Software Engineer Level
Hi I have done my Master's in Computer Science and I joined Microsoft at level 59 as a Software Engineer. Is it true that graduate students join Microsoft at level 60 instead of 59? I heard undergraduates join at 59 and graduate students join at 60. Am I being underpaid and exploited?
Maybe, maybe not. Your career is a long path and +-1 level is common at hire -- the process isn't perfect. Consistent performance over the next year or so should truly show whether you should be at L60 instead of 59 and a good manager will see this and get you promoted. Do your best and your level will eventually be consistent with your actual ability :)
My peers who also did their Master's joined Microsoft at 60 and are now being promoted to SDE 2. This is when I realized that I didn't get the level I deserved.
Raise the concern with your manager but don't expect anything actionable. Instead, assure your manager that you intend to prove you are at 60 as soon as possible with the expectation that your manager will do the best within his/her ability to reward you appropriately. A good manager will appreciate you rising to the challenge.
instead of being obsessed with your pay or level, you'd better focus on delivering. your manager will get you promoted to the level you deserve. starting level depends on how well you did during the interview
My interview went pretty well. In fact during some stages I had even solved more than 2 problems in a single interview (haven't seen the problem set before).
solving two questions in one interview doesn't mean you over delivered. most likely you were supposed to get to the second question in the first place.
In India both get the same level 59
It depends on your university and the interview loop. 60 for masters only if you went to a top university and you are American Also you can be a 59 that makes way more than a 60, it's very common.
I did my Master's from an Ivy league University which is in the top 15 Universities in America.
Still not enough
Depending on your experiencr and interview performance. Solving two questions during interview doesn't mean u are exceptions for se. If u don't have any previous internship or industry experience, than level 59 is probably a better fit for you.
Yes I do have previous internship but I don't have job experience. My peers have similar experience but have joined at 60.
I've seen lots of people with 3/5 years of experience join at 59/60. Look around blind, lots of people with offers for 60 with way less comp than new grads on 59 make.
PhD... joined at 62
Well right now, I'd suggest you work and try to get promoted. If you see no path in one year, then LC and move on.
You are being human trafficked
All my graduate friends and myself joined at 59. But 59 to 60 shouldn’t take long (less than a year) unless someone really messed up.
If you truly couldn’t figure this out on your own within 30s of searching Blind, you’re certainly not underpaid. Whether you consider it exploitation really comes down to whether you believe it’s unfair that some people are better negotiators.
I have just joined Blind and it's just been a few months at Microsoft