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Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

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Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

#101
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not saying that a Briton will be unhappy in Manchester or in Coventry, I’m saying that for me, a European that lived in Rome and Berlin and Dublin, these are non-places where nothing happens and where there’s nothing to do. When I say that only locals can live there I’m not referring to xenophobia (even if that’s a thing), but to the fact that in places like Harrow or Newcastle there is literally nothing to do, a…

This is simply not true. One could naïvely say the same for ANY country where it has not been explored. It can't be all rollercoasters and silicon geography everywhere all the time. Anyway, the UK has some of the most dense proportion of pubs per capita in the world. (Since that appears to be a concern in your comments)

That's not true of any country and it's not about rollercoaster and silicon geography. It's about having stuff to do that isn't going to the mall or to the N-th replica of a Weatherspoon or of a Young's pub. I've lived in the UK for more than 10 years, and I have indeed explored the country and experienced the nothingness that's the UK bar inner London.

On pubs, I was being generous by picking the most common, say, cultural attraction in the country. And yet, you get a better pub offer (in terms of variety and opening times) in Rome or Berlin or even Dublin. On density, try to re-compute that density at 11PM or check in how many of these pubs you can get a Chimay Rouge or a Franziskaner.

The countryside looks more like a nuclear test site than Tuscany or Latium, to name a few places I'm familiar with.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

#102

I work remotely for a large US tech company and live in Hampshire. Your salary will go *much* further if you are happy to live an hour or so outside London. My team is spread across US / Canada / Spain and UK so expect some meetings in the evening. From what I have seen the culture is quite similar in the UK offices as the US offices (same perks / food etc)

I'm from the UK too and was looking at how to remote work for US companies. How does the tax work? Did you register a company which gets paid your "salary" instead?

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

#103
I had the choice many years ago of working in London or somewhere in the US. I chose the first, and comparison to my friends who chose the second I know I made the right choice.

The UK is the best of both worlds: you have much higher salaries than in the rest of Europe, and a more functional state and society than in the US. If your plan is immigrating and settling somewhere or not being a workaholic then the choice is a no-brainer.

Keep in mind there is a wide range of salaries, with large FAANG companies and a few medium-sized ones in the upper part. I would check levels.fyi for real salaries instead of going for averages.

The rest of the country is beautiful. The people in thread telling you there's nothing good outside of London have never left the city.

I'm an Argentine immigrant to the UK who worked in large and medium tech companies. AMA!

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

#104
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder, is moving from UK to US easy within a FAANG company? Is that something people do?

Yes but it can tie your hands promotion wise.

Why would it?

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

#105

I work remotely for a large US tech company and live in Hampshire. Your salary will go *much* further if you are happy to live an hour or so outside London. My team is spread across US / Canada / Spain and UK so expect some meetings in the evening. From what I have seen the culture is quite similar in the UK offices as the US offices (same perks / food etc)

I'm from the UK too and was looking at how to remote work for US companies. How does the tax work? Did you register a company which gets paid your "salary" instead?

Most of the bigger US companies have a UK registered office so there are no tax implications in my case

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

#106
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes but it can tie your hands promotion wise.

Why would it?

L1's are based on functional role so IC specialized knowledge(L1A) vs manager (L1B) cross promotions are difficult.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

#108

You make way less money than your peers in California and everything is still as expensive. It's a financially horrible decision if you can work in the US. If you want to work in Europe though it's pretty good. I've worked at FAANG in US and UK and am currently going back to the US for non-financial reasons. I don't regret being here but I find London to be impossibly expensive to build a family in.

In the UK your family will be covered by the NHS. There is a welfare state. Don’t discount the value of the EU welfare state when it comes to raising a family.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

#109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm from the UK too and was looking at how to remote work for US companies. How does the tax work? Did you register a company which gets paid your "salary" instead?

Most of the bigger US companies have a UK registered office so there are no tax implications in my case

That's great thank you. Are there any other complications I should be aware of?

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with bigger tech companies in London?

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the bigger US companies have a UK registered office so there are no tax implications in my case

That's great thank you. Are there any other complications I should be aware of?

Timezones are the big one. Beware end of day meetings in California. Also US style RSU grants seem to be taxed as income when they vest in the UK.
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