I've got offers (Software Engineering) from both of these companies so I'm pretty torn. Uber: 270k TC Better: 215k TC Both of these are L4 (L5 for Better, equivalent to L4 with their system). I can't negotiate either of these offers further. Obviously Uber would pay me a lot more, but I'm fairly young in my career and I place much more emphasis on culture and the work that I'll be doing. Better wants me on a much more interesting team. Uber interviewed me for the "safety" team that develops safety and education features for the platform, which didn't seem too interesting when I asked my interviewers about projects they had worked on. Another thing I didn't like about Uber was a lack of diversity in my interviewers. There wasn't much racial diversity, but also a lack of younger people that are around my age (mid twenties). With Better, I vibed with everyone that I spoke to. I'd be giving up around 50k a year to join Better over Uber, but I feel like I'll enjoy working there a lot more. On the other hand, Better might have more upside with the upcoming IPO. Am I being stupid? Would appreciate any advice/input.
Poll?
I think the risk with Better.com is the lower pay. Let’s say you choose them and it’s ho hum in terms of culture or you realize it’s not worth making $50k less? Sure you can get another job but who knows what the market would look like then?
I've met with the hiring manager, the director, and some of the people on my future team (at Better). Not a single person I didn't like. Was mostly neutral towards everyone I spoke to with Uber.
Have you got any well-known companies on your resume? If not, don’t waste your time in any start-up, unless the founders are your friends. An engineer from Uber or other big companies with the same YOE will easily get better positions from better.com and other startups than yours. Joining infamous companies in early career is suicidal.
This is a good point, but Better is about to go public. How big of a disparity is there between Uber and an startup that IPO'd?
Okay I would suggest you join better.com. The best course is from experience but not from learning.
Once you join Uber you can always move around teams. My team is very young (average age probably mid 20s), and also diverse.
How do you like working there in general?
I'm still pretty new but I like it a lot so far. Stock isn't doing great since I joined But well within standard swings
Don’t join Uber if you think safety is not important, that’s the core of the business. Go somewhere else to hang out with young ages
Have you negotiated at all? If you are getting an offer during our recent hiring freeze than you must have done well in your loop. I'd let your recruiter know you have the Uber offer at 270k to see if they would match it. Let them know you are leaning towards us over Uber but it might be too hard to eat 50k by joining.
Seems like subconsciously you want to go to better and you’re asking others to validate that 😊. Though I am not in safety team, I am aware of their work in its importance for Uber. Its one of the core teams with super challenging projects. What you get to tackle with that team will be quite unique and innovative. But again, if you’re not happy and convinced, do yourself and the team a huge favor by not joining.
Thanks for this. There's a degree of truth in the first thing you said, I'm definitely leaning one way and wanted others' thoughts. I believe my lack of interest for the safety team stems from the fact the fact that my interviewers did a horrible job of selling me on it. They made it seem like a very unimportant team doing very uninteresting work. But, reading your comment has made me realize that maybe they just didn't do a good job. I'll have another talk with the hiring manager and get some more information. How do you like Uber?
I like it here and planning to be here for a while. With decent number of years of experience, thing I have realized and started to care more about is people I work with, position of the team within the company and compensation in that order. I love people I am working with and I am also part of a core team to the business and my compensation is solid. Rest shit ppl and shit work is common across all companies and companies have their ups and downs. My advice to you: Go with your gut feeling and if whatever you choose is not what you like, you should change team/company.
Just curious, how many yoe?
3ish years
Wow, I guess you had the opposite experience of me! I joined the safety team because of the emphasis on the culture and how tight-knit it was. Everyone I met was so kind and thoughtful. It was also apparent that they focused a lot on providing emotional security internally. Work-wise, I found it to be very important and fulfilling. The work the team has rolled out has actually helped save lives for not just riders but also drivers. A lot of the stuff they do also includes combatting racism which is really important to me as a PoC. Feel free to dm if you have more questions. I’d be more than happy to help :) I’d recommend going with your gut though! If it doesn’t feel right deep down, no amount of money will truly make up for it!
Tech Industry
Yesterday
613
Reporting directly to Skip
India
5h
373
'Hindutva': The Radical Hindu Ideology That Seeks to 'Push Christianity Out of India’
Health & Wellness
Yesterday
772
Lasik cost
AMA
Yesterday
929
PM Manager, early 40s, married and ENM (Ethical Non Monogamous) AMA
Tech Industry
Yesterday
3401
What happens when most of your team is Indian?
Uber sounds like a better place for you.
How come? I'm almost certain I'll enjoy the people and the work at Better more.
If diversity is key to you, go to Better. Especially if you are a minority yourself.