Microsoft rescinded my job offer. Now what?

Procore / Eng
5bananas

Go to company page Procore Eng

PRE
Quicken Loans, StockX
5bananas
Jul 16, 2020 298 Comments

I received a written offer of employment from Microsoft for a position that I interviewed for. I accepted this job offer. Microsoft told me that they needed to do a background check. This background check process took them about two full months from the date that I accepted the job offer. During the background check they asked me to provide them with information about my education. I told them that I didn't graduate college, that I told the recruiter that I didn't have a college degree, and that the job description did not list a college degree as a requirement. Apparently, this was a problem. Yesterday, they rescinded my job offer and barred me from being considered for any role at Microsoft again for the next 5 years.

Some context: The position I applied for, interviewed for, was offered a job for, and accepted the written offer letter for clearly stated and still states in the job description that a college degree is not a requirement. Before I applied for the job, I told the internal Microsoft recruiter that I did not have a degree (in writing). She responded (in writing) telling me that this was not an issue. I also self-reported on the background check that I do not have a degree (I have the background check report from HireRight, and it notes that I self-reported this).

What can I do? I really want this job. I'd prefer not to burn any bridges, but I have little faith that even if I made a fuss and they caved, I'd still be let go after some time for something vague and nebulous. I was planning on moving across the country for this job and will, at a minimum, be over $3k in the hole as a result of this (I had started to pay for the move already).

Update 1: I reached out to MS HR, the third-party that did my background check, both recruiters I spoke with, and the hiring manager. No response yet.

Update 2: MS HR responded, asking me for the email that I sent to the recruiter that stated that I do not have a degree. I sent them the email for their review.

Update 3: A week has passed since I sent the requested email to MS HR. I understand that they may need more time. Thank you to everyone who has commented. I appreciate the honest advice, condolences, and appropriately blunt feedback. I am not planning on pursuing a suit at this time. On the bright side, the whole thing sums up to useful experience.

Update 4: I reached out to MS HR for an update. They promptly responded. They politely told me that they had reviewed the communications I sent them between me and the recruiter. They told me that the recruiter is not a member of the background check team, therefore my communications with the recruiter would not be considered. They also informed me that because my resume and LinkedIn profile did not explicitly state that I had not graduated from college, but did show that I had attended college, they would not be willing to appeal the decision to rescind my offer. Good game, folks.

TC: $150k

#microsoft #offer #tech

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TOP 298 Comments
  • Google
    aCzL04

    Go to company page Google

    aCzL04
    There’s no way you were rejected for not having a degree. There’s something else that came up in your background check or somehow what you stated in your application didn’t match their background check results. Or worst case they got the impression somehow that you misrepresented your past.
    Jul 16, 2020 19
    • You should definitely state “did not graduate”on a resume. It’s not clear that if you attended 3 years you didn’t just graduate early
      Jul 19, 2020
    • This is BS, don’t take it personally as it has nothing to do with your background check. I’ve hired people who put their degrees in their resumes but never actually graduated. Nobody gives a shit as long as you can do the job or haven’t completely lied about your qualifications. They are rescinding your offer for other reasons, this is an excuse that they use because of a minor error on your behalf. The reason could be anything from a bad reference to some inappropriate content you posted on social media to you being flagged on some list.
      Jul 21, 2020
  • Ironclad
    -[ಠ_ಠ]-

    Go to company page Ironclad

    BIO
    leave me the f alone
    -[ಠ_ಠ]-
    This is sad. Sorry to hear this.

    Barring for 5 years sounds like they thought you were deceiving them, which is obviously not since you were up front with them. If you have the contact of the hiring manager, then it's best to reach out directly and clarify your situation.
    Jul 16, 2020 3
  • Microsoft / Consultant
    chipionero

    Go to company page Microsoft Consultant

    chipionero
    My $0.02 - there's an appeals process, take advantage of it. I know this because I have felonies in my record from 20 years ago that I was honest about, but still caused me to fail the BG check. I fought it and after a long 3 weeks of zero communication for an internal committee review, they gave me my NEO date. 2 years later and I'm top ranked, have won Hero and Champion awards, and regularly receive recognition for my contributions.
    Jul 17, 2020 6
  • Flagged by the community.

    • Because there isn't. Being a historically underrepresented minority has been an advantage for decades as long as you're not a tremendous piece of shit and a functioning member of society. The higher up you are in the intersectionality hierarchy, the more doors will open for you anywhere in the western world outside of like the deep south of the US and rural areas in the Eastern Bloc.

      If you're a functioning adult and competent at what you do, it is 100% advantageous to be anything but white or Asian and has been since at least the 90s. Honestly at this point you can get away with anything short of murder if your intersectionality score is high enough.
      Jul 21, 2020
    • Square
      transager

      Go to company page Square

      transager
      One sweeeet thing about being black is that if you’re a career criminal who once pointed a loaded gun at a pregnant woman’s belly you can get your just desserts *and* become a martyr.
      Jul 21, 2020
  • wtf.. if this is true then seriously sue them
    Jul 16, 2020 7
    • “Promissory Estoppel” May apply here
      Jul 18, 2020
    • HPE
      odBP62

      Go to company page HPE

      odBP62
      While it's really unfortunate that a piece of paper measures a person's skill and not what that person has actually acquired over time, I dono if you can sue them
      It's kind of their wish to decide who to hire . And this may not fall under discrimination
      Jul 18, 2020