Hey folks, I recently interviewed at HBO and had a very positive experience. The offer TC is insanely competitive compared to my current TC. I am worried about the level of the offer. There seems to be a black-hole of information on how HBOs levels rank against other FAANG/large tech companies, so I'm a bit worried about stalling my career of I move over to HBO. I am a L61 here at Microsoft. The HBO offer is for Staff Software Engineer (please see Edit 4 for level comparison). Is this forward carrier movement (after doing additional DD, it does indeed look like grate carrier movement)? YOE: 5 HBO (210k base, 18% annual bonus, 30k sign on, 25k RSU) TC (first year + 30k sign on + 37k RSU): 339k TC (years two through four + 37k RSU): 309k TC: 279k Level: Staff SDE Location: Seattle Microsoft TC: 165k Level: 61 Location: Redmond Would moving to HBO as a Staff Software Engineer II be a forward movement, or am I better off pursuing a L62 promo and staying at Microsoft? I am afraid of stalling my career. Edit 1: Adding HBOs 150000 new hire grant which is disbursed as RSUs over the first four years of employment. Roughly 37500 per year for the first four years. Edit 2: Adding the level caparison mentioned by the hiring manager Edit 3: Correction to the above comment - this level comparison was provided by a Sr Technical Recruiter Edit 4: Just wrapped up my chat with the hiring manager. As @KenZaraki noted, they are reorganizing their levels to be more inline with industry. The now leveling system is as follows: * SDE * SDE 2 * Sr SDE * Staff SDE * Principal SDE * Partner SDE * Distinguished SDE On another note, I am happy to announce that I have been offered Staff SDE! Given that this is much higher than a Staff SDE II/SDE 2, I have decided to accept the offer. Using an offer from Cruise, I also managed to negotiate a higher base salary (190 -> 210). #salarycomparison #level61 #careerbuilder #microsoft #hbo #tech
25k per year? How does that become 316 tc? For 4 years?
Take it man, you’ve paid your dues at Microsoft. Your resume has that. You could always interview at other FAANG companies based on 5 years at Microsoft. If you got a good feeling from the interviews and the salary is almost 2x of MS. Get some cash.
Appreciate the good vibes @bigdog22 - cheers 🥂
You can also interview at other companies. 5 YOE will allow you to interview for senior levels which will match the HBO TC easily. You’ll stall your career at HBO as the leadership is all ex Comcast / Media but if money is what you desire, go for it.
It looks like that all depends on how exactly "Staff Software Engineer II" compares to lateral levels at other companies. I heard from the hiring manager that SSEII (for brevity) is equal to an L63 at Microsoft. However, since he has not worked at MSFT for the past 15 years, I'm asking for a second opinion. Do you have any insights?
I think it corresponds to SDE 2 at other companies. HBO does have 2 level per level so you might be either the first or second. Regardless of, it’s not a senior position.
That’s a huge TC bump
Yeah, will probably spend it all on stonks TBH
This is da way
Is this even a question?
congrats, at least you will get better bonus yearly.. your YOE and when you join msft ?
I thought HBO does all cash .. whats their ticker?
Anyway I could get an HBO referral? It sounds pretty dope.
Staff Engineer 2 is SDE2. Same levelling as Microsoft with intermediate levels.
Also they are soon going to change the title to SDE2 to match industry standards.
As per my edit, I was never offered Staff Engineer 2. There was a bit of miscommunication between recruiters, as the levels are currently being rearranged. I am being offered Staff SDE within their new leveling system.
HBO looks better on your resume. Go for it!
No it does not
Thanks for the input @Own it! I've never actually heard that HBO looks better on your resume - would love to know how you came to this conclusion? Cheers mate