Microsoft vs. Atlassian

Amazon / Eng
f00b@rb@z

Go to company page Amazon Eng

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Oracle, PayPal, Comcast, JPMorgan Chase
f00b@rb@z
Feb 7, 2018 26 Comments

Microsoft - Core Services Engineering (Redmond)

Atlassian - Platform Services team (Mountain View)

MSFT comp is slightly higher considering COL and a few other things. This will be my first job out of college beside internships. I prefer to be in the bay - [If you want an A+ career in technology, move to the Bay Area. — Gayle Laakmann McDowell](http://www.gayle.com/blog/2015/11/if-you-want-an-a-career-in-technology-move-to-the-bay-area) but wouldn’t mind the greater Seattle area either.

The most important thing for me is career growth. In terms of prestige, MSFT will be a strong name on my resume to helps open doors in the future. But I feel like I will learn more at Atlassian, just because is smaller and I will have more responsibilities.

Lastly, what’s the minimum amount of time should I stay in my first job before switching without looking like a job-hopper. Thanks.

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TOP 26 Comments
  • Core Services Engineering (CSE) = Microsoft internal IT.

    Much less respected than the engineering teams that work on the products and core technologies. Crappy leadership too from what I have heard.

    You'll be working on things like the login 2fa app, email distribution list sign up, corporate vpn that only works %50 of the time...

    Im sure there are some good teams in CSE, but overall I think you should pick the platforms team if you have a choice.

    Stay in your first job no less than 2 years imo.
    Feb 7, 2018 5
    • Microsoft / Eng
      Ex-Msft

      Go to company page Microsoft Eng

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      Microsoft
      BIO
      I came, I saw, I left
      Ex-Msft
      CSE has a very bad reputation internally. I’ve known one person who made it out, but in general it’s harder for someone there to even get an interview on a product team.
      Feb 8, 2018
    • Microsoft / Eng
      AmlEvil

      Go to company page Microsoft Eng

      BIO
      Sinful birth under the cross
      AmlEvil
      That is true about getting an interview being hard, but part of it is also that there are a lot of people from there who are seemingly spamming product groups with applications.
      Feb 8, 2018
  • Google
    jghyrh

    Go to company page Google

    jghyrh
    I can't imagine working on jira and not wanting to kill myself
    Feb 7, 2018 1
  • Oracle
    FartHard

    Go to company page Oracle

    FartHard
    I've heard culture at Atlassian is amazing
    Feb 7, 2018 7
    • Atlassian / Eng
      kotlinin2

      Go to company page Atlassian Eng

      PRE
      TripAdvisor
      BIO
      Android engineer
      kotlinin2
      I've been here a bit more than 6 months. As a new grad, I'd say the best thing about Atlassian is that you get exposure to the latest and greatest libraries and technologies. Also lots of new work happening (as you can guess with the hiring) so you get to work on products that will be the foundation for the next few years.
      Don't think you get this much control and exposure as a new grad at MSFT
      Feb 7, 2018
    • Hahahhahahha
      Mar 30, 2018
  • Microsoft / Product
    pizzaqueen

    Go to company page Microsoft Product

    pizzaqueen
    Agree on CSE. It is generally lower skilled folks that aren't able to get into Product teams. Agree with precious comment on leadership. Until the other poster said Atlassian in Bay Area is not the same as the Austin one re: culture, I woulda recommended Atlassian. One thing to note on MS...u can probably move to a product group after a year or.so in CSE...if u r good enough🙄. If u were choosing between MS and Atlassian in Austin, hands down Atlassian.
    Feb 7, 2018 0
  • Bay Area was where you used to go, but that is changing VERY rapidly. I personally think Seattle is the sweet spot these days. I've lived both places but now I'm back in the southeast. To answer your last question, 2 years is a good tenure but no less than 1 year unless things are really bad. You can get away with hopping around a good amount in your 20s. Doesn't start to look bad until your early 30s.
    Feb 7, 2018 0