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

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

Your content is so helpful! Thanks Jeff!!

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!

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.

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.

Thank you, super helpful!

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!

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.

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!

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!!!

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

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.

Great depth, Jeff - at a L7 for UKposts 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.

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?

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

hi, thanks for the information. I am mostly interviewing for L3 swe, with < 1 yeo, and with positive onsite feedback. Say if I pass HC, could I wait for several months then reconnect with the recruiter for some extra interviews to get L4 position? would it be too late to bring up the targeting-level conversation with the recruiter? what would be the best and worst outcomes? also -- if I quit a full time job at a faang for 3 months, should I add this to my resume? I did have experience with owning a product and leading product development and talked about it in my behavioral interview tho. I want larger scope and career growth. thxxx

Hi Jeff. Thank you for this awesome video. One question, would Google consider YOE oversea same as in the US?

Hi Jeff, thanks for your videos. One quick question, how do the internal references work? I'm thinking I have a couple of person that could give me one.

Hi Jeff, thank you for your videos, they've been super helpful! I had a quick question: I'm currently in the offer stage with Google. When I applied, the job description was Program Manager. But when they sent me the offer, it reads Program Associate. The job description called for 4 years of experience, and I currently have a little over 3 years. How can I negotiate for the previous title of Program Manager? My current role right now is also Program Manager at a different company. I think they lowered the compensation because of this, but I'm already negotiating on that part. Thank you!!!

Jeff, thanks so much for your videos. I'm curious to get your thoughts on this--if I already had my onsite and am about to have my packet submitted for HC, should I ask my recruiter to emphasize L5 instead of L4? He told me the job is looking for L4/L5 If i had to guess, based on recruiter, i had possibly 2 SH and 2 H, but he didnt mention ar what level Btw, my interviewers were all L6 & L7

Hi Jeff, Does interview performance(extremely good vs average) matters during compensation decision?

Hi! Where can we find your weekly Lives that you mentioned?

Hey Jeff, how about sales position? I have about 14 years of experience in several companies, but how can they “measure” the relevance of my past experience to determine what level I will fit in?

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.

you mentioned while interviewing google you dont even what leveling you are interviewing for. But during system design interviews, I was told my interviewer that I was interviewing for l7 level.....

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

Hi Jeff, how is applying to two positions at the same time interpreted from the recruiter perspective?

Hi Jeff, I recently went through the onsite for a PgM (L3/L4) and recruiter told that the overall feedback is good but there is a confusion on the level fitment. What does it mean?

It's comprehensive and aligns with my experience, unfortunately. I say unfortunately because I've seen a similar arrogant demeanor in 4 or 5 recruiters I've spoken with. They will look at your years of experience and apply a one-size-fits-all judgement on you, even if you've held very senior roles in other large companies. I mean this comment says it all: 33% chance you get down-leveled, but 1% chance to be up-leveled? Is that joke? I don't regret turning down their lowball offer down a couple of years ago. It is unreasonable to expect everyone should bow down and accept lowballing disguised as "setting up for success" just because their name is Google. If I was a hiring exec there I'd change my outlook if I wanted to keep up with the industry. With the job market the way it is, people are starting to realize what they're worth.

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.

Hi! Does having a MBA help you come in at a higher level?

Hi Jeff, would you know the pay range of L5 Regional Team Manager role in Singapore? (Managing a team of bd/ac mgrs in 2 countries

What level does Program Manager at Google fall under, I am interviewing for it with 18 years of experience.

At what point does experience vs ability measure pay level?

Hi Jeff, I have just given all the rounds but neither recruiter told me nor have i asked for the level. I have 10 years of experience. Recruiter said she is sending my file to HC. I am not sure for which level i am being hired. Can we negotiate on level after Yes from HC ?

Why would it motivate google to proactively up level a candidate even if there are eligible.. i mean from the finance part of it , they can just give them lower level(not up level i mean) and get the same work done as if they were higher level and later promote them if needed..

Will a person with say 15 YOE not be considered for an L4 position bcoz they are perceived as being too old for the same?

Hi Jeff how hard is to get hired L7 as a staff software engineer at Google ?

FROM L2 TO L7 you are working in L4 with external experience. Can your level increase to L6 for working some more years in google.! Or is L4 your permanent job with no promotion and same salary?

What's level for one who has no experience

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