Silicon Valley

[Forky123]

I’ve applied for a job at a big tech company in Silicon Valley. Director level so salary would be $250-300k + bonus + shares. Really keen to know what life is like out there. Kids are 9 and 6.

We live in Europe at the moment - lakes and swimming in the summer, mountains and skiing in the winter. It’s clean, safe and nice overall. Kids are happy, we are too but can’t see us living here forever. Work options for me are limited so it’s either my current job or no job, and I think I’m reaching my limits of it here and need a new opportunity.

Very conscious of covid putting a stop to international movement at the mo but there’s the possibility of working remotely until travel is feasible (guessing next summer) - the recruitment process is likely to take a while anyway.

We’d want to be in Mountain View, Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Altos etc etc. Not keen on SF itself.

We do have a lovely lifestyle here so we would be walking away from a lot. But we’ve always been keen on trying new things and having an adventure (facilitated by the corporate world).

I’m aware of extortionate housing costs and hit and miss schools. And of course Trump and guns. But really keen to hear what it’s like more generally.

So if anyone is out there, how do you find it?

I don't live in Silicon Valley but I have friends who do. There's two things to consider here: one, the overall quality of the package (I would really push to the upper end of that range before benefits--would this be your only income?) and two, your work expectations. Silicon Valley firms have a reputation for long hours, especially at director level. That has to be something you are okay with.

If you choose an affluent neighborhood (and there's a lot of them) expect the parents to be quite competitive and have kids enrolled in a lot of activities. Traffic is traditionally awful but with so many people on WFH now it remains to be seen just how that shakes out.

There's a lot of pluses to living in the Bay Area if you're okay with the down sides. Lots of good food and farmers markets. There's a lot of outdoor activities within a short drive--the beach (too cold for swimming, though), hiking, and a bit further away, real mountains (there's good skiing up towards Tahoe and the lake is beautiful). You can also go south towards Monterey and Big Sur, or further north towards wineries and forests. When it comes to beautiful places to go, it's hard to beat California and I say that as an adapted East Coast girl! The weather is lovely most of the year.

As for the politics--they are what they are, but I feel that MN posters are prone to jumping on the US while never saying a word about living in Gulf dictatorships...

You didn’t mention if you have a partner who’ll be joining you and if so, or if that person will be working. It’s a very work-focused place so your enjoyment will be in part dependent on childcare, which schools, and partner support, imho.

Obviously the comp you’ve mentioned is good, otoh it’s not remarkable in the extremely expensive areas you mentioned wanting to live. As pp mentioned, the weather and proximity to natural beauty and outdoor experiences can’t be beat. The food is excellent.

For the most part I don’t imagine Trump or guns entering into your daily life there, though I don’t mean to suggest that larger political culture and events wouldn’t affect you. The extreme income inequality and homeless situation in parts of the valley is another matter - it’s quite in your face.

DH is a SAHD but has a trade he can do part time, and some of that from home. If he could work of course.

Where we are now we don’t need his income, but he likes his work and does odd bits here and there to keep sane. In fact he has to turn work away -there’s a close knit English speaking community and word of mouth gets him recommended.

Given what you’ve said about your career and your family’s interests, it sounds like you should go for it.

We had a similar comp living there (with only one child) and were happier in areas that were a bit more relaxed and mixed-income than some of the ones you mentioned. So, I’d encourage you to be open to living in different areas, especially as you have plenty of time to research and make a decision.

We seriously considered it when my DH was offered a tech role over there, but decided against it when we worked out that my professional qualification (I’m a chartered accountant) wouldn’t be recognised over there, which would have restricted my career options. Plus the price of housing was eye watering.

On the other hand, the towns in Silicon Valley were beautiful and the people were lovely, so it would have been a fantastic place to live for a few years.

I’d also be pushing for the top end of that salary range at Director level. Especially if you’re not receiving any housing support/going on a local contract.

This article puts the salary into some context:

www.ns-businesshub.com/business/silicon-valley-salaries/

Also, consider negotiating your exit package before you start. “At Will” employment contracts mean you could be out of a job and therefore a right to remain in the country long term at very short notice. You’ll need a large payoff to get out of your rental lease etc. This will be important if your rent is $10k a month!

@Copernico I’m keen to hear about the other areas? Having a short commute is super key. After years of 1hr+ in London, my current 10 min drive is a delight..... I hear traffic in SV can be terrible...

Yes, traffic was terrible, it remains to be seen what things will be like next year. Mountain View would be my preferred out of the places you named. Check out towns along the Caltrain stops (Burlingame, San Mateo, etc); shuttling or cycling from office to Caltrain and then living within walking distance to a Caltrain stop is a good commute. Lots of younger tech families are buying in Fremont, so it is probably decent. I’ve never been.

I prefer East Bay and parts of SF but neither will be good for your commute.

Are you a US citizen of has the company confirmed that they will sponsor the visa process? Work visas are “on hold” at the moment except for a small group of medical professionals who are coming here for COVID research and other COVID-related assignments. Does the employer know it will be many months before they can even start the visa application for you? Then it will take goodness knows how long for it to process due to the backlog. You have to consider what you bring to the table that a US citizen who could start work next week and not require a visa that could cost the company upwards of $10,000 in legal fees that would make the company feel it is worth waiting up to a year for you to be able to start.

Anyone can apply for a job here. Being eligible to work here is a whole other issue.

Aware of all that, and clearly it makes me less attractive than a local candidate. But still worth a shot I feel.

Also if the job can be done remotely why the need to move? That’s going to be the first thought going through the USCIS Officer who is adjudicating the visa petition.

And if doing it remotely is “not ideal but could be done at a push during COVID times” then why would the company put up with that when they could hire a local candidate who could work “in person” immediately? Why would the company compromise? Just playing devil’s advocate.

I’d be pushing for the top end of the range quoted, as an absolute minimum. Especially if your husband won’t be able to work (which would be the case on an H-4 visa, the absolute best option for you would be an EB-2 but less attractive for the employer, for obvious reasons). There are 2 of us and although we are not in California we are on the west coast and I make $150k. If I had to support a husband and two kids I wouldn’t uproot my life and move thousands of miles for less than $300k.

But all this is moot with work visas on hold and constant discussions regarding the future (or lack thereof) of H-1B anyway.

I was asking about life in SV and can see you’re not there @BritWifeinUSA. I wasn’t asking mn if the visa would be approved and have already said I’m aware of the context. Do you have anything to contribute about SV specifically?