Currently at MS (Redmond), Level: 64, TC: 260K - 275K. YOE: 5-8. Google offer (Seattle/Kirkland), Level: 4, TC: 245K - 260K (15K less than current TC) and 30K - 40K sign-on bonus on top (first year 20K more with sign-on). My current team and matched team are similar (both focused on cloud and the same area). I'm not expecting a promo at MS for this year. Would you stay or leave? Appreciate if you can provide your perspective as well.
Did you factor in benefits? Especially the ones that matter to you?
I mostly considered TC. G has better refreshers apperently. WLB seems about the same. G has free food and other perks that I'm not interested in. 20 day vacation after 3 years is nice. Health/401K seem similar.
Google has access to the mega backdoor IRA. Not sure about MS though.
L4 is a huge downgrade I’d reject
How did you interviews go at G?
Did you interview for L5 at Google? Was there any System Design and Leaderships
Getting in as L5 is hard for sure. But there are other places where you can go for so much more in TC.
Don't take it. Unless you really want to work at Google. 64 at Microsoft typically maps to a 5 at Google and FB. You're essentially being downleveled and 4 is terminal level at Google. You might be a 4 forever.
4 is terminal, but only for those who don't want to grow. Otherwise, if you want to grow, achieving 5 is not that hard or unlikely.
At L4, you will get new stock refreshers worth around 70-100k each year. I think that will eventually tip google tc higher. But yes, L4 will seem as a downlevel
This is a great point. Google has strong refreshers and that can quickly make up the difference in total comp.
Are you unhappy at your current role that you decided to look somewhere else?
Lol. Google offers these days are lowball
did you try other places? most will pay >>300 for L64. So if you haven’t I’d stay, prep more and get better offers
>>300K for Seattle? I haven't actually, which companies would you suggest (besides FB)?
I switch from L64 to L6(Amazon) for 350K in Seattle. Google did this to one of my team mates as well.