HR IssuesNov 3, 2018
Undiscloseddeepeee

Shopify/hootsuite vs google/amazon/microsoft in canada

Any engineers working at shopify/hootsuite? How would you compare working as sde in these smaller conpanies vs. Google, MS etc. (Top US tech giants) offices in Canada. Looking for feedback on quality of tech, learning opportunities, work culture, growth opportunities, salary. Thanks!!!

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LinkedIn acoL57 Nov 3, 2018

I used to work at HootSuite quite some time ago (in 2013). TC was a joke then: no bonus, only base, which for a senior software engineer was 75K a year. Also tried to sell me options that were expensive, had no secondary market and would have made my tax obligations go way up.

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deepeee OP Nov 3, 2018

Thanks. Are you still in Canada? What other software tech employers do you recommend there (better that hootsuite)?

Amazon vhLi28 Aug 27, 2019

Vancouver house prices were 35% of current values in Vancouver back then. So if I do the maths correctly, that would mean Hootsuite would need to pay 214k CAD for that role now, to bring this into perspective.

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38d Nov 3, 2018

Shopify is 180 - 200 CAD TC at the higher end for SWE. At Shopify, technical skill varies hugely depending on team, make sure to vet this properly. Technical skill in some orgs is top notch, in some is very poor. Make sure you’re on a team that will not grind you out and leaves you with enough slack to enjoy the Shopify environment.

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deepeee OP Nov 3, 2018

Hey, thanks! Please mention the teams and orgs that are good for engineers? And which to avoid. I will be interviewing. There are some openings for core team and shipping teams I am thinking to apply. How are those?

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38d Nov 3, 2018

DM me - are these roles in Ottawa or Toronto?

Amazon bb server Nov 3, 2018

Google > Amazon > Shopify . Google doesn't have a big office thought but both Amazon and Shopify do. Amazon is tier 1, really high bar, the smartest people. Shopify is good but their interview process is shit and their culture is a hit chaotic. CEO still wants to code sometimes, anybody can become a manager even fi they are bad at it, inconsistent tech bar. If you can get Amazon go for Amazon, you will not regret

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38d Nov 3, 2018

Google TO hires engineers? Thought it was mostly a sales office

Amazon bb server Nov 3, 2018

Waterloo has engineering office

Microsoft xyzpqr Jun 6, 2019

Why do you want to move to Canada? Do you have plan to comeback? You may want to consider all factors. Amazon pays more than Microsoft in Canada.