Lately been intervieweing at companies that pay 550k+ (Meta/Netflix/Duolingo/Citadel) - and been burned out from interview prep and all the stress associated with it. Given this is for an L6 equivalent role, the bar is quite high at all companies and it makes sense when they pay you so much... I know these companies pay a lot, but I'm in a dilemma. I'm not sure if it's worth chasing that extra comp given all the stress that will be introduced with trying to succeed there. On the flip side, been at Amazon for a while and it's getting boring - team is always overworking and we're always chasing deadlines, but not sure if any of the above company would be different. TC has increased a bit due to stock appreciation, but TCT is around 400k - Does it make a big difference between 400k -> 550k? Is it worth the stress? I have 7 YOE and looking to find a more healthier WLB. My wife is in healthcare and she hates that I'm always on laptop, either writing a doc, or attending a meeting or replying to slack/email. I was on vacation few months ago on a snowboarding trip and was replying on threads from the gondola/chairlift. I want to move away from that sort of a life, but also it's tough. Also affording a life in big cities like Seattle is expensive. Just look at real estate prices... nothing decent you can afford for less than 1.5-2m :' Thoughts? Anyone in similar boat?
Amazon is known as the worst of the bunch. How do you not know that? Just prep and get out. You'll get more money and better wlb. Also to the above, stop responding all the time. A new job is also a good time to set new patterns and expectations.
Isn't Netflix and Meta more or less the same from WLB pov?
I had pretty nice WLB at Meta. Not as good as MSFT, but a solid 45 hours most weeks, craziest week only hit 60 hours and completely disconnected outside of that time.
Moving to these companies is going to make wlb worse
Try another company. What you said is correct for Amazon. Your workload never decreases even if you take time off. All that work will just keep piling on top for when you are back.
I'd say more to 500k in Pittsburg. Seems like the only company I'd work for if there's a match and stick around for a while because I've heard them to have a good WLB compared to other big techs.
What does your wife do in healthcare?
She's a NP
Her TC ?
M4 here could get around 400k and basically doesn’t do shit all day
M4 at workday. Workday pays around 400k?
Yoe?
7
No
duolingo is not like the others lol. probably 900 times better wlb
Low-key the problem is you. Why the HELL do you have slack open on a ski gondola??? LOG OFF.
Hard to disconnect as an SDM - I tell my SDEs to completely take time off and not work or check mails during timeoff, but I'm not able to do the same. As an SDM I feel there's no time-off, because even when you come back, the amount of work doesn't decrease, it just piles up and you have less time to do same things. Also my own manager has limited bandwidth so I try to avoid escalations.
You have one life, you need to escape this cycle of always being at work to some extent 24/7 before you’re completely consumed by it. Would recommend leaving your role ASAP if you truly feel you need to be online at all hours