Stay at L5 Google or take Netflix L5 offer?
I currently am L5 at Google with $350k TC, joined out of undergrad and never left the company. Next year will be about $390k TC assuming the average rating and normal compensation cycle (although Microsoft just cut raises, so if Google follows it might be like $10k lower, but not much). My team is ok, not a lot of growth opportunities for L6 (at least that I see) but considering that I just got to L5 this cycle, I’m not sure that matters yet. Work life balance is great, like 35 hours a week, low stress usually, and I hold a lot of knowledge on the team. Despite the rumors about Google Cloud, great manager, great coworkers for the most part. The pace of learning has slowed, and most of my learning at this point is specific to the products that I work on and is not useful knowledge to have as a software engineer in general (only useful for this team). I have an offer from Netflix for about $450k TC (recurring). It’s about $100k raise from my current comp, but only about $60k raise from my expected 2024 TC at Google (but then again, maybe you would get a raise at Netflix, who knows). I also think I value Google’s benefits slightly more, but they are good at Netflix too. I’m not sure what raises look like at Netflix on average. Am I stupid to leave after just getting to L5 on my team at Google? Is it worth the risk? I know I will probably have to work harder at Netflix since it’s a new company with a learning curve and new tech stack. But $450k offer just seems unbelievable to me, I feel like that’s so much to pass up on. After tax in California, that $100k bump is more like $50k and the $60k bump is more like $30k. Blind tax 🥜: TC: it depends (above) YOE: 4 UPDATE: Decided to stay at Google. Does not seem worth the risk at the current moment for a $30-$50k after-tax difference in compensation.
Stay - netflix culture is cut throat. Not worth unless its like 500k
Cash is king. 💵👑
Is it very competitive to work at Netflix? I want to work for more money but I am also afraid I won't be able to perform there given how cut throat it is, from what I have heard. How has been your experience?
😂 op delete this post
Netflix is cutthroat and a much riskier place to work. It depends if your goals are FIRE or grinding a career
Stay at google. Netflix is almost dead. Google still has potential. As you said after tax you are not going to make much may be a 60k but it’s not worth that extra effort
Netflix is almost dead? That’s one hell of a statement to make. Also, having Google and Netflix IT experience on your resume is rock solid for the next role. I’d reckon it’ll be a huge career booster.
I can sort of see the argument that the tech is commoditized now (please correct me if wrong). So the product is really the content. Are they among the best content producers? If not they will gradually fade away. "Almost dead" is obviously a huge exaggeration regardless.
1) Netflix is really intense from what I’ve read. 2) l5 4yoe wow. I’m l4 5 yoe
Wow that’s a tough call but it sounds like OP will be in good shape no matter what
With G stock poised to grow very well, your TC should nicely increase + good refreshers. I’d keep that given the comfortable wlb and good team
The stock growth is a good point, but I don’t have a ton of stock unfortunately, since I hit my cliff. A lot of my 2024 stock (maybe like $40k worth) will actually be from the 2024 refresher, and the rest (maybe like $85-90k worth) is from previous grants. If Google stock goes up about 60% tomorrow, Google 2024 TC will actually still be about the same as Netflix (because the 2024 refresher will be at the higher price). So I don’t think it’s likely to match, but it could partially bridge the gap.
How is G stock poised to grow well? All business units are declining revenue except cloud, even though Google massively overhired over the last 2 years, they are posting worse numbers. Doesn't sound like a growing business to me.
Join Netflix and refer me please.
4 YOE and got a L5? That’s pretty impressive.
Thank you. Do you see new L5 at Netflix tend to struggle? Is it a really difficult ramp up process?
Bring your A game and have confidence in yourself. High risk high reward. I don’t think it’s difficult especially if you’re willing to put in the work.