Google upleveled yet low-balled me!

Maven Machines
okaythen?

Maven Machines

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Adobe, PayPal
 okaythen?
Oct 12, 2021 20 Comments

Over the past 2 months I've been interviewing with Google for Early Career UX Designer role. I was told that the leveling would be determined by HC after all the interviews I assumed that since it is an early Career role the level would be L3. My feedback was positive yet the HC requested for an additional interview. Of course I freaked out and asked y'all what that meant and majority of you said it is to determine level. And yes, it was for leveling and today I got an offer for L4.

My total comp is 215k for NYC. The recruiter said if I don't have a competing offer higher than Google's TC, only then will the comp team consider to reevaluate the offer again.

I have two offers both in the Bay area with TC between 200-202k.

The levels.fyi points out that for NYC L4 UX Designer, the average is 247k with the lowest is 217k and the highest is 287k.

How do I negotiate better?

TC 82k
YOE 3

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 TOP 20 Comments
  • Google
    eVNp78

    Go to company page Google

    eVNp78
    What is the question? Looks like a decent offer given you were expecting L3.
    Oct 12, 2021 6
    • Maven Machines
      okaythen?

      Maven Machines

      PRE
      Adobe, PayPal
       okaythen?
      OP
      The other two companies(non FAANG) are startups/private. Looking at Levels.fyi, the average is 240k or so. Hence wondering if I am being low-balled.
      Oct 12, 2021
    • VMware
      HEtD35

      Go to company page VMware

      HEtD35
      You’re being lowballed by the startups even worse. If they’re not public their equity is closer to 0 than whatever they say it is
      Oct 12, 2021
  • Google
    owqJ68

    Go to company page Google

    owqJ68
    It's not really a lowball offer - but yea, it's not as high as you like. Google probably won't do anything unless you get a competing offer.

    Keep in mind that with refresher and extra bonus you will pretty quickly make quite a bit more. Easy to see 300k in a few years even without a promo.

    I started 2 years ago at ~260k and am on track to hit 400k next year - and my only salary adjustment/refresher was on a CME(2nd lowest) performance rating.
    Oct 12, 2021 3
    • Google
      owqJ68

      Go to company page Google

      owqJ68
      Don't forget it's the highest of 3 offers, so it doesn't seem like a lowball to me.

      I'd highly suggest joining, I like it a lot here! Feel free to DM with any questions, but I don't know much about UX design.
      Oct 12, 2021
    • Maven Machines
      okaythen?

      Maven Machines

      PRE
      Adobe, PayPal
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      OP
      Yeah I am planning to accepting the offer soon. Thanks for your kind words :)
      Oct 12, 2021
  • Facebook
    6153

    Go to company page Facebook

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    Airbnb
     6153
    There’s a lot of stock appreciation that goes into these salaries you see on levels.fyi. Google stock has been doing well recently.

    For example at FB, my initial offer was 300k TC, but after a year and stock appreciation it’s now 400k. However all the other offers they give for people at my level are still 300k.
    Oct 12, 2021 2
  • Amazon
    JefBezo

    Go to company page Amazon

    JefBezo
    What recruiter said is true. Unless you don't have competing they won't negotiate. So take 2 weeks and interview somewhere and get more offers.
    Oct 12, 2021 0
  • Yeah it’s a good offer
    Oct 12, 2021 0