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Google makes new hires ONE pay offer. 'Negotiation'? What's that?

'Irrelevant to Google's compensation philosophy'

Fancy the idea of working for Google? If so, you also need to drop the idea of negotiating your salary package: that's according to former principal recruiter for Google Engineering, Bob See.

See's taken to Quora, where he's responded to the question “What are the best tips for negotiating a compensation package at Google?”

His answer is, in essence, you'll be made an offer you can't refuse and you can fuggedabout any back and forth with Godfather Google.

See outlines a complex process Google uses to determine compensation, starting by asking a candidate to furnish proof of other offers. Compensation analysts then cook up an offer based on “established bands/ranges for role, location, and level”. The result is package comprising a base salary, bonuses and restricted stock units awarded as compensation.

If the resulting recommendations mean the new hire will get a pay bump, Google doesn't have a problem with that. If the offer is under a candidate's current package, Google will try to finds more money, but just how much “depends on how badly they want you”. To make Google beg to give you currency in exchange for labour, you'll need to do well in your interviews.

If you're still not happy with the result, abandon hope because See says here's what happens to those why try to keep the conversation going:

Once an offer is extended, Google doesn't "negotiate" (i.e. Google won't change their offer based on anything resembling: "that's not good enough, I want more", "Glassdoor and my friend who works at Google both say I should be getting xxx at Google", "market rate is xxx and I should be earning more", "I'd like more Base Salary in exchange for a reduced bonus/equity", "my friend received a better offer", "my current company has a ESPP and you don't", "MTV has a 30% higher cost of living than Austin and so I want a 30% increase on my current package", or "I will only change jobs for a xx% increase in base").  All of those things are completely irrelevant to Google's compensation philosophy, and won't be considered at all.

See outlines some circumstances under which a revised offer may be made, but says Google's decision-making process makes it harder for compensation analysts to get a second package approved.

He also explains it may not be a bad idea to take Google's first offer, because asking for more leaves less room for future pay hikes, and those will come if you perform. The better-paid, he says, must also meet higher expectations. And those expectations can be huge: See says new hires should “expect that the caliber of your co-workers will be much higher at Google than people you've worked with in the past.” ®

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