Choosing between Amazon and Microsoft.

New
user|name

New

user|name
Sep 28, 2019 48 Comments

YOE - 5 (1.5 in the US)
Master's + Bachelor's in CS
Amazon - 270k SDE2 Seattle
Microsoft - 255k L62 Redmond

Edit: Updating breakdown
Amazon: Base 155k, Bonus 105k + 85k, 100 RSUs (this was after negotiating my MS offer)
Microsoft: Base 150, Bonus 90k, Stocks 240k (stocks is what they mainly increased to match my ask)
Both companies they increased approx $40k after negotiations.

Based on several threads that I read here, I think MS has a higher effective TC (based on other benefits - 401k, Pro Club, ESPP, shuttle and cheaper food) but I'm not sure how your impact is assessed for yearly bonus.

My target was quarter of a mil and experimentation oriented heavy work.

Money is no more a factor because I got what I needed.

I just want to know where I can have a higher impact. Because both places have amazing engineers, but I want to standout.

Is it ok to go for MS? Can I switch to a different team easily there if I feel it's not running at the pace I need? (I've never worked at a large company. Current team size is 4. :p) I don't want to get complacent but I also want to spend time with my boyfriend, hangout with my friends afterwork for some random occasion and definitely on the weekends.(side eyes to on calls)

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 48 Comments
  • Microsoft.. Better WLB, Annual Bonus, Work is depend on the team.
    And they treat you like humans.
    Sep 28, 2019 2
    • New
      user|name

      New

      user|name
      OP
      Appreciate your input. Yes. I've worked in company where I worked 85 hours a week for 2 years. I learned a lot, but started getting grey hair at age 23 (until I finally left). As long as they respect you as a person, which I think MS does, I'll consider that as a benefit. :)
      Sep 28, 2019
    • About switching team, it is easy. Just approach the hiring manager. There is no interview (or less interview in some case) policy if you switch within the same org. You can switch anytime you want. Also, there is an internal career fair kind of thing once a year which makes internal mobility easy.
      Sep 28, 2019
  • Amazon
    638ha2

    Go to company page Amazon

    638ha2
    Which team is MS / Amazon
    Sep 28, 2019 6
    • Amazon / Eng
      alphaqu

      Go to company page Amazon Eng

      PRE
      Zenefits, Qualcomm, Nvidia
      alphaqu
      Retail isn’t very interesting, good wlb though, Azure is in good place right now ( just bagged 10bn pentagon deal). I would place my bet on Microsoft. Also I would say you have good approach for looking into offers, I would rather say take your own pick!
      Oct 25, 2019
    • New
      user|name

      New

      user|name
      OP
      Thanks. I decided to go with Microsoft.. :)
      Oct 25, 2019
  • Being able to do mega backdoor Roth at MS is a huge plus.
    Sep 28, 2019 4
    • New
      user|name

      New

      user|name
      OP
      Oh wow. Never heard that. I thought maximum limit set by IRS was $19k.
      Sep 28, 2019
    • Maximum pretax contribution from employee is $19k. There's an overall combined limit of $55k for all contribution sources. You have to contribute $19k to get the full $9.5k match. After that, you can contribute after tax dollars and do Roth conversion up to the $55k limit. It's a very nice benefit, though not exactly rare any more.
      Sep 28, 2019
  • Amazon
    tissuesplz

    Go to company page Amazon

    tissuesplz
    Microsoft
    Sep 28, 2019 1
    • New
      user|name

      New

      user|name
      OP
      Thanks. WLB is definitely better in MS based on what I read.
      Sep 28, 2019
  • Go to Amazon. I worked at both the places. Amazon has a high turnover and it is easy to create a position in team within a year that will help you create impact. In Microsoft, the managers have "Followers" that are following that manager for multiple years and creating a similar impact will take significantly more years. In Amazon, it is banned for managers to poach and they usually can't take followers when they move team.
    Sep 28, 2019 0