Google Levels

Google Levels

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0:00 - Intro
0:28 - What are Levels
1:06 - Years of Experience
3:40 - Recruiter Conversation
5:58 - Level Assessment
8:27 - Down-Leveling vs. Up-Leveling
10:37 - Internal Items
12:21 - Ego

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Social Media:

THANK YOU!

[jeffhsipepi]

Hi everyone! I think this is the most comprehensive information you can find about leveling at Google online. I hope it helps!

[agmos]

I asked my recruiter and she said she had no clue. She said level depends upon my performance on the interviews, etc. I definitely see your point in regards to panelists though. It makes absolute sense.

[jocalvo]

I can't believe what you said at the end! I am a NLP Engineer myself and I would have chosen Google over FB 100 times in that scenario!

[jocalvo]

The years of experience was key for me to understand! Thanks heaps Jeff!

[CSneedInc]

Hey Jeff,

I had my recruiter interview today. She shared all the pertinent info like levels, interview process, rounds, expectations, etc.

The role that I applied for is a Level 4 seeking 5 years experience.

After an overview of my resume, the recruiter mentioned that I can use my WB studio ecommerce operations background as experience. This was great news because it allows for me to get closer to those 5 years. So, I will have to remember to bring that up with the HM.

Even though they are looking for Level 4, we can actually decrease a level or increase a level. This was also mentioned in the TVC chat. This all depends on our interview performance, knowledge, and communication. What else does it depend on?

What separates an L3, L4, L5 from each other than years of experience? What are some other factors? How can I demonstrate that I am qualified to be an L4? I definitely do not want to decrease to an L3.

I applied for the Product Operations Manager, Google Play Apps role.

I am a TVC on the GTV (Google TV) team and we work in partnership with the Play Store to display their apps on the GTV Chromecast device or Android TV devices like the Nvidia Shield. So, I am familiar with their processes, some of their team members, and goals.

Thanks for your assistance and response.

[beatalert]

This content was very helpful Jeff. Thank you for summerizing this well..!!

[IshaanAFK]

Hey Jeff,
This was super helpful. My interview process took over 4 months (Jun-Oct). And finally last Monday I got approved.
I interviewed for the position of Technical Writer, GCP (India) and carry over 6 years of experience with Tier1 companies. I was offered a pay package that seemed pretty entry level. It was L3. I inquired about this with my recruiter and was told this is the level we're hiring experienced technical writers at.
Looks like I was down-leveled and thus offered a relative salary that's lower than what I'm making now. Never imagined Google could be such a difficult decision.

[JonTheGamerJones]

Awesome video thank you so much I am in the offer stage right now with Google I have my interview with the hiring manager tomorrow fingers crossed!!!

[CharisCh]

Your content is so helpful! Thanks Jeff!!

[cinedanmatrix]

Hey jeff! I just want to say that I really appreciate your content and I found it super helpful while I was interviewing for Google last year, and I am still finding your content helpful even after joining Google!

Thank you!

[dkat]

Hi Jeff, this video definitely helped me understand the different pay levels at google, thanks! One question regarding interview process. Ive completed my virtual on site day and was put on a ~6 month cool off period, with 6 months already upcoming in November. I was told by the HR recruiter that she was not able to give very specific advice at that time, but she did tell me that I was "great on navigating ambiguity, strong on GCA, and had no big negatives, but they wanted to see a better articulation my my PM fundamentals in how I identify a problem and progress towards a solution." This sounds like its part of the RRK interview (which was my 4th of that day), but I wanted to see if you agreed that this was most likely the RRK portion, rather than makes assumptions and be wrong. I was told that I will get more specific feedback at some point, which I may book an appt for some time with you after that since I will have a more specific idea of what to cover. thanks!

[ml-techn]

Hi Jeff, thanks for all the content you are putting to help us. I would like to have your opinion for my situation. I am working in big company (not tech but aerospace). I had did my ML PhD and then joined the company just after finishing my PhD. I was hired as MLE but ending working as mix of TPM-MLE as we subcontract a lot and also after one year I was charged to build a roadmap and setup a vision for ML for the company. I would say that I work as cross functions and organisations to launch and build the right projects (3$ Million projects). So, for the past 4 years, I work with people from different organisation and with junior and senior MLE but my role was to be sure that everything is good and follow my roadmap. So, I only coded for the first year then transition to more managing and leading the projects. Now, recruiter are approaching me and offering to interview for L5 or L6 (Google, Meta and Amazon) when I describe my experience. But, actually, I am scared as the rounds included system designs but actually my work and projects did involved any build high scalable systems or in production (I am working at airbus), it is a not a tech company. So, I don't know how to explain that to the recruiter. and also I am scared as I have never worked in big tech so I don't have any idea if my skills are good enough. I would be happy even if I get L4 and I am sure I can ram-up quickly. What are your thoughts and how I can explain that to the recruiter. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[bigbigdog]

I don't know, I think Google vs FB is a tough choice. I don't think you can go wrong either way. IMHO.

[smonkl]

Hello, and thank you! Why is compensation weights more then level, in your opinion? Higher level means more space for own decisions, more meaning tasks, more opportunities, more value. Not an ego, but impact possibility, as for me

[dapyx]

Hi Jeff - first of all thank you for all your efforts of creating and sharing these very educative videos for consumption - you are one of a kind. I want to ask a few questions about levels and job expectations.
Are Program Managers considered higher or lower on the totem pole than TPMs?
Is a Program Manager Level 6 same as a TPM Level 6?
Is it harder to get Program Manager Level 6 or TPM Level 6?
What about differences when it comes to compensation?
Lastly - there is no video about the growing demand in roles at satellite locations like Seattle and New York - could you give an idea on salary negotiations/expectations for these locations vs Silicon Valley?

Thank you

[deborshikashyap]

What's level for one who has no experience

[CSneedInc]

Thanks Jeff for this video.

How do promotions work exactly? I know you stated the following:
1) contact our lead,
2) have great performance for 2 consecutive quarters,
3) go before a hiring committee

Does this mean I literally have to tell my lead I am interested in a promotion at year two? Are they not evaluating me and my performance over a course of time? Do I bring this up during the evaluation process explaining how I met goals, exceeded benchmarks, etc?
Does this mean there is another interview process with my lead and the hiring committee?

I am curious. Thanks in advance.

[lilysCH]

Hi Jeff, thank you very much for those amazing videos. The tips you give are very insightful and helpful. I am at offer stage, and i was curious to know more about 1) whether disclosing expected compensation from my end is a must and 2) with a lack of data points for Google's pay ranges in the middle east (GCC in particular), what should I be referencing as my comparable region for an L6 position?

[akalrove]

So having too many years of experience relative to the job requirement can also hurt your chances if you aren’t able to demonstrate L5/L6 level of performance in interviews.

[ganzee]

Great depth, Jeff - at a L7 for YouTube content! ;)
One comment on levels being about egos - don't levels largely determine the scope of the work and the org size (for EMs)? Seem pretty important from that perspective.