Ask HN: Whether to join in Microsoft or continue in growing startup?
8 points| nitinreddy88 | 10 years ago | reply
I am presently working as Senior Engineer in one of the Indian growing startups. I learned a lot of new tech stacks and contributed well in the organisation. Even my company CTO knows about my work and query about my status to my manager. For few months, I am not seeing interesting work as I am bored of what I am doing for quite sometime close 2 years.
I got an offer from Microsoft C&E team where they are building one interesting new product. However, they are saying they are ok to move me to Redmond in next year [not promised yet]. For sure, the office known for Work Life Balance and easy going life. Compensation is not high as startups offer more stocks and the valuation is good.
MS PROS: * Better work life balance and completely new tech stack. Learning curve good be interesting * US opportunity and till that point I will be moving back to my hometown to work
CONS: * 5yrs of current stack experience * Current recognition in office
Neutral: * Compensation is not that high enough to move unless if they shift me to Redmond.
[+] [-] Someone1234|10 years ago|reply
While moving to the US is a great opportunity, it is only a great opportunity if you can escape the shackles of H1-B and work for whoever you want, or do your own startup.
So all I am getting at is, if you move to the US don't expect to be doing a startup again for at least ten years, unless you move back to India. It is unlikely many existing startups can bring on a H1-B categorised employee, and you definitely cannot start your own startup without being deported.
There are a few interesting articles on this topic....
[+] [-] cesarbs|10 years ago|reply
While the last part is true (about having to find a new employer quickly if you are fired or laid off), it's not true that you are stuck with your sponsoring employer. H-1Bs are allowed to switch companies. The caveat is that if the previous employer had started the Green Card process, it is reset with the new employer, unless the employee is at the last stage of the process (adjustment of status) and has been in that stage for at least 180 days.
> Even if you do keep your job it is extremely difficult to convert it to residence (I believe that requires costly employee sponsorship too).
All of the big tech companies apply for Green Cards for their foreign employees. Some have a requirement that you work for them for some amount of time (I've never heard of more than 1 year), others will start the process as soon as you join.
However, there's one BIG gotcha for someone coming from India: they will have to wait for a really long time to get their Green Cards. I'm talking about 10+ years here. For China it's bad too but no so bad. For the rest of the world it used to be 3-5 years (for EB-3, EB-2s have had it quick for years), but recently they sped it up a lot. I'm from Brazil and it took me a little less than 2.5 years to get my Green Card, counting from the day I set foot in the US. The actual process was a little more than a year.
[+] [-] bambang150|10 years ago|reply
What you make of those opportunities... is up to you. I'm simply here to tell you that it can work, and work out well, to start at a big company, get married, have kids, and THEN launch your own business.
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] runjake|10 years ago|reply
What do you want? Do you want to stay in your existing comfort, or do you want to try something new and expand your horizons?
[+] [-] nitinreddy88|10 years ago|reply