Google’s Answer to Overheated Job Market: Demanding Proof of Rival Offers

https://www.theinformation.com/articles/googles-answer-to-overheated-job-market-demanding-proof-of-rival-offers

by jedberg • 5 years ago

32 43 5 years ago

jedberg2• 5 years ago

Netflix actually encouraged us to interview at other companies. They (rightly) felt it was a win for everyone. You got to learn a little bit about another company as well as about yourself and what you wanted in a job.

And if you decided to leave, then it freed up a space for someone else who would be happier in your role, and if you stayed it provided information to HR for level setting not only you but all your peers as well.

mountainriver• 5 years ago

Wow thats a good look for Netflix

dclusin2• 5 years ago

How do devs ask to get offers in writing? It's always been verbal in all the interviews I've had, and they're resistant to putting things in emails.

jedberg2• 5 years ago

"I'd like to review the paperwork before signing". Usually when you start a new job you have to sign paperwork with the salary and other comp. It's totally reasonable to ask to review that before signing. It's also totally reasonable to go back to them afterwards and tell them you weren't happy with the offer after reviewing it.

MrWiffles• 5 years ago

I've never had this problem; usually it's either written in an email (rarely) or an official offer letter attached as a PDF (90%+ case). It's not at all unusual to ask for an offer in writing, and I'd never consider one real at all until I had that!

dclusin2• 5 years ago

Yes but I've only received it in writing usually only after verbally accepting the offer, not before to play off of each other.

therockspush• 5 years ago

This has been the case with any counter offer situation I've been in.

I didn't realize this wasn't being done everywhere.

commandlinefan• 5 years ago

I've never even considered a counter-offer - when I put in my notice, I'm already committed to the new role.

squiggy22• 5 years ago

Counter offers just say 'yeah we thought we could get away with paying you that all this time, but here's what we could have been paying you'

joshstrange3• 5 years ago

Exactly, I cannot fathom why someone would accept a counter-offer, it just puts a huge target on your back. You get branded as not loyal or as a "money grubber". Every company I've left, I left for a reason that was always more than just money. Money might have played into it but in those cases it was "I don't want to work for a company that refuses to reward my effort even when pressed". When I choose to leave a job it's often because of cultural or fundamental ways a company operates that doesn't work for me, no counter offer is going to change that.

aquir• 5 years ago

I agree. If you don’t like something are you currently coming speak to them before even going on interviews. Accepting the counter offer is the worst thing that one can do.

nosefrog• 5 years ago

In order for Google to match my FB offer, I did need to show them evidence of the offer amount (just an email from someone with a facebook.com email address casually confirming the numbers was sufficient). I thought it was weird, but luckily the evidence was easy to get so it didn't affect me.

luffapi5• 5 years ago

Why would it matter if the offer was “real”? Google should pay what the employee is worth to them. I say “FB offered me 400k, what’s your offer?”, what’s the point of Google asking for proof? My value to them hasn’t changed. I’d withdraw my application with that as it demonstrates a lack of trust.

rirze2• 5 years ago

Companies pay the minimum they can afford to hire/keep employees.

Believing that [X] company "should pay what the employee is worth to them" is misunderstanding how companies operate.

luffapi5• 5 years ago

Companies will pay what they have to. I encourage everyone too seek the pay they are worth.

akira2501• 5 years ago

is misunderstanding how companies operate.

The better question is: "Does it actually bring better long-term value to the company?" For those who think it does not, then the strategy seems in conflict with achieving the best results.

ozim• 5 years ago

It is about job candidates and not current employees asking for a rise.

luffapi5• 5 years ago

Yes, it’s equally ridiculous and anti-worker either way. Trust is the foundation for good management and culture.

vageli• 5 years ago

I would personally quit out of principle if an employer asked, let alone demanded, to see an offer I received from another company.

akomtu3• 5 years ago

Google has tripled its profits, but of course it's whining about the rising salaries.

alpineidyll34• 5 years ago

Meanwhile Facebook is now refusing to put offers in writing without a verbal acceptance.

nickff2• 5 years ago

They're probably tired of people interviewing there just to get an offer letter for use in negotiating a raise at their current/'prior' employer.

alpineidyll34• 5 years ago

"Tired" isn't a valid reason for a corporation to do something. Systematically insulted? Probably and they totes magotes deserve it.

daniel-thompson• 5 years ago

Just out of curiosity, what difference does verbal acceptance make?

alpineidyll34• 5 years ago

Legally: none. Making accepted applicants disrespect you? Infinite.

mensetmanusman• 5 years ago

Start a company that makes offer letters.

soakline• 5 years ago

Oh hell yes, I love this.

datavirtue• 5 years ago

How does this even come up? Are candidates flouting other offers? Why not just counter-offer like an adult?

mywittyname2• 5 years ago

Recruiter: Congratulations! Everyone loved you so we are looking to move forward with an offer. The level we are hiring you at pays, $x salary and $y in RSUs with a 4 year vest.

Candidate: Well, I have an offer from FB for $x++ salary and $y++ RSUs.

Recruiter: Let me speak with the hiring manager and see what we can do.

Looks like recruiter are updating that last line to be something like,

Recruiter: Can you forward me a copy of that offer letter and the name of the person who sent it so that I may verify its authenticity? After that, I'll speak with the hiring manager and see what we can do.

luffapi5• 5 years ago

And the correct move there is to say:

“Actually, I’m very close to going with this new offer. I really clicked with the team. If Google wants to counter, I can wait till tomorrow to make my decision”.

smorgusofborg• 5 years ago

That sounds like illegal wage fixing to me. Companies should not be able to disclose this kind of information to each other and twisting an employees arm to consent to such disclosure is questionable. Employees don't get enough information to do similar tactics to maximize their salaries so the end result is keeping salaries artificially low.

I think constant wage fixing has actually backfired for big tech. The savings in pay they have made might be an impressive number but it is very little compared to what they leave on the table whenever they fail at a software eating the world project, and they end up with a lot more competition from companies that can afford to match their compensation despite operating in much smaller markets and having very little profit relatively.

specialist• 5 years ago

More money than deities. Still cheapskates.

It's not enough to win; the other side must lose too.

Capital cannot concede any bargaining power to Labor, no matter the cost.

Just one historical example. The railroads nuked the unions (Wobblies), centered in Spokane WA. One tactic was charging more for freight to and from Spokane, the geographical center of the Inland Empire, than to bypass Spokane. So Seattle to Chicago was cheaper than Spokane to Chicago, even though the trains still go thru Spokane. Broke the union. And Spokane never recovered.

godelmachine• 5 years ago

Need negotiation tips, if I may?

If I prove to Google that I am getting another better offer, how can I negotiate to make them eke out maximum salary?

For ex - Suppose I am getting USD $100k/ annum from Facebook, what is the maximum amount I can ask from Google and make them pay?

Google’s Answer to Overheated Job Market: Demanding Proof of Rival Offers

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