Received 2 Microsoft Offers, which one do I pick?
Hi everyone, I've received two verbal offers from two seperate teams in Microsoft. They're waiting until I make a selection to discuss numbers, I guess Microsoft doesn't compete internally anymore. Offer #1: Azure Software Engineer II Location: Redmond, WA Level: 61-62 (I get a clearance bonus in both roles) Offer #2: Azure (Government) Software Engineer II Location: Reston, VA Level: 61-62 (I get a clearance bonus in both roles) I feel like if I go to Reston, I will HAVE TO move to Redmond at some point in my career with Microsoft if I really want to move up into leadership. I also feel like Redmond has so many more opportunities + main campus. The reason I'm leaning on Reston is because Virginia was honestly beautiful, and I'm a sucker for history. Being in the nation's capital seems so great. Additionally, the guys on the Reston team aligned way better with my personality. On the contrary I'm thinking if I go to Redmond and don't like the team for whatever reason, I can easily switch to one of the other teams in Redmond. Anyone have any advice? For what its worth, I think I should be getting an offer from Amazon soon, but I'm cautious about their culture so I think I'll just use their offer to negotiate Microsoft up.
Don't do government! Lower TC across the board. Reston might be considered LCoL but in reality it's not that different from Redmond.
I would argue Reston is the same if not higher COL than Redmond
I think Reston is actually HCOL, but yea my exit opps if I go to DC are going to be heavily skewed towards more government work. I think Redmond would provide me with tech exit opps more easily.
Redmond. All the way. You get to be in the thick of it and walking around government red tape gets to be a massive pain.
If you go to government , you are a more valuable resource , given it’s difficult to hire ppl who have all the clearance govt needs . Might help in getting a better bargain.
Yea thankfully the Redmond role would actually maintain my TS clearance too.
If you’re TS cleared you get a yearly “cleared” bonus if your work is on systems requiring clearance
Thats true, the role in Redmond has a need to maintain my TS as well, albeit its only like 20% of the work I would be doing, but they're offering the bonus too.
Reston is low CofL if you live in Reston. Commute 10 minutes(This beats everything IMO). Go to DC about once or twice a week. Should get a fancy place for $1200-$1500. Decent ones for $800. Cheap, shared bathroom kinda deal for $600. Be prepared for mostly suburban life. Unless you live in the town centre.
Where is the goddamn TC!? I'm disappointed. Update when you receive the numbers. Also, Redmond all the way.
Also YOE
1.5 YOE will update when they give me an offer
TC? Will make a difference. Reston is not as cheap as you may imagine. Also you’re way out in the boondocks you can hardly consider that to be DC anymore. Redmond is at least not as far from Seattle if city life matters to you
OP Hows the interview process up in reston for cleared SWE? Is it any different ?
Sorry I didn't see this sooner. Reston's hiring is the same overall process but the Azure Gov team really lacks software engineers (at least ones based in Reston) so the interview process is like people who can sort of code, interviewing you. The teams are primarily PMs with a few devs here and there. Overall it's an easier process in Reston.
Microsoft is changing. A lot. So I’ve promoted people not in Redmond and everyone is dialing in from teams more and more. Are there more opportunities in Redmond? Sure. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a legit promo when you’re away from the mothership