I am a UX Designer based in Chicago with 3 YOE. Current TC: $115k ($105k base + 10% bonus) Offer 1: Vanguard CXD Team: Mobile App Location: Remote TC: $150k (130k base + 10% bonus + 8k sign on) Details: I LOVED the people I interviewed with, we just clicked. Sounds like a ton of growth in UX at the company rn as they know their UI is miles behind competitors. I don’t have any native/ios experience and think it would be great for my portfolio. Great work life balance. Offer 2: Peacock (NBC Universal) Team: Viewing (Streaming App) Location: NYC, no relocation assistance TC: $170k (150k base + 5% bonus + 10k sign on) Details: Sounds like a great UX culture which is my whole motivation for looking. Super collaborative (hence being in person), start up vibe. Doubling the size of their current UX team. I’ve never worked in streaming before and think it would be a cool and challenging new space. I’m apprehensive about moving to NYC. I’m worried despite the big bump in TC, quality of life will go down particularly with how expensive housing is. I am 25 F and single. I feel like this is as good of time as any to move, but not sure if starting over sounds super exciting or dreadful 😅 I also have final interviews next week with Glassdoor and Survey Monkey (Momentive), which are both remote. Survey Monkey in particular sounds like it has a mature UX process/culture which is exciting. What would you do in my shoes?
I will be moving to NYC too. I share your same concern. Rn living in a 1b1b house with a rent around 1500 per month incl utilities in Pittsburgh. NYC rent scene is mad high. 1b1b is 3500 per month excl utilities :(
If you like where you’re living, don’t move!! Starting over with apt, friends, routine is always hard and especially so if you’re not super excited about it. Few jobs are really worth it. You sound like you really like the vanguard one — go for it! You can always get another job in ny later if that appeals. Also, vanguard is letting you be remote?? Is that new?
Thanks, really appreciate your point of view!! :) Tbh the remote-ness is a bit ambiguous. I was pretty adamant about not wanting to move. The team I interviewed with is co-located across multiple offices (100% remote right now) and didn’t seem to care that I was in Chicago. Recruiter said corporate is expecting people to go back into the office in a hybrid form sometime next year and can’t promise I won’t be asked to relocate, and they are also in the process of opening a Chicago office so there could be room for flexibility. My written offer didn’t include anything about a particular office or location. I may be naive, but it feels like the company hasn’t landed the plane and I’ll likely be able to stay put. Peacock was a totally different vibe and adamant I move by January.
If they can’t commit to not requiring relocation in writing, then you should assume the likelier scenario is that they will require relocation at some point, even if the timeline is ambiguous. Not being able to definitely say is effectively saying you will need to relocate at some point
Streaming is a good place to be now. Peacock is a new team, hope better as the other nbc universal culture. Nyc is a good place to be for a young professional:)
I’d keep interviewing, with pressure for an offer/no offer decision from the remaining companies. You can use this time with Vanguard and Peacock to negotiate. It’s okay to ask for time to make the best choice for you. That said, it sounds like you have two great offers. No one will know the best choice but you. I’d consider: - What work would you reasonably be able to ship in the next 1-3 years? This will play an outsized role in accelerating or put the brakes on your career trajectory. - Which place offers the best growth? This should include working with researchers and content strategists. - Does the location you’d be in support your long term personal and professional goals? (In your 30s, it becomes much harder to move for either one. Pick carefully.) - 20K difference in TC is meaningful for where you are right now, and can impact your earning power for years to come. How much does this weigh in your decision? - How much would you enjoy your day to day work? Congrats and good luck!
How are you liking being at indeed?
You’re 25, you have plenty of room to learn and grow. Just follow your gut. I also know some ux folks at vanguard and they are brilliant. If you like the people, don’t have to move, and make a great salary, jackpot! You don’t have to overthink this. You can always change jobs in a year or two if you want to.
150k goes a lot further remote than having to move to NYC for 170k. Just my opinion.
I agree with this
Surveymonkey is an old school company struggling to stay relevant beyond its core product (hence the desperation move of changing the name). A place where people go to rest (not much vesting going on, comp is under market). Any impression of maturity you might have will disappear as soon as you start there, guaranteed.
I worked at Peacock 🦚 good people and leadership. Also working at 30rock is cool 😎
spot you here 🤭
Don’t move for a job if you wouldn’t want to live in the new city anyway you’ll regret it deeply. Depends on your goals as a designer. Streaming is fun (used to work in it) but keep in mind Peacock is primarily a legacy media company first and you’d be working in the tech arm of it. I would keep interviewing and see if you can get additional offers to help push base/bonus on the offers you like.
New York is badass and everyone should live there at some point in their lives. Money < experience. Do it while young
I want more people to tell this to convince me to live in NYC instead of NJ
Move to NY, it’s not that bad here.