Why do people join Google despite downleveling

Google / Product
Yeahq

Go to company page Google Product

Yeahq
Sep 26, 2019 253 Comments

I have noticed a lot of GPM/ principal PMs with several years of industry experience at companies like ebay, PayPal joining google as L5- it baffles me as to what is so amazing about this transition that people are willing to be downleveled?
I'm personally contemplating leaving google after being here for 4+ years but I wonder if I'm missing something ...

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TOP 253 Comments
  • Google / Design
    XHqi03

    Go to company page Google Design

    XHqi03
    I was downleveled when hired. The recruiter convinced me that I could level up quickly with Perf every 6 months.
    3 years later, no promo. Does it mean I was hired into the right level at Google? No, that means that I was fooled.
    Sep 26, 2019 30
    • Google / Eng
      sweSharp

      Go to company page Google Eng

      PRE
      Condé Nast
      sweSharp
      It's particularly common when you have a high performer hired into a role under a weak, but greedy/selfish TL.

      The manager may make the mistake of making them the mentor as well which further exacerbates the problem.

      Google's perf system is not very intuitive and this is often used to hold people back.
      Sep 30, 2019
    • Intel
      HumbleBees

      Go to company page Intel

      HumbleBees
      Yup, no personal thing against @hoodwink69 but more of things happen before they decide to promote you. If the budget is limited, people with next inline for promotion get the good work and subsequently promo. Only if the company had shit ton of money and shit ton of projects life is easy. Buy that happens only in 0.001% of the companies
      Oct 1, 2019
  • Twitter
    letsparty

    Go to company page Twitter

    letsparty
    G Pay is better even at l5
    Sep 26, 2019 7
  • Google
    topCon

    Go to company page Google

    topCon
    TC is better and Google on your resume does have an impact
    Sep 26, 2019 12
  • Google
    foony

    Go to company page Google

    foony
    The levels are made up anyway. Who cares if you get a L5 at Google versus a 6 at a bunch of no name companies, when Google's pay will be higher and the opportunity to work at a world class engineering organization is there? When you leave, everyone will essentially know your level is worth more.
    Sep 26, 2019 14
    • Google / Eng
      ECyG30

      Go to company page Google Eng

      ECyG30
      @ungoogled, people care about level. Also level defines your compensation and future growth.
      Sep 28, 2019
    • Google
      ungoogled

      Go to company page Google

      ungoogled
      Yes I get that. I left partly because of it. But if I were to go back to Google it would be with a comp such that I’d have no intention of seeking promo and just enjoy the perks and take me EEs/CMEs. There are all kinds of cool classes and fun things to do at the office which are more fun than worrying about perf/promo. That said I’m not ready for that kind of retirement mode yet. I still want some more accomplishments.
      Sep 28, 2019
  • Amazon
    techled

    Go to company page Amazon

    techled
    @op why are you leaving G?
    Sep 26, 2019 6