Comment by jamajor | Hacker News Reader

Comment by jamajor | Hacker News Reader

Does anyone have experience pursuing this strategy for tech roles in FAANG and other Bay Area companies? I definitely agree switching every two years is optimal for a lot of jobs, but I'm having trouble executing this strategy when I'm already in a FAANG.

I've been at my current (and only) FAANG for almost four years, climbing two rungs in the IC ladder over that span. Right now, I'm not sure how I'd begin my hops. My current comp is alright, which has meant that I'm having trouble finding alternatives that can offer substantially higher comps.

The only alternatives I've seen are:

1. Hop to a different FAANG, same level => Overall comp is roughly on par to what I'm getting right now.

2. Hop to a different FAANG, one level higher => Does this actually happen on a regular basis? How might one approach this?

3. Hop to a startup => Too much of the comp is based on stock options which are highly volatile. Particularly in this current economy, I want to go/stay somewhere with healthy cash flows.

4. Hop to a non-FAANG tech company => How do they match up in comp against FAANG? Is this worth pursuing?

> 2. Hop to a different FAANG, one level higher => Does this actually happen on a regular basis? How might one approach this?

That's the way to do it at the lower levels, yeah.

You apply, ideally via a referral, and at the early stages the recruiter will establish roughly how senior you currently are. They'll be keen to know your current comp, too. It's common advice not to reveal this, and I'd follow it, but that's less crucial when you're at a standardised BigCo because they'll already know what bracket you're in, as long as you're in the same geographic area.

Then you go through the rigmarole of interviewing, and if they want you, they need to offer you higher comp, usually via a higher level (or higher spine on an existing level for the companies that do it that way).

When people do this effectively they get a title increase with each switch. So even FAANG to FAANG jumps work if you're getting a "free promotion" with every one. I've seen it happen, unfortunately.

I currently work for a non-FAANG company, and it's my second time doing so. Comp has been competitive in both cases. In fact, my current job pays more than is normal for FAANG (but only due to stock appreciation - 3x in the last 2 years), but they did match my Amazon pay and then some to get me onboard.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com