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Ask HN: Should I take this Google job offer?

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

#81

Post by mulch »

keeptrying wrote: post #60
strlen wrote: post #24

Do it. $110k is lower than you might get elsewhere, but it shouldn't matter for this reason: * Compared to Microsoft, Apple, etc... $110k for somebody coming on a visa is still a good deal. If you're local to the valley , then sure you can get a higher number. Nonetheless, this is still competitive. * If $110k is "too low" for you to live off, even with a family in the valley, you're doing something wrong. Newsflash:…

Also just to add to this, with your experience you'd be able to apply in the EB2 category for a Green Card and since your British, you should be able to get it in 2 years or less. And once you have a visa, you can work for anyone here in the US by just transferring it. Transferring a visa is much much simpler a process than getting a new one. I think this is a great opportunity to get to the states and work in a grea…

I'm interested to know more about this.

I do have a Masters degree but it's in an unrelated field (economics--don't ask). Does that qualify as an "advanced degree"? I assume not since it's not related to my field. Or?

The description I found of the EB2 said an advanced degree or "significant" benefit to the national economy. Heh. That applies?

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

#82

Post by dotBen »

iampims wrote: post #40
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).

In house, like Google, will have people on staff who do this as their job (ie costs lower).

A startup looking to sponsor an H1B, based on my experience, is going to be quoted ~$20k in legal + filing fees from a small-medium law firm (ie not Fenwick but not USAVisas.net either [made up site, you get my drift]).

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

#83

Post by benmccann »

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)

If you read the original post, $110k is the base salary, which means total comp is probably closer $170k.

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

#84

Post by Locke1689 »

strlen wrote: post #24

Do it. $110k is lower than you might get elsewhere, but it shouldn't matter for this reason: * Compared to Microsoft, Apple, etc... $110k for somebody coming on a visa is still a good deal. If you're local to the valley , then sure you can get a higher number. Nonetheless, this is still competitive. * If $110k is "too low" for you to live off, even with a family in the valley, you're doing something wrong. Newsflash:…

Actually $110k sounds pretty low for Microsoft, especially when you take into account differential cost of living (assuming their Redmond campus). In fact, most people I know who have been courted by Microsoft and Google got better financial offers from Microsoft (especially in terms of benefits).

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

#85

Post by andreshb »

iampims wrote: post #40
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).

It's actually that high. (H1B Visa, plus accompanying visa for family members)

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

#86

Post by brg »

This is in line with SWEIII offers. However, your experience should be enough to be slotted into Senior, which will increase your salary and GSU's. If this is a senior/slotting offer it is low.

If you come in at SWEIII you will be in the same buck as newly hired graduate students, SWEII's who have had a lucky year, and lifers with no motivation. There are others in that bucket, but those are the ones with whom you will be incorrectly compared.

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

#87

Post by mulch »

brg wrote: post #86

This is in line with SWEIII offers. However, your experience should be enough to be slotted into Senior, which will increase your salary and GSU's. If this is a senior/slotting offer it is low. If you come in at SWEIII you will be in the same buck as newly hired graduate students, SWEII's who have had a lucky year, and lifers with no motivation. There are others in that bucket, but those are the ones with whom you wi…

What base do grads start at?

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

#88

Post by Psyonic »

Locke1689 wrote: post #84
strlen wrote: post #24

Do it. $110k is lower than you might get elsewhere, but it shouldn't matter for this reason: * Compared to Microsoft, Apple, etc... $110k for somebody coming on a visa is still a good deal. If you're local to the valley , then sure you can get a higher number. Nonetheless, this is still competitive. * If $110k is "too low" for you to live off, even with a family in the valley, you're doing something wrong. Newsflash:…

Actually $110k sounds pretty low for Microsoft, especially when you take into account differential cost of living (assuming their Redmond campus). In fact, most people I know who have been courted by Microsoft and Google got better financial offers from Microsoft (especially in terms of benefits).

What benefits were better? Google's benefits seem pretty generous to me.

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

#89

Post by jarsj »

I am an X-Googler. It's a great company to work and what you see and learn there will definitely add a lot of value to you for future.

Also, the actual money you will make at google will be more than your base pay. The bonuses are good (I am not sure I can reveal the exact numbers here, but read your offer letter carefully and make some min-max calculations, It won't be hard for you to land up with an average).

Then there's free food and other benefits that you can google around to find out.

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

#90

Post by Jun8 »

jbarham wrote: post #73
Jun8 wrote: post #70

Your situation is complicated by the big move from a different country (do you have a home to sell, family, kids, etc.). But here are my thoughts: * $110K is OK. In California that's not a lot of money. However, don't be fooled by Google base salaries, they are lower than other comparable companies but the bonuses can be out of this world. Typically they could be 30% of you salary but if you can get your hands on an…

> quickly get your green card This is easier said than done since Google first has to sponsor your green card application (it's not automatic with an H1B visa) and in my experience the government bureaucracy that handles green cards doesn't know the meaning of the word "quick".

You're right, the application process does have a large variation. However, anecdotal evidence (from my colleagues and me) suggests that if you're not from India or China, you should get it in about 1.5 - 2 years from application.
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