Help me choose - Canadian Edition

IBM
rLeI77

Go to company page IBM

rLeI77
Sep 13, 2021 9 Comments

Hello Everyone,

I've been very fortunate to receive few offers from companies. All are in Canada. All in CAD. (Ranges are estimates). Thanks to Blind for all the interviewing tips.

Current TC: 105k CAD
YOE: 2

**********
Startup (Toronto):

Level: idk
Estimated TC: 160k-175k CAD (Base + Bonus)
Stock Units/Options: TBD (don’t think they’re close to IPO soon)
Pros: Small team, opportunities to learn a lot
Cons: Few interviewers stressed that there are times you have to work a lot, and I need to be ready for it. Not a “big name” to have on resume
Relocation: None

**********
Startup (Vancouver):

Level: idk
Estimated TC: 165k CAD (Base + Bonus)
Stock Options: 5000 units (Potential value if IPO comes / buy out - 230k CAD)
Pros: Full remote possible. Everyone seemed like genuinely nice people. Team and Company are growing.
Cons: Not a “big name” to have on resume. A pretty niche space so unsure of potential long term plans.
Relocation: None

**********
Intel (Toronto):

Level: Grade 6
TC: 140-145k CAD (Base, bonus, sign on, rsu)
Pros: Incredibly smart people, challenging work. They also have a program where you can attend a Masters program with other Intel colleagues. They pay for most of it. Pretty cool.
Cons: None that I can think of tbh. Work is hard, potential ramp up times is around 1-1.25 years because of the nature of the work and code base.
Relocation: None

**********
Trading firm (Montreal):

Level: idk
Estimated TC: 140k CAD (Base, bonus). Could be around 150k+ with potential sign on.
Pros: Montreal is a nice city. Cheaper CoL. Can learn French. Excellent benefits (free food, transport, phone plan all of that jazz)
Cons: Proprietary + confidential tools. Was told to expect certain stressful times due to the nature of trading
Relocation: None

**********
Huawei (Toronto):

Level: idk
Estimated TC: 140k CAD (Base, bonus).
Pros: Work seemed to be a combination of research and industry which seemed quite interesting to me
Cons: Reputation. Stories about that 996 lifestyle which isn’t for me.
Relocation: None

**********
Microsoft (Vancouver):

Level: SDEII
Estimated TC: 160k CAD (Base, bonus, stock, bonus). First two years are a bit more due to sign on
Pros: Good WLB. Different from what I’m doing rn so chance to learn something new. Location flexibility, wouldn’t have to move for the next 8-10 months atleast. Ability to move to other teams as well after a certain time frame.
Cons: I completely forgot to negotiate relocation. Got only a small amount :(

**********
AMD (Toronto):

Level: idk (MTS I think?)
Estimated TC: 125k CAD (Base, bonus, stock).
Pros: Close to where I live currently. Interesting work.
Cons: None that I can think of.

**********
Cisco (Ottawa):

Level: idk
Estimated TC: TBD (Still waiting)
Pros: Nice WLB from what I’ve heard at friends there. Ottawa CoL is so low I could live like a king.
Cons: Its in Ottawa - Kanata to be exact. It's an absolutely depressing place to live. Nothing nearby, -40C winter.

**********
Still Interviewing:
Pretty cool chip startup which is hiring in Toronto for remote workup.
Moody’s

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TOP 9 Comments
  • Montreal has the best life style and lowest COL.

    People there party Thursday to Sunday. Dining out for lunch and having a drink is common.

    The other cities are soul sucking work. Also, Montreal has the best food in addition to quality of life
    Sep 13, 2021 4
    • IBM
      rLeI77

      Go to company page IBM

      rLeI77
      OP
      NVIDIA, I’ve been to Montreal many times no racism there. You do get a few eyebrow raises if you can’t speak French but that’s the extent of it. Very chill overall. I would even say Montreal people are a lot warmer and more receptive in general compared to Toronto and Vancouver.

      If you go inside Quebec though be careful. There are racists there. We personally got accosted once and they kept yelling paki at us.
      Sep 13, 2021
    • Montreal is more cultured so not as much racism.

      Money of the same amount goes farther in Montreal than Toronto / Vancouver
      Sep 13, 2021
  • Cisco / Eng
    🍎& 🍊

    Go to company page Cisco Eng

    PRE
    Broadcom Inc.
    🍎& 🍊
    Why two polls IBM ?
    Sep 13, 2021 1
  • NVIDIA
    aidivnd3

    Go to company page NVIDIA

    aidivnd3
    go for a job in toronto. vancouver you dont really get to move anywhere else other than ms and amazon

    toronto you got all companies you can think of

    but both vancouver and toronto the housing market sucks, so if you have any intention of buying a house go to ottawa
    Sep 13, 2021 1
    • IBM
      rLeI77

      Go to company page IBM

      rLeI77
      OP
      I’m in Toronto now, so that’s another plus to continue living in the city.

      Yeah agree on the housing market front. Ottawa is super duper cheap. But nothing to do there. Social life will fail miserably there
      Sep 13, 2021