Just got an offer from General Motors as a Software engineer in the TRACK program Base: 86k Stock: N/A Bonus: 10% yearly Location: Warren, Michigan YOE: 0 Is this offer negotiable? I saw some posts saying GM doesn’t negotiate entry level offers. And thoughts on the program? (Can’t seem to find much info)
That's actually a crazy good offer. I've never seen a TRACK offer that good. I'm assuming your have a master's or PhD? You'll get a 4% raise twice a year, and then at the end I believe you get a level promo. So in two years you'll be at 110+10% Rotational programs are the absolute best opportunities for new grads, and I don't think GM's is an exception. You'll get to explore all sorts of different roles. You could make more in tech, but the flexibility to be able to try out different roles and organizations within one company is the best time you could spend so early in your career.
I just have a bachelors and thanks for the response!
Always Negotiate!!!! Coming from a recruiter
Do you have any prior experience?
I interned at a small local non-tech company but nothing special
my friend (swe track) got a low 80s and wasn’t able to negotiate. he also gets 3% raise per year
So they weren’t open to any negotiation? Should I just email my recruiter and ask about it?
they literally told him they wouldn’t budge. however he did not have a competing offer. When I was hired, they wouldn’t move for me either, and I had 2 other offers. I’m not track though, so idk haha
I used to be a people manager at GM. You can always ask to negotiate the offer but I’d be modest. Looks like GM gave you a good offer for this program.
Having been intimately involved with the program, it’s definitely worth it. I no longer work for GM but will always hold the company and Mary’s leadership in high regard. Any offer is negotiable, but you need to be reasonable as well. A lot of people have an innate sense of work based on “research” of the market when in reality you’re just benchmarking against inflated self reports of compensation. No one is going to swallow their pride and post what little they actually make. Safe to say you could negotiate 3-5% which is equivalent to an average merit increase for most large corporations. You could also negotiate a sign-on bonus under the guise that it would likely get you to where you want to be all in for your first year. This is also safer for the company because it’s a one-time incentive pay which would help them maintain internal equity at the end of the day and not inflate the rotational increases you’d otherwise get anyways.
Thanks for the advice!
For a first year job, that’s a great offer.
I cannot answer your question, but I am curious what the “TRACK” program is. I’ve been in the SWE (Software Engineering Industry) for 17 years, have a TC (Total Comp” of ~$700k/yr, and have never heard of the “TRACK” program. Can you tell me more so I can stop feeing like this is a way for GM to under-pay software engineering? From my angle, $89k isn’t worth your time today. Plenty of SF/Valley based places will pay entry-level folks well into the low six figures in 2021. GM needs to grow up a little. But I’m also hoping to be misinformed about this TRACK thing.
It’s a 2 year rotational program with 6 month rotations. I don’t think it’s too bad of an offer for Michigan. But I do agree they should pay more if they want to retain and attract talent like tech companies
TRACK program is basically their version of a rotational assignment program for 2-3 years. 89k starting is amazing for Michigan IMO. However, I’ve been in discussions with directors about TC here at GM since apparently Ford has been increasing their comps lately lol
The best offer you can get in MI. Don’t negotiate for 2-3k more not worth it. Offer Might get rescinded. Get 1 gear of experience and move to bigger and better things. Best luck
It's ridiculous to think GM will rescind your offer for negotiating. Never leave money on the table. Always negotiate
I was offered an entry level control systems engineer role at GM with 0 YOE at 80k + 7% bonus. I was able to negotiate it up to 87k + 8% bonus because I said I had a competing offer. The track program isn't always all its hyped up to be. You get to work with 4 different teams in 2 years but you can't deeply get involved in projects as a lot of time is spent ramping up. However it's great for networking, making it easier to find a permanent team down the road.
I won’t be able to have any competing offers by the time this one expires (little over a week) but I’m currently in the interview process with Bloomberg, Palantir, and Amazon. Would I still be able to use that as leverage you think?
Yes you can just lie ^^ no one will ever ask you to prove it