I am graduating with a Masters (focus: compilers) from a top 3 school. I currently have 0 years experience, bar one internship.
I committed orally to a search-engine company (~85k salary).
However, in the mean time, I received a similar offer in terms of compensation from an embedded systems company.
Taking the embedded systems offer seems better, since there are a lot more companies in the field, vs. search engine companies (3-5 at max), so it seems like I would have a lot more career flexibility. Also, both companies are well established and public, so no chance of really striking it rich at either.
I have a few questions:
(1) Are the offers competitive for the Bay Area (or should I keep looking)?
(2) Am I right in thinking that working on embedded systems stuff would allow me more flexibility in choosing my next job?
(3) Is it ok to verbally commit to an offer, and after they send the offer letter, renege on the agreement.
Answers to any of these questions is greatly appreciated.
Job Offer Advice
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Desi_by_Nature
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:57 pm
Job Offer Advice
(1) Are the offers competitive for the Bay Area (or should I keep looking)?
can't say. 85k sounds just about borderline what a fresh tech grad can and perhaps should expect from a bay area company. I wouldn't dismiss it off as a bad offer, but after 2-3 yrs of work experience you should try selling yourself again and you will get far better offers (if the market stays strong).
As a fresh grad your focus should be on the line of work you get into and the company you get into. From that perspective 85k doesn't seem bad at all.
(2) Am I right in thinking that working on embedded systems stuff would allow me more flexibility in choosing my next job?
Not sure about that. Search engine is big business - maybe one of the fastest growing businesses. No other service on the internet offers a greater marketing potential than search engines. If you look at the history of the internet, whichever company made the better search engine immediately became the most profitable and came out far ahead of the others - first it was msn, then yahoo, now google. Infact no other technology has revolutionized the internet as much as search engines. From latest reports it sounds like Yahoo has developed some new search technology that challenges Google - not sure how many top engineers from Google and other companies they must "acquired" and what insane offers they might have given them to switch over to Yahoo and develop this technology.
This is gonna be a never ending game and this business is huge. Sure maybe only 4 or 5 companies are the top contenders in this arena but since this is their core competency, they are always looking for the best talent and paying them top dollar. You'll have a lot of fun in the search engine businesses. Embedded systems sounds boring comparitively. :emsmilep:
(3) Is it ok to verbally commit to an offer, and after they send the offer letter, renege on the agreement.
No it's not okay. But if I convinced you with my above two answers then you don't need to worry about this anymore.
can't say. 85k sounds just about borderline what a fresh tech grad can and perhaps should expect from a bay area company. I wouldn't dismiss it off as a bad offer, but after 2-3 yrs of work experience you should try selling yourself again and you will get far better offers (if the market stays strong).
As a fresh grad your focus should be on the line of work you get into and the company you get into. From that perspective 85k doesn't seem bad at all.
(2) Am I right in thinking that working on embedded systems stuff would allow me more flexibility in choosing my next job?
Not sure about that. Search engine is big business - maybe one of the fastest growing businesses. No other service on the internet offers a greater marketing potential than search engines. If you look at the history of the internet, whichever company made the better search engine immediately became the most profitable and came out far ahead of the others - first it was msn, then yahoo, now google. Infact no other technology has revolutionized the internet as much as search engines. From latest reports it sounds like Yahoo has developed some new search technology that challenges Google - not sure how many top engineers from Google and other companies they must "acquired" and what insane offers they might have given them to switch over to Yahoo and develop this technology.
This is gonna be a never ending game and this business is huge. Sure maybe only 4 or 5 companies are the top contenders in this arena but since this is their core competency, they are always looking for the best talent and paying them top dollar. You'll have a lot of fun in the search engine businesses. Embedded systems sounds boring comparitively. :emsmilep:
(3) Is it ok to verbally commit to an offer, and after they send the offer letter, renege on the agreement.
No it's not okay. But if I convinced you with my above two answers then you don't need to worry about this anymore.
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FreeSpirit
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:01 pm
Job Offer Advice
ness,
I would look at Search companies like Google,Yahoo, MSN etc. as not just search but they are MEdia companies and provide an entry point to the WWW. Since they control which sites come up or down there will always be someone else trying to build a better search engine. If I were you I would take Search company offer.
For Bay area offer seems average unless they are giving you lot of options. About Google what I have heard is their pay is average and they try to pamper employees with all kinds of useless perks - Gourmet coffee (who cares for it? one can always go to *bucks and get a nice coffee and at the same time chat with cute Baristas )
I would look at Search companies like Google,Yahoo, MSN etc. as not just search but they are MEdia companies and provide an entry point to the WWW. Since they control which sites come up or down there will always be someone else trying to build a better search engine. If I were you I would take Search company offer.
For Bay area offer seems average unless they are giving you lot of options. About Google what I have heard is their pay is average and they try to pamper employees with all kinds of useless perks - Gourmet coffee (who cares for it? one can always go to *bucks and get a nice coffee and at the same time chat with cute Baristas )
Job Offer Advice
I have one question for you. What excites you more ? Doing assembly level programming or complex data handling ? You should do what excites you more. There arent many people with core embedded programming skills. At the same time , there arent too many people with very deep data management skills(complex indexing techniques , optimizers etc etc) . Dont think about which will help in future job shifts and some differences in salary. It should be driven by your interest.
I think the offer you have got is pretty good (with respect to compensation) considering you have no experience.
I think the offer you have got is pretty good (with respect to compensation) considering you have no experience.
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Desi_by_Nature
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:57 pm
Job Offer Advice
About Google what I have heard is their pay is average and they try to pamper employees with all kinds of useless perks - Gourmet coffee (who cares for it? one can always go to *bucks and get a nice coffee and at the same time chat with cute Baristas
Yeah? and what do you have to say about 11 cafeterias serving gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner - FREE. :) And what about the wi-fi enabled shuttles to pick you up from home everyday and drop you off? or onsite laundry facilities, free oil changes for your car, motorized scooters for everyone to commute across the campus ..... :emsmile:
#1 - if it's Google that gave you the offer, my advice is TAKE IT. You will never have to work for mediocre companies for mediocre jobs and mediocre salaries for the rest of your life.
I agree with #2 that they are not the best payers, but "Google" on your resume is a qualification in itself and opens a lot of opportunities.
Yeah? and what do you have to say about 11 cafeterias serving gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner - FREE. :) And what about the wi-fi enabled shuttles to pick you up from home everyday and drop you off? or onsite laundry facilities, free oil changes for your car, motorized scooters for everyone to commute across the campus ..... :emsmile:
#1 - if it's Google that gave you the offer, my advice is TAKE IT. You will never have to work for mediocre companies for mediocre jobs and mediocre salaries for the rest of your life.
I agree with #2 that they are not the best payers, but "Google" on your resume is a qualification in itself and opens a lot of opportunities.
Job Offer Advice
Thanks for all the quick advice, guys!
I will probably go ahead and stick with the original commitment.
I will probably go ahead and stick with the original commitment.
Job Offer Advice
ness;11204
Thanks for all the quick advice, guys!
I will probably go ahead and stick with the original commitment.[/quote]
Congratulations!!! On making a wise decision I would say...considering the quality of suggestions given to you by knowledgeable and experienced folk.
Way to go...kid. Good Luck!
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Nothing like quality advice to a kid breaking into a man's world. -DJ :cool: