Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 106 posts

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#31

Post by mulch »

djhworld wrote: post #14

Why do you put yourself down about your degree? You've been working in the industry for 11 years and have just got a job offer from probably one of the hardest companies to get into - no one cares about your degree nowadays, you've proven yourself already.

Without opening another can of worms, doors are more easily opened here if you have a 1st or 2:1 from say Oxford or Cambridge, particularly in the City.

From across the pond it looks like the US is worse for this with grads from Stanford, MIT or CMU having a way easier time of it career-wise. It seems a lot easier to get in those "name" companies.

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#32

Post by aaroneous »

prodigal_erik wrote: post #30
aaroneous wrote: post #21

What're GSUs?

Apparently "Google Stock Units" are restricted stock rather than options. If they vest over five years (I don't actually know but this is common elsewhere), 200 shares will be an extra $20k/year or more. Well, unless their stock tanks.

Thanks! I'm particularly amused that using google couldn't provide any help in figuring that one out.

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#33

Post by mulch »

enki wrote: post #5
michaelhalligan wrote: post #3

$110k seems a tad low for someone with over a decade's experience in the bay area. I'd be looking for more around $150k/year in wage slavery as an overall comp package (bonuses and expected stock sale value added to base salary)

http://payscale.com/ and http://glassdoor.com/ suggest that the median is lower, not higher. But that's not even the point. With $110k you'll live more than great here, and if you're good you can always find new opportunities or a raise. Unless you have better alternatives, go for it - i'd trade a lot of income to live here rather than back home :)

Part of the problem with these kinds of surveys is it's hard to know if you're comparing apples to oranges.

- Are they surveying base salary? Or total compensation? Or perhaps just including bonuses?

- Are the surveys voluntary? Life has taught me people lie about their income all the time.

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#34

Post by davidw »

tommizzle wrote: post #27
davidw wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He does (presumably) have a British accent though, which ought to count for something in terms of standing out from the crowd.

Hah - The things James Bond has done for our country...

Not really James Bond, just the allure of something different. Same reason people take more notice of an American in Italy. The important thing, I guess, is to come from somewhere 'interesting' to people.

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#35

Post by iamelgringo »

I have no idea whether to take the gig or not, but just know that if you take the job at Google, you're not going to be able to work on side projects in your spare time.

California law states that as long as the person isn't in direct competition with their employer, they can keep any IP they develop while not on company time. If you work for Google, however, you work for a company who is trying to organize the world's information. So, arguably, pretty much any code you write in your spare time competes with Google.

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#36

Post by aphexairlines »

_delirium wrote: post #29
ericabiz wrote: post #8

Seems a bit low for the Bay Area, but this is subjective and depends on what else they are giving you in terms of perks (free food, etc.) Someone else said rent was $1500. I lived in the Bay Area for 10 years and $1500 gets you a 1BR apartment (maybe 2BR if you want to live south or east). It gets you a share if you want to live in San Francisco. For a house, you are looking at $3K+.

You can get houses for under $3k if you're okay with the south bay, and not falling apart ones in ghettoes either. Santa Clara and San Jose have plenty of 2br houses around $1500, and nice 3br houses in the $2000-2500 range. You only have to go to $3k+ if you want more like 4-5br, or a particularly upscale city (Palo Alto, Los Gatos, etc.).

looks like the comment was about Palo Alto, Mtn View, etc since she wrote "maybe 2BR if you want to live south or east."

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#37

Post by djhworld »

mulch wrote: post #31
djhworld wrote: post #14

Why do you put yourself down about your degree? You've been working in the industry for 11 years and have just got a job offer from probably one of the hardest companies to get into - no one cares about your degree nowadays, you've proven yourself already.

Without opening another can of worms, doors are more easily opened here if you have a 1st or 2:1 from say Oxford or Cambridge, particularly in the City. From across the pond it looks like the US is worse for this with grads from Stanford, MIT or CMU having a way easier time of it career-wise. It seems a lot easier to get in those "name" companies.

But all this is largely irrelevant, he has the job offer on the table already! That means the Google have placed emphasis on his experience and character rather than where he went to University.

If he was applying to Google, fresh out of University (outside of the so called 'top 10') and was wondering if he was in with a chance, then that would be a different story, but he's proven his worth in the industry already.

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#38

Post by Tichy »

jedc wrote: post #26
ardit33 wrote: post #6

110k is way too low, they are definitely lowballing you. If you think you are good, you should be making at least 130k-140k+, so I am sure you can negotiate that. If they don't come up on salary, you still can do the following: 1. Join google, work hard, get some experience, make some friends, then 2. Few months (or years) later, look for better opportunity with a better pay. It would be easier for you to find anothe…

Perhaps, but the effect of the GSUs (and annual bonuses) would likely more than make up for any sort of lowballed salary.

Empty promises...

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#39

Post by aphexairlines »

michaelhalligan wrote: post #3

$110k seems a tad low for someone with over a decade's experience in the bay area. I'd be looking for more around $150k/year in wage slavery as an overall comp package (bonuses and expected stock sale value added to base salary)

His overall package isn't $110k. It's that plus GSUs, which apparently vest at about 1/4 of the units per year, so an extra $25.7k/yr for a $135.7k package not counting bonuses.

Re: Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

#40

Post by iampims »

dotBen wrote: post #20

Fellow Brit who moved out here 4 years ago.. I say go for it, especially if Google are going to sponsor your H1B. Make sure you completely understand the visa process and timeline though (if it's H1B you may have to wait a period of time before you can actually move). Don't forget you could always move jobs in a year so Google is a great 'landing' into the Bay Area. If you have 11 years experience $110k seems a littl…

Did your visa application cost $20k? It seems extremely high. I heard it's usually around $5K (fees + lawyers).
Post reply on HN