • New
      ApF51

      New

      ApF51
      if you’re moving across the country and they’re paying the relocation costs, you may be better off continuing looking; otherwise they may make you pay the costs incurred for your relocation.
      Dec 6, 2018
  • Airbnb
    Gjcc

    Go to company page Airbnb

    Gjcc
    Don't go there. Yahoo is slowly turning into Verizon since the acquisition. Everything is going down hill. Morale is terrible. Executive churn is massive. They have had 3 ceos in 3 years and verizon execs are gradually being installed as others leave which is eroding the culture. Perks/benefits getting progressively worse since the acquisition. Don't even get me started with the yahoo vs AOL rivalry. Just keep leetcoding and find something better.
    Dec 6, 2018 2
    • Vanguard
      Prescence

      Go to company page Vanguard

      PRE
      Vanguard
      Prescence
      OP
      Yeah I’ve heard this company is going down the toilet and by the way they hired me kinda reflects that. I really don’t want to move on the opposite coast just to have a job like my
      Last one (which I DESPISED)
      Dec 6, 2018
    • Yahoo
      GrIt88

      Go to company page Yahoo

      GrIt88
      Agreed. We need to stop giving offers to anyone who shows up to our minority recruiting events.
      Dec 7, 2018
  • Take it and keep looking.
    Dec 6, 2018 3