I am working in a product, it has been 4 years, started from level 59. Now I am at level 61 for 1 year now. I am reporting to the same manager in these 4 years. I am not excited in the current team and want some change but these factor is holding me: Pros: The product team is expanding, this time they have taken work from US and hiring in India. They are promising for new challenges this year with the product with AI features. Last year, this product was having visibility from CVP, now they are claiming it will be having visibility from EVP. Cons: Last year, the head of UX left the team to join outside firm and recently the head of PM has taken internal transfer. Overall team culture score(known as Thriving Score) is lower than the average score of Microsoft. To be honest, I don't use this product in my day-to-day life, neither my friend does, even my team mates doesn't use. But it has good number of downloads. WLB is sometimes worse for a specific period. Note: Not considering switching to other company as stocks are doubling every year here. Should I switch in-org or outside org or switch to other company?

I feel strongly you should explore externally before deciding to switch internally. It'll be more stressful, but the reward is huge: you get lots more data, potentially a lot more comp, and you make an active decision to stay at MSFT. You've been at Microsoft long enough that you won't be labeled as a job hopper, and you have a tier 1 tech co on your resume now. Start by exploring externally and floating your resume around and getting referrals. If/when you have 3-4 first-round interviews lined up, you now have enough confidence that you can get at least 1 or 2 job offers (even if it means having to do 10 interviews).

Should I take external org transfer or in-org transfer?

Mid-Level Software Engineer [61] at Microsoft6 months ago

I am working in a product, it has been 4 years, started from level 59. Now I am at level 61 for 1 year now. I am reporting to the same manager in these 4 years. I am not excited in the current team and want some change but these factor is holding me:

Pros:

The product team is expanding, this time they have taken work from US and hiring in India.
They are promising for new challenges this year with the product with AI features.
Last year, this product was having visibility from CVP, now they are claiming it will be having visibility from EVP.

Cons:

Last year, the head of UX left the team to join outside firm and recently the head of PM has taken internal transfer.
Overall team culture score(known as Thriving Score) is lower than the average score of Microsoft.
To be honest, I don't use this product in my day-to-day life, neither my friend does, even my team mates doesn't use. But it has good number of downloads.
WLB is sometimes worse for a specific period.

Note: Not considering switching to other company as stocks are doubling every year here.

Should I switch in-org or outside org or switch to other company?

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33 Comments

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Discussion

(3 comments)

2
Rahul Pandey
•Tech Lead/Manager at Meta, Pinterest, Kosei
6 months ago
I feel strongly you should explore externally before deciding to switch internally. It'll be more stressful, but the reward is huge: you get lots more data, potentially a lot more comp, and you make an active decision to stay at MSFT.

You've been at Microsoft long enough that you won't be labeled as a job hopper, and you have a tier 1 tech co on your resume now.

Start by exploring externally and floating your resume around and getting referrals. If/when you have 3-4 first-round interviews lined up, you now have enough confidence that you can get at least 1 or 2 job offers (even if it means having to do 10 interviews).
1
Alex Chiou
•Tech Lead @ Robinhood, Meta, Course Hero
6 months ago
Given the market and the fact that you work at Microsoft, the choice seems obvious to me: Look to change teams within the company.

Microsoft is a massive company with tons of great teams working on awesome stuff. Given its stake in OpenAI, it's arguably the #1 company in the world when it comes to AI application (while Nvidia is #1 for AI infra and overall). Microsoft is one of the best places in the world to be at as a software engineer.

Here's a great related discussion: "How to have a positive mindset in a job you no longer like?"
- 0
  Mid-Level Software Engineer [61] [OP]
  •Microsoft
  5 months ago
  My current M3 level team is gaining visibility with the EVP in next FY. I am concerned about potentially regretting my decision in future to switch teams now.