Considering switching to a small company from Microsoft. How difficult would it be to return to the big companies?
Currently considering leaving to improve work-life balance and free up enough time to work on personal ML, Data Science projects to get some experience. How difficult would it be to return to a Big company like Microsoft/Amazon etc after a year or so spent at a smaller company (while improving my skills in a specific area) I'm a college hire at MS and have spent 1.5 years here. The product area is too boring and I can't seem to do well and be productive. Moving teams isn't an option at the moment since none of the teams with openings interest me and the ones that do interest me require way more experience.
Easy if you’re talented
Don't burn bridges!
Better WL balance than Microsoft?
My thoughts exactly
I moved from Amazon to a small company (which was later acquired and became part of Oath). I still get plenty of recruiter emails and interview requests. Not a problem if you are in your A+, A or B+ game
If they thank you have a B game, then you're fucked.
My hope is that the initial rejection from some random practice company will force you to up your game by a grade. Hence B+ 😂
If your boss and coworkers like you than they will give you your job back at any time. MICROSOFT doesn’t have crazy hiring processes like google.
If more time for side projects is what you are looking for, I am sure it doesn't get better than MSFT. You should probably try switching teams within the company first.
No problem as long as u stay current. I left for start up years ago and I, a long with nearly the entire start up, eventually came back to MS. You might even learn more depending on where u go. Be warned, small companies are waaayyyy different than all the big tech cos. Less resources, benefits, etc.
Same goes for other industries. Software companies have ruined me for other industries.
As long as you stay on your game and current, it's not hard. I know of a number of devs who have left Tableau to go back to Microsoft for a variety of reasons.
This is the wrong question to ask. I work in a relatively big company now and wonder if small company will take me ;-). Your skills is what dictates your value. If you are not growing in big company, and you have only 1.5 yoe, you might be doomed. Big companies have advantages to have great resources, and teams with a number of experts. Small companies allows you to work on various pieces and possible important work that a 2-5 yoe would never get. Look at the opportunity first. If you develop good skills, big companies will beg you to work for them.
You leaving a company typically won’t prevent being rehired unless you had super poor performance. Just quit on good terms and be prepared to leetcode your way in when you want back in.