Contract at MS or full time elsewhere

T-Mobile
Aqa453737z

Go to company page T-Mobile

Aqa453737z
May 10, 2018 31 Comments

I'm a current FTE SDE at T-mobile with almost 10 years of full-time coding experience at various places. I've been offered a contract SDE position at Microsoft with lower compensation (slightly lower base, no bonus, no equity) but what sounds like more interesting work on Bing maps.

I've been told the contract should be 12 to 18 months. Can anyone provide me with context on making this decision?

I'm interested in things like the reputation of the team, if it could be possible to transition to full time, and if the contract could be cut short.

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TOP 31 Comments
  • I am a contractor pm at T-Mobile right now. I’m in NP5 in Factoria. I was a Microsoft FTE for 12 years and also contracted there. First of all, make sure your coding skills are up to par with Microsoft. I happen to think T-Mobile is far behind it is ridiculous. Too much red tape to get things done. Agile and DevOps are a foreign language there etc. The thing about being a V- at Microsoft AKA dash trash is regardless of how good you are you are still considered dash trash. Microsoft is better for you long term but do so as an FTE. By the way, what kind of jacked up color is Magenta? Get out before he merger as that is going to be a major back stabbing headache.
    May 10, 2018 7
    • Not all vendors at Microsoft are looked down upon. It really depends on the team and the org. But in general, vendors are given the crappy work that they would never give the FTEs. It’s probably not a good idea to go into contracting in the middle of your career, when you’re still passionate and wanting to accelerate your career.
      May 10, 2018
    • Microsoft / Eng
      AmI3vil

      Go to company page Microsoft Eng

      AmI3vil
      That’s pretty much how I think of vendor work: it’s either work that would demotivate an FTE, like running endless test passes, or it’s work that’s not core or not our business, such as roofing.
      May 11, 2018
  • I will not recommend contracting, try for FTE or join a company that offers FTE.
    May 10, 2018 3
    • I also worked as contractor for 5 years and will do in future if i dont have any choice. For the 5 years i worked as contractor i atleast got 150k less pay overall since i dont have any benefits
      May 10, 2018
    • I’m one of the few who do this at the start of a career since I had an employee friend make an intro for me and some of the older contractors take me under their wing. Learned so much from contracting. I’d love to go back to it or do a startup, but need the benefits and stability for a couple of years.
      May 10, 2018
  • Are you aware that you have to take a forced 6-month break after 18 months of contracting at Microsoft? That’s why a lot of contracts max out at 18 months. After 18 months, you’ll have to find a contract outside of Microsoft (if you need to work) or take a break from work before you can go back to Microsoft. It’s a pain in the ass. Been there, done that.
    May 10, 2018 3
    • If the team happens to have any FTE openings and you’re good at what you do, sure. I wouldn’t count on it, though. Are there any positions posted on Microsoft’s Career site that interest you? Why not apply for some FTE openings?
      May 10, 2018
    • T-Mobile
      Aqa453737z

      Go to company page T-Mobile

      Aqa453737z
      OP
      I was planning to, but not yet. This fell in my lap more or less out not the blue.
      May 10, 2018
  • Microsoft / Product
    pizzaqueen

    Go to company page Microsoft Product

    pizzaqueen
    Agree what other poster said about great for sunsetting and if it fits your lifestyle. Be careful though....i am in engineering and we only hire contractors for jobs that are mundane and boring. My best contractor does a great job, but we would never consider hiring him and we dont look at them as a pipeline for hiring. It might be different in services, other groups. If you want FTE, interview for it.
    May 10, 2018 0
  • Don’t take a pay cut to do contract. There is no growth in a contract assignment.
    May 10, 2018 0