Microsoft rescinded my job offer. Now what?
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 Yesterday, they rescinded my job offer and barred me from being considered for any role at Microsoft again for the next 5 years.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
comments
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.
Thank you for sharing your experience and suggesting the appeal process. I will look into it and update my post when there is news.
Flagged by the community.
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.
It's kind of their wish to decide who to hire . And this may not fall under discrimination