AMZN UK vs MSFT Norway

Microsoft / Eng
HmmmmOk

Go to company page Microsoft Eng

HmmmmOk
Mar 25, 2021 39 Comments

Got offers from Amazon and Microsoft for SDE l4 and level 60, respectively.

Msft tc: $109k with $120k worth rsu over 4 years
Amzn tc: $106k with 21 rsu over 4 years

ms365 team vs alexa team.

Cambridge vs Oslo/Tromso.

I tend to go for amzn despite of lower rsu and claimed worse work culture because of its location.

Which one would you choose?

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TOP 39 Comments
  • Tromso with its 3-month nights and Oslo with its high taxes and sky high cost of living aren't even competing
    Mar 25, 2021 2
    • Google
      drakez

      Go to company page Google

      drakez
      Isn’t this good Money in Norway?
      Mar 25, 2021
    • New
      swiss🍫

      New

      swiss🍫
      It’s not that great, IMO. Norway is expensive! But great social benefits, probably the best in the world.
      Mar 31, 2021
  • MS Dev Center Norway has probably one of the the lowest TC in all of Europe, especially considering the high cost of living and taxes. 1year maternity/paternity leave and 6 weeks vacation are the highlights, everything else sucks a lot compared to basically any other country. I know cases where people on the same level have about the same or even higher TC in UK, Netherlands, Germany and even Greece, Spain, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey... despite Norway (Oslo) having sometimes 5x higher cost of living. The problem in Norway is there’s no FAANG competition. Personally, I’m planning to move somewhere else as soon as I use my maternity/paternity leave because you don’t save nearly as much as in other places in Europe unless you work as a waiter, hairdresser, electrician...
    Apr 1, 2021 2
    • Spot on! It is actually regulated by the govt in Norway! Worst country for high skilled expats. No wonder Norway has to import talent, local people have no motivation to pick up harder skills when random jobs pay you really good as well.

      Planning to move ASAP as well. Are you looking for internal transfer?
      Apr 1, 2021
    • I really like the people I’m working with and the projects so I’d like to maybe keep the position/role, just move to another country and work remotely (the new hybrid model). But I don’t exclude the other possibilities - internal transfer or changing companies
      Apr 2, 2021
  • Go UK. No competing companies in Norway to change or switch to.
    Mar 25, 2021 0
  • Wish
    UHfv84

    Go to company page Wish

    UHfv84
    Oslo is a good place to live. Do you have friends or contacts there? It’s tough to make new friends
    Mar 26, 2021 11
    • Very good to raise a family, retire, and remain aloof about rest of the world etc.

      Not the best to spend your 20s/30s, for career growth, networking, community, food etc. :)
      Apr 6, 2021
    • Wish
      UHfv84

      Go to company page Wish

      UHfv84
      @Microsoft, why don’t you move out of Oslo?

      FWIW, I lived there for years and enjoyed it. Made lifelong friends (16+ years) who I still talk to every other day. I can’t say it’s as easy to make friends in North American
      Apr 6, 2021
  • New
    VWbe20

    New

    VWbe20
    Norway has closed the borders for people with work visa till November so any idea if MS will wait till that?
    Mar 31, 2021 5
    • Microsoft / Eng
      HmmmmOk

      Go to company page Microsoft Eng

      HmmmmOk
      OP
      Dual offer means that they provide another contract for the country you are currently in. All the rules and salary will be adapted based on the country.

      When the borders are open in Norway, they will issue another contract to start working there.
      Mar 31, 2021
    • New
      VWbe20

      New

      VWbe20
      Oh okay. Thanks for clearing that up
      Mar 31, 2021