Carefully deciding between Google vs Microsoft SWE internship

New
I<3trees

New

I<3trees
Jan 4, 2019 29 Comments

Hi all, I’m a second year student in university. I have competing offers from Google and Microsoft and I’m not sure which one to choose. I wanted to ask blind over reddit because it seems more people here have industry experience.

Microsoft pros:
I’ve heard that Microsoft’s intern experience is better than Google’s. Their interviews were fun to do, flying to Seattle and interviewing onsite, whereas Google had 2 technical phone screens. My Microsoft interviews were actually more difficult than my Google interviews. Microsoft also has a higher return offer rate, i would probably need to reinterview at Google next year. I don’t think TC would necessarily be higher at Google compared to Microsoft when it comes to full time.

Google pros:
Ive heard Google has a better reputation, but I’m not sure how much better that is for internships. I also heard that I would probably learn more as an intern at Google, though team dependent. I think companies like Airbnb, Robinhood, Jane Street, Two Sig (companies that pay a lot), would care more about a Google internship than Microsoft when it comes to my internship search in the fall. It would probably be easier to network with cool startups in the Bay Area than in Seattle. I would rather work for Google full time than Microsoft full time. It seems more HYPS (Harvard, Stanford, etc) students are at Google as devs.

Feel free to correct my pros, I could be wrong for some points. Are there certain factors I should pay more attention to based on your guys’ experience out of college? I also want to do what’s best for my career and my future TC. Thanks everyone for your help!

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TOP 29 Comments
  • Microsoft
    dhbtolp

    Go to company page Microsoft

    BIO
    d a n k m e m e s
    dhbtolp
    Microsoft by far has the best intern program. They are payed more than entry-level SWEs, basically don't have to do anything other than the ample intern events, and are fast-tracked for jobs at Google, Facebook, Amazon, and other companies.
    Jan 4, 2019 3
    • Microsoft
      dhbtolp

      Go to company page Microsoft

      BIO
      d a n k m e m e s
      dhbtolp
      Ya but then you actually have to work and deal with people who don't understand jokes
      Jan 5, 2019
    • Microsoft / Eng
      brane

      Go to company page Microsoft Eng

      brane
      @Lame. Not really. At Google you still need to go through the interview loop after the internship to receive the offer. At Msft your boss can essentially hand out an offer, no interview loop. So in Google, your internship experience doesn't really account for most of the hiring decision.
      Jan 9, 2019
  • Google
    nixmix

    Go to company page Google

    nixmix
    Google hands down
    Jan 4, 2019 4
    • New
      I<3trees

      New

      I<3trees
      OP
      Would you say it’s a fair comparison to compare Google to Microsoft as Microsoft to Capital One, or Microsoft to Intuit? (no offense)
      Jan 4, 2019
    • Google
      ovBk62

      Go to company page Google

      ovBk62
      Nah Microsoft is decent reputation too. Maybe compare it to eBay/PayPal types.
      Jan 4, 2019
  • Amazon
    gnVV23

    Go to company page Amazon

    gnVV23
    Focus on brand value for 1 year out of college. Then focus on interesting work wherever that may be.
    Jan 4, 2019 1
  • Google
    ovBk62

    Go to company page Google

    ovBk62
    Optimize for brand value and perceived prestige for now. A Google internship will make it super easy for you to get interview calls from whichever company you want in the future.

    Also try to intern at a startup next year. This is to make sure you get experience of both kinds of places and can take an informed decision as to where you want to work for full time.

    In terms of compensation, Google FTE pays way more.
    Jan 4, 2019 1
    • New
      I<3trees

      New

      I<3trees
      OP
      Thanks, this is very helpful!
      Jan 4, 2019
  • I will mention that I had no problems receiving interviews and getting offers from Jane Street, Two Sigma, Airbnb, Dropbox, Pinterest and Lyft after a Microsoft internship. I don’t think the difference between Google/Microsoft matters for getting interviews.
    Jan 5, 2019 2
    • Although I also feel I didn’t learn much at my Microsoft internship. The events are great and WLB is amazing though.
      Jan 5, 2019
    • New
      I<3trees

      New

      I<3trees
      OP
      Wow that’s super impressive! Can I ask why you took Microsoft over those companies tho, just looking at your tag?
      Jan 5, 2019