Offer 1: Credit Karma (North Carolina) 140k base / 155k stocks / 10k relocation / 10k joining Offer 2: Apple (Bay Area) 155k base / 200k stocks / 15k relocation / 40k joining YOE: MS + 3 Most of my friends are in CA and I want to have a life outside of work. I have no clue who is in NC. I also don't have a gf (heard dating sucks in bay). Thoughts?
The money you spend to get house in NC will get you a spot in trailer park in Bay Area , decide your priorities. You can raise a healthy family in NC and will not need depression medication
Who in the world is voting for ck??
At least CK doesn’t make employees stressed to the point where they commit suicide
People who understand how cost of living works...
I’m in tech in CLT and I can assure you work/life balance is still a reality here. It’s grown so much in the 3 years I’ve been here and it keeps growing. I’d say 90% of people are transplants and young professionals. Look into South End, Dilworth, Plaza Midwood, NoDa neighborhoods. $140k goes a loooong way in NC, cost of living is still cheap and traffic isn’t bad. I never thought I’d end up here but I could definitely see myself buying a house in two years - don’t think I’d be able to say the same had I taken up the amazon offer in Seattle I had. Just for reference: I’m 28f, EE PM at Duke Energy. Base is $150k, TC is $180k
This is commendable, did you do MBA? If you don’t mind, would you please provide your career history?
Yes I did a dual BSEE and MBA program (5yrs), did a year govt research fellowship after. Worked for Schneider Electric HQ in France for 2 years (I’m fluent in English, Spanish, and French). Wanted to come back to the states and landed my gig at Duke.
NC is way cheaper COL then bay area making credit karma look like a better offer to me. Also consider NC tax vs Cali tax. You will be upper class in NC on that comp, you will be chump class in Cali... NC has way better girls then SV, there is a ton of party universities that keep a steady supply...
This. Lots of ladies in charlotte and raleigh. Also close to Charleston SC. You'll live like a king on hat salary in NC.
NC will have better WLB. You are young enough to find community there reasonably easily wherever you go. K-12 Schools are significantly better in NC TC relative to cost of living is MUCH better with the CK offer. NC is less crowded/trafficy. People complain about it, but I live in SV now and I was in NC for a visit 2 months ago. Traffic is easy in comparison. DC is pretty close as is NYC, making the best museums and culture in the world a weekend trip. People are friendlier in NC. In spite of its outward appearance in the news, NC is quite a purple state with the cities being moderate or progressive. The legislature and congressional districts have simply had the crap gerrymandered out of them, but that is starting to change via various court rulings. Now for the handful of relative positives of Silicon Valley: More cultural opportunities in SV. The weather is nicer in SV. Nearly every airline has a hub in the Bay Area and in LA. CLT has some airline hubs, but RDU has none. If flying to another non hub location, air travel is slightly easier/more options in Cali.
I second the above
Very helpful. Thank you
Charlotte team is awesome and CK is a great company.
What is your role and title
If you don’t have Bay Area aspirations NC has way better cost of living. You could comfortably afford a small mansion for what a run down shack would cost in the bay lol.
What is your priority? A faang company? TC? Location? Dating opportunities?
I don't know. If I could really corner it down to this, I wouldn't have asked. I'm looking for a more overall picture.
If you don't even know your priorities, then you might as well flip a coin and let randomness decide for you.