It's makes financial sense to get someone to pay you your market value. Google knows how to give people good raises without them having to float themselves on the open market and threaten to leave. The process is transparent and well-documented.
Speaking from experience, Google's offer was lower than what I had in mind. But I couldn't find anyone else that would pay me more. That means I'm probably making the right amount of money. And the good news is, I know what I need to do to ensure that I get good raises. That's something that's never been clear to me at any other company; it was all "you did really well this year! thanks!" and then "oh sorry, no money for raises or bonuses". Google does not do that. It's the first place I've worked where I've thought, "wow, I won't have to quit in two years".
Also, you're not competing against other people, so being average is fine. To get promoted, you have to be good at your job and continually do good work. That's it. You don't have to be Guido to get promoted.
Firstly I'm from India, our salary structure differs from you in many ways.
Nice perspective. I definitely agree that Google is probably paying best among all.
My point was, If I can be the best guy in a team of average everyday software engineers. It makes my appraisals, appreciations and growth far more easy. At the same time if I'm average despite my best efforts and then it makes things a little difficult for me.
One more question to you. Unless there is a next 'Google' aren't you worried that you are already in the highest paying company(Forgive my ignorance If Im wrong, or there are companies are that pay more than Google in the US) and moving onto something else may not get you a better hike than what you have now?
My point was, If I can be the best guy in a team of average everyday software engineers. It makes my appraisals, appreciations and growth far more easy. At the same time if I'm average despite my best efforts and then it makes things a little difficult for me.
I don't think this is true; you'll be working on projects that are appropriate for your level, and improvements you make to these projects are what your promotions will be based on. If you're new to programming, your first task might be to rewrite library X to use library Y. If you're a PhD, you might be asked to make Google's indexing 10% more efficient. If you do a good job at the tasks you choose, then you get promoted. You don't have to be the smartest to be well-paid. Google needs average people as much as it needs geniuses.
One more question to you. Unless there is a next 'Google' aren't you worried that you are already in the highest paying company and moving onto something else may not get you a better hike than what you have now?
I'm not worried about this. Google has a career path that will last me for as long as I want to be at Google. If someone offered massively more money, I might leave. If Google is paying me market salary, then I don't want to leave. It's the best job I've ever had.
Maybe in the US. Here in the UK, several recruiters I know are actively targeting Google as they find it an easy place to dislodge good developers from with better offers from elsewhere.
I think even in the US you're still largely benefitting from the growth rate - once Google's growth slows down, and it will, Google will struggle with retention just as much as other large companies.
Why? It's not as if you risk job stability working at Google. And at least while I was there, I didn't get the impression that devs were overworked (slightly different story for PMs).
Well it's no surprise that different jobs are better for different times in a persons life. I don't work at Google, but I'm still at a point in my life where I want to be average surrounded by smart people (I've been the smart person surrounded by average or worse and it stinks). Doing this will help me grow faster and get farther with the time I have. When I reach the point where I need a slower paced job maybe I'll look to DoD or teaching.
That really might be OK and might work if you are unmarried, without kids and living alone.
As you grow up to take more responsibilities. It definitely makes more career and financial sense to..
Be best among the average than to be average among the best.