[jiveturkey]

1. Yes but more important is what you personally are working on, not what company you're at. As a new grad at a bigco, you are unlikely to have a significant position, so purely as a resume builder, the "rep" isn't going to be useful. That said, bigco experience is very valuable, even if you switch back to startups.

2. Yes and Yes

3. To 4 decimals: $0.0000. That's not being snide.

4. No

5. Yes/No/Yes. All companies know what other companies are paying for typical engineers. If you are a particular standout in a particular specialization (eg AI) then you'd have an edge by getting a competing offer, but otherwise not.

You didn't state where you are and where the job is, but I take it both are bay area.

> I wasn't really planning on leaving

Then you may be putting the cart in front of the horse. If you like your job, and like the company, are learning things, why change? I hope you realize it's completely different working for a bigco than a startup.

[zippzom]

Thanks! I definitely feel like I'm learning stuff, but I also could probably learn at a big company as well. Most of the engineers at my current company are very inexperienced, for most of them this is the only company they've ever worked for, so all of my learning is very self directed.

Current job is in the Bay, but Microsoft would be in Washington (which I prefer, and is essentially a free 5% raise on top of whatever else due to taxes).

At what point do you start to value options above that? Uber isn't public yet but I think it's safe to assume their options are worth something.

[jiveturkey]

There is no point at which options should be valued above $0 in terms of competitive job offers. By the time a company is that far along, you will get RSUs, not options.

[alexeldeib]

Disclaimer: MS employee.

You say 5% raise excepting taxes. Friendly reminder Washington state has no state income tax, as this impacts consideration of Seattle income vs Bay Area.

[DoreenMichele]

I read it as saying "Because there is no state tax in Washington, it is a de facto 5% raise, all other things being equal."

[alexeldeib]

I assume so as well. OP seemed incredulous of the relative $ amount between Bay Area BigCo and Seattle BigCo and that they lacked parity. I don’t have any context for the startup and its pay scale, but figured the clarity may help.

E: on a third reading, OP may have meant 5% raise in addition to dollars gained due to tax differences.

[zippzom]

Sorry I assumed the pay would be equivalent between the regions for the same job at the same company. The 5% raise would just be a result of no state income tax.