Amazon vs Microsoft New Grad Career Growth

Amazon
gwRt03

Go to company page Amazon

gwRt03
Dec 8, 2020 13 Comments

I want to reach senior engineer as soon as possible so I know going to Facebook would probably be ideal for new grad. However, they don’t seem to want to interview me :/ so I’ll be returning to Amazon for my 2nd last internship. I didn’t apply to Microsoft for a SWE internship since I assumed it would be around the same level as Amazon’s resume value but am considering doing it next year.

If I’m trying to optimize for career growth is Amazon better than Microsoft? From what I’ve heard, returning Amazon new grad SDE1s can usually be promoted to SDE2 in 1-1.5 years whereas at Microsoft it might take 2 years to go from Level 60 to 61 and then 2 years to get from Level 61 to 62.

Should I leave once I’m an SDE2 at Amazon? Assuming I leave Amazon once I’m an SDE2 for Google/FB/Unicorn, it seems I’m more likely to not be downleveled to the SDE1 equivalent compared to being a level 61 at Microsoft interviewing.

Interested in any thoughts since I’m not too familiar with Microsoft promotions.

#swe #newgrad

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TOP 13 Comments
  • Lyft / Eng
    bigfoot34

    Go to company page Lyft Eng

    bigfoot34
    OP why just amazon and microsoft? are these just the offers you have in hand?
    Dec 11, 2020 4
    • Amazon
      gwRt03

      Go to company page Amazon

      gwRt03
      OP
      Makes sense, my plan is ideally to join a unicorn/well known later-stage startup after graduation if possible for the reasons you mentioned.

      Do you have any friends who went to seed/Series A/Series B startups? I was wondering if the growth there might be even stronger, although of course there’s more risk and less immediate high rep.
      Dec 11, 2020
    • Lyft / Eng
      bigfoot34

      Go to company page Lyft Eng

      bigfoot34
      Series A/SeriesB startups can provide you the opportunity to grow pretty fast as well, but not significantly faster than a high rep unicorn would imo.

      Plus, their levels are usually more inflated, and if you were to change from a smaller startup to somewhere like Lyft, you'd probably get downleveled.
      Dec 11, 2020
  • Not many new grads join as L60 at Microsoft., Most of them join as L59. I have only seen people with phd join as L60 or L61
    Dec 9, 2020 2
  • 1 year for SDE 2 is very difficult, even for returning interns. Also, if your only goal is to leave after becoming SDE2, you'll lose most of your RSU on the table
    Dec 8, 2020 1
    • Amazon
      gwRt03

      Go to company page Amazon

      gwRt03
      OP
      Thanks for the heads up. Also from what I understand, Amazon SDE2 and Microsoft L61/62 are both “intermediate” engineer bands. Would you say SDE2 is closer to L61 or L62 in terms of scope and compensation?
      Dec 9, 2020
  • Getting to L6 (senior) at Amazon is very challenging. For most, 4+ years at L5.
    Dec 9, 2020 2