I left a really stressful team at Google, and took a few months off to recover mentally. I also have mental health issues that I needed to address, but I feel like I've made enough progress to come back to work now. I'm definitely not stable enough to work for Facebook or some startup where people work > 50 hours a week though. I can go back to Google, and try to find a low stress team, but I would also like to explore other options as well. What other companies should I consider? Would any pay as well as Google? Preferably NYC, but I can go anywhere. I believe I can pass almost any leetcode or system design interview, so that shouldn't be a concern. I'm looking for backend work, preferably using or building distributed systems (i.e. search infra, ranking infra, distributed databases, etc.). I worked on search infra at Google, so I have some experience in this area. To be clear, I can handle the occasional high-stress weekend or couple of weeks, but I can't be in crunch mode all the time. Companies I'm considering: Google (can go back without interview) LinkedIn Microsoft? (may compromise TC) Twitter? (may compromise TC) Lyft? (unsure wlb) Airbnb?? (unsure wlb) Spotify?? (no idea TC or WLB) Reddit?? (no idea TC or WLB) Cockroach Labs??? (no idea TC or WLB) Any thoughts on any of these companies? Any that I'm missing? YOE: 2 TC: 230
Spotify: WLB is fantastic, but the search team is in Sweden. Lots of other infra in NYC.
Good to know, thanks! I'm fine not working in search, just want to do some infra.
feel free to DM if you want any more info
Come to Facebook.
I've heard from several people that Facebook is super stressful. Do you recommend any teams or areas that have less stress/better wlb?
Lol. Going to FB for low stress 😐. OP would die here
What's the policy on going back w/o interview? ie can you take extended time off every year or 2 and just go back?
Not sure of exact policy, but I think it's up to manager's discretion. My manager told me I could come back without interview within a year of leaving. But they probably wouldn't let you do it multiple times.
Did your manager know the reason you left?
Us
Avoid anything related to security if you want low stress.
This guy gets it. ☝🏼
You purposely excluded Uber but multiple sources told me their WLB is really good now. If not then come to LinkedIn
Probably team dependent but I work ~50 hours per week at Airbnb (10 hrs per day 5x per week usually don’t work weekends). I think that’s probably a normal amount but I’m not sure. TC at Airbnb is good.
That’s a pretty shitty wlb
Intel agrees
Snap is a good move, depending on team. Sf and Seattle groups are super chill
Us. Less than 40hr weeks and unlimited PTO. People take 20+ ptos all the time.
That stock price though
I thought google was supposed to be the Mecca for low stress and good TC!
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Go to MSFT if you want wlb. They can definitely match if you have strong competing offers. Linkedin is more pressure but also higher TC
Agree, but with the caveat that Microsoft just like Google and most other companies has pockets of teams with great wlb, and pockets of teams that are in constant 80 hr/wk mode. OP, make sure you know which you're signing on the dotted line for.
Is full remote possible at MSFT?