So, there is a very high chance I am able to land a FTE offer after my internship at Microsoft. Thus far, I like my manager and my team and enjoy the work I am doing (for the most part) - won't disclose what I am doing exactly, but it fits into my interest areas pretty well and gives me a lot of freedom for research and implementation. However, my graduation date is in spring 2021, which is 1 year away. I don't suspect this should be an obstacle for converting to FTE, but my main concern is that I have 1 more internship after Microsoft, which is currently TBD (I have a couple interviews lined up, but nothing I'm super excited about yet). So, accepting an FTE return offer I think might be a premature commitment which might screw me over later. I did consider accepting Microsoft and reneging if something better comes along, but people have advised me against this option, mostly due to burning bridges with a huge company (and potentially also having a backlash against my university?). So this is not really a viable option I guess. My question is this: should I a) play it safe and just accept an FTE offer from Microsoft, despite not knowing what cards I may draw for my last internship after Microsoft or b) risk it and turn down Microsoft (for now) and try to get a really good last internship to convert to FTE? For a), some pros are: - I like my team and manager, as well as the work I'm doing - Microsoft is a big name which might open doors later on - Having a job offer reduces my anxiety about plans post-graduation - It saves me the trouble of applying to/interviewing with other companies; to be frank, I don't like the whole LeetCode grind Some cons are: - Known unknowns and unknown unknowns: I don't know what my last internship may be, so I may be acting rashly - Microsoft isn't really an "end goal" for me; I would ideally want to springboard to G/F/another company afterwards; this is related to compensation and prestige, as much as sometimes we hate to admit it - Microsoft seems to have an older population than I would prefer to hang out with (although there are new grads too) and Redmond/Bellevue is kind of boring (IMO) - As a minor point, Microsoft seems to have a bad rep on these forums and elsewhere (but I don't pay too much mind to that, Blind is just another reference point) And for b), I think most of the pros/cons are pretty clear. I should also mention that I can afford to take a lighter last semester if I wanted to (can take literally 1 course, but probably will take 3), so that can spare me more time to prepare and grind for interviews, even if I dislike the LeetCode grind. #Microsoft #Internship #Decisions
Reneging on a big co. offer won’t get you blacklisted. However if you sign it you’ll probably be way less motivated to actually look for a different job
I was told Microsoft will put a note on your record saying you reneged, which isn't an explicit blacklist, but may harm your future opportunities with the company. As well, I've been told reneging might have a negative impact on your university's relations with Microsoft? As for motivation, that's a good point. However, I know I will be doing another internship after Microsoft and if I do well during that internship, I can potentially just convert that to FTE without more rounds for interviews afterwards. In that case, having already signed for Microsoft might actually block me from converting with my last company after Microsoft (rather than applying externally elsewhere). While I like Microsoft, there are a lot of other opportunities out there.
if you get a faang internship offer you can ask the recruiter what the intern to ft conversion rate it is to get a good idea of whether or not you can risk losing msft
This is a good idea, but the main source of uncertainty for me isn't the conversation rate. I don't have another internship lined up yet (although I know I will be doing one and have a couple interviews soon), so I don't know what cards I may draw into for my opportunities after Microsoft. Historically, I've heard that FB has a pretty high conversion rate though, but it's lower than Microsoft/Amazon.
You won't burn any bridges with Microsoft. That's absurd. They'll add you to the "hot prospect" list and tell you to call them if you change your mind. The people who advised you against reneging have no idea what they're talking about. If you can get an offer once, it means you can get an offer twice. Finding people who can pass the bar is very hard. You don't hold grudges against people who do.
I think this would strictly act against Microsoft's interests if this were true. There is no incentive for a company to encourage candidates to renege.
How is that encouraging people to renege? It’s keeping doors open, doing the opposite of burning bridges.
Accept the offer, go work there for 2-3 years and go to faang and double your TC.
This my opinion. Play it safe. Because a) it’s MS which means good resume booster and good experience b) It’s rare to have good managers. FAANG won’t go away and you’ll have multiple opportunities to interview with them. Also, enjoy your remaining college time. The best time of my life was when I had a gig lined up and I was still in college.
I had 2 interns we offered a return job to. They said their dating prospects improved once they had a Microsoft job 😂
Yeah FAANG won't go away for sure and at Microsoft, because of good WLB (in general), it's probably more doable to prepare for an exit vs. somewhere like Amazon, where it's not as great. Not having to worry about finding a job afterwards sounds like a blessing, although it could be a curse in disguise. One of my friends a year ahead had to do a ton of work to land a FTE job, despite having previously interned at Google + Microsoft + Apple. He did get Citadel, which is great, but it took a ton of time and energy from him. Also, to be completely honest, I'm not super confident in my interviewing skills - I failed my Citadel internship interview etc. Downside is mostly FOMO for unknown X difference in ROI (could swing both ways here). Tough decisions... @MT1(SS) - How did your interns improve their dating prospects after getting Microsoft? 😂
I’m not convinced you’re going to be able to get a FAANG internship at this stage of your college career before graduating. Usually they want you to be returning to school after summer.
I'll also be applying through my school's internal job board, which takes in a high volume of students to FAANG every term. I'm aware that external applications are mostly shot by now. Of course, there's a decent chance I might not even score an interview, but it's more hopeful than you might think.
My school had a time companies had to keep offer active, I think until November, for this scenario. Does your school have something like that? Also, why wouldn't you apply for full-time offers, instead of another internship? Also, you have your whole life to work. Go travel and enjoy the summer before starting. In your shoes, if I couldn't get an offer extension, I'd take Microsoft and chill. Switch after a year if you want.
Unfortunately my school doesn't have that sort of policy. I wish :( I'm applying for another internship because I can fit one more in before I graduate and internships let you try more options before settling down full-time. Plus doing well on your internship usually means a full-time job offer afterwards anyways.
Renege np