Recruiter reached out about an 18 month contract position at microsoft in quantum computing. how are contractors treated at microsoft and is there a high likelihood of getting hired full time afterwards? would it be better to try and pursue a full time position elsewhere? quantum would seem like a good opportunity.
Contractors generally are treated fine, but definitely will not feel like you are a full team member, really by design ever since the lawsuit years ago over contractors not receiving full time comp. The likelihood of full time employment afterwards is really hard to judge, totally depends on what the headcount situation is in the group. If they have headcount anytime during the 18 months then they can and likely would convert you to full time if they like you.
thanks for the comment. not feel like a full team member how? what is typical comp for a contractor?
They cannot include you in morale events or team meetings (just project meetings), and just generally will engage with you more like a stranger such as probably not invite you to lunch groups and such. I am not sure the comp for contractors.
I’ve been on both side of the fence. Contractor are there to perform a certain task. So you will work on project but anything involves longer term planning will exclude contractor. You will definitely not be part of the team and be excluded for many things. Comp is totally depends on the what you do and your skill level.
are you a FTE now at microsoft?
As long as you don't put Microsoft (not as contractor) as where you work on your LinkedIn or resume, or tell people that in conversation to "fit in", it's fine.
Most important thing is to remember that the contracting agency will take 50% or more. They will get paid $100-$150/hr for your labor and give you as little as possible. You won’t get any vesting in bonuses and so forth that FTEs get.
true. i did an internship through a staffing agency once and when i found out how much they got from my paycheck it never sat well with me
Microsoft contractor here, would like to share personal experience for other people.For me it was ok, just do your job and get it done but after 2023 lay offs it got worse - means most teams are understaffed and become toxic/with less people they’re trying to achieve more and also other FTEs pushing their garbage tasks on contractors more and more and obviously as result quality of work degraded.Not a good time to join MSFT as a contractor.I guess it also depends on Org and team but again think twice. By the way most vendors/staffing companies do provide insurance/401k/paid vacation/sick days.I got them all. TC: 170k
Contracting is a mixed bag. Some folks will treat you like family and some will remind you that you are the adopted child.... total coin toss. I say this to say ... don’t do it unless you have no better options.... 18 months will fly.
for context, i’m a recent grad and have been at boeing <1yr. want to get more into the tech industry
Are you a software engineer at Boeing currently?