Google recruiter refusing to move forward with offer letter unless I state TC expectations: what should I say?

Amazon
feedmoney

Go to company page Amazon

feedmoney
Feb 12 18 Comments

This is for an L3 role in Seattle/Kirkland. I've already matched with a team.

I have 1.5 YOE at Amazon. I had a call with my recruiter after matching where she asked me to state my first year TC expectations. I said it depends on benefits, open to market rate, etc etc but she wouldn't budge and said she couldn't move forward with the offer letter until she knew my TC expectations. She told me to take the weekend to think about it, and we have a call scheduled Monday. She said she needs to know 1) my expected TC for year 1 and 2) whether I value equity or base more.

Looking at levels.fyi for L3 roles in Seattle with 1 or 2 YOE I'm seeing numbers as low as 150k and as high as 250k. What should I say my TC expectation is? I'm thinking of giving 220k, but I don't know if they'll go that high.

I also attended a hiring event on Thursday for Microsoft for SDE I/II which I think went well, so I might have a competing offer soon but I'm not sure if it'll be high enough to negotiate with.

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TOP 18 Comments
  • Google / Eng
    dmxlazn6js

    Go to company page Google Eng

    dmxlazn6js
    If you donโ€™t have any competing offers, your offer is gonna be $127k base, $100k RSUs over 4 years (33/33/22/12), $10k sign-on. I had a $250k competing offer, so my final numbers were $145k/$180k/$30k.
    Feb 12 5
    • Google / Eng
      dmxlazn6js

      Go to company page Google Eng

      dmxlazn6js
      True. Your TC expectation doesnโ€™t really matter if itโ€™s not backed by a competing offer.

      Yes, you need to send your competing offer to the comp team. Like the actual screenshot of your written offer. Legitimate proof. If no proofs are provided, your competing offers didnโ€™t happen ๐Ÿ˜›
      Feb 12
    • Amazon
      feedmoney

      Go to company page Amazon

      feedmoney
      OP
      Initial offer came in at 135/115/5
      Feb 15
  • Amazon
    getshiton

    Go to company page Amazon

    getshiton
    Take your current TC, add 15% to it, do not go any lower. Add another 10% and give her that number, but expect to be at the 15% point by the end. If she lowballs below 15%, switch teams at Amazon.
    Feb 12 2
    • Amazon
      feedmoney

      Go to company page Amazon

      feedmoney
      OP
      The thing is I'm on track for possible Q3 promo at Amazon (according to my old manager anyway, who now left the team). I'm not super confident it'll happen because of new manager and because I've been slacking after starting team matching at Google but if I get promoted to L5 my TC would be 200k+ which is why just adding 15% might not make it worth to switch. Wouldn't changing teams reset my promo timeline?
      Feb 12
    • Amazon
      getshiton

      Go to company page Amazon

      getshiton
      Sure then I would add another 5% to those figures. This is my personal preference but I would switch to google with even similar TC given Gโ€™s amazing wlb and prestige. Unless itโ€™s GCP then go for higher numbers lol.
      Feb 12
  • Google
    bciwo

    Go to company page Google

    bciwo
    Ask for the pay bands (which they have to disclose because of the pay equity act in CA) and tell them your expectation is to be paid at the top of the band.
    Feb 12 3
    • Google
      bciwo

      Go to company page Google

      bciwo
      Oh it definitely does apply โ€” even though it isnโ€™t required in WA they basically will answer the question because itโ€™s becoming more and more common (and less defensible) to not disclose.

      Your recruiter seems sleazy. I believe amazon TC is marginally higher for any given rank but the benefits and WLB make it substantially better and
      more sustainable at google. Your RSUs might vest prior to cardiac arrest for example.
      Feb 12
    • Amazon
      feedmoney

      Go to company page Amazon

      feedmoney
      OP
      Lol, yeah Amazon's RSU vesting is trash. Plus the 401k match is like another ~10k in effective TC at Google.
      Feb 12
  • Amazon
    byeamazon๐Ÿ˜Ž

    Go to company page Amazon

    byeamazon๐Ÿ˜Ž
    Seriously doubt google would give out 250k for L3 nowadays. I had compete offers for L4 from meta and Dropbox. Google could barely touch 250 even with that front loaded vest.
    Feb 12 1
  • Google
    iahcip

    Go to company page Google

    iahcip
    Go with the high end and some more. Put in a number you truly wouldn't refuse and see if they bite.
    Feb 12 0