Google and Microsoft should continue to lowball

When the majority of tech started paying high or started giving N+1 level by lowering the level bar, Google and Microsoft continue to pay salaries like 2018 for external hires.

A big thanks to Blind, they can continue to do this because
- A good existing population used to WLB and too scared to move out.
- They have a good hiring rate due to prestige + WLB; attractive to all burn out engineers.
- Safe haven for folks who got PIPed. Saw lot of Amazon PIPs ended up at Google or Microsoft.
- Can attract people even with downlevel or paying 10-20% lower than other competing offers.
- Every poll at Blind makes them magically look good.
- Most retention meetings by Managers at these place starts with scaring about how bad the other place is.

Thank you Blind for making Google and Microsoft the safest and most prestigious place to work for. Without this community, it would have been impossible for them to low-ball and other places (Facebook / Amazon/Uber/Netflix and other unicorns) to pay above the market rate. You also helped the managers at Google and Microsoft to have scary talking point about other companies.

PS - This for higher levels (L5+ at Google, 64+ at Microsoft), not for college hiring.

TC - 550