#software-engineer

10-15% of new tech hires leave inside year 1 and forfeit their entire cliff. On a $240K grant that's $60K of equity value gone. Here's how the cliff actually works, what triggers the forfeit, and the negotiation move that softens the trap.

$310K Google L5 SF offer looks great until you decompose it. $200K base + $50K bonus + $240K/4-yr RSU + $50K signing + 401k match + ESPP. After 33% effective tax + 1.8× SF COL, real purchasing power is $172K — same as $172K nominal in Texas.