Every time, when my manager asked me to do some changes to the repository that is totally new to me. I became scared. 

I prefer to do research by myself first. But I got lost in the new repo by reading file by file, and don't get the clarity. 

So I ask the repository owner to provide documentation, mostly they don't maintain documentation, and even if they do, it is not updated or it involves a lot of detailed feature-wise documentation, which is usually not relevant to my requirement. 

Then, I call the POC of that repo, but I couldn't figure out what is the right question to ask in the first call. Over time, I ping him asking questions whenever I face hurdles while achieving the requirements. 

Sometimes, I put a debugger or logs to understand the flow of code.

The above processes took a lot of my time.

What is your suggestion to get clarity in the new repo such that I can complete my requirements in less time?

What is the effective way to understand new repository in order to make the required changes in that repo?

My team owns a really wide set of features spanning across multiple repos and programming languages (C++, React, Angular). On top of that, each person works on pretty different areas (telemetry/data, UI components, client side api, etc.). We have a v1 of the app being maintained and a v2 currently being developed with some people working on v1 and some working on v2. It's impossible to know all the context behind every pull request.

How can I give quality code reviews? At most I can only provide feedback to simple code logic and really well written PR descriptions. Should I be trying to private message the developer for each PR to understand more, or is this just something that comes with time?

How to give better code reviews without full business context?

Negotiation Course: Rahul's History And Success With Negotiation

Rahul's compensation went from $110K at the beginning of his career to $830K in his peak earning year, 2021, as a Tech Lead and Manager at Meta (Facebook). That's more than 7x! A lot of his Total Compensation (TC) growth can be attributed to his ability to negotiate. There were 2 main segments of negotiation in Rahul's career: 

- 2013: 5 offers at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Microsoft, and Square
- 2017: 6 offers at Facebook, Google, Snapchat, Stripe, Uber, and Airbnb

This gave Rahul the leverage he needed to see dramatic increases in compensation. Some examples: 

- The Snapchat stock grant went from $600K --&gt; $1.0MM and the signing bonus went from $10K --&gt; $100K
- The Facebook stock grant went from $325K --&gt; $600K and the signing bonus went from $30K --&gt; $45K

The numbers here are due primarily to timing, information, and options, all things you can learn. The results can be life-changing, and you don't need to be a genius programmer to discover your own version of this.

These data points show how negotiation is extremely high leverage. A few hours of extra work can lead to a change of 6 figures or more in compensation.

- Rahul's YouTube video about 5 offers he received as a new grad: <https://youtu.be/rceUVaiXQgU> 
- Rahul's YouTube video about how compensation in tech works: <https://youtu.be/wqdpzu4Oa2I>

Hello! I would appreciate some career guidance tips in transitioning to a new role. To give some context about me, I am currently L62 at Microsoft with 7 YOE and have recently received an offer for E5 at Meta. It is a level+1 for me. From what I have gathered, the expectations for E5 are going to be high involving scope/ambiguity resolution, delivering under tight deadline, etc. Also given the stack-ranking nature of evaluation, might need to compete with my new colleagues, who are currently working at senior level.

I feel I'm an average+ engineer and doing WFH for the last 3 years made me working in silos. My current team does not punish teammates without active participation. Being introvert by nature and someone who is afraid of public-speaking, I got used to the comfort zone of inactive participation. My misconception about focusing solely on technical skills to grow in career has made my career progress slower and I am painfully realizing it lately. To add to that, job security is important for me as I'm a visa holder.

Given this context, I am considering whether to take E5 Meta offer. On one end, I can take this as a growth opportunity and improve my technical and soft-skills. I am definitely looking forward for ways to increase participation, influence team and being a strong engineer. I wonder if I should improve my current soft-skills in my current-role and then move or if I could simultaneously improve them on my new job.

On the other end, I wonder if I could survive in an environment like Meta and deal with stress/burnouts and whether the lack of improved soft-skills would make me unsuccessful in my new role.

Appreciate your thoughts!!

Got a Meta E5 offer, but unsure if I’m ready for it - Should I accept?

Mid-Level Software Engineer [62] at Microsoft

I am good at coding, and I am able to deliver features to prod. However, when it comes to technical writing, like writing software design document, coming up with state transition diagram, block diagram, I am struggling with it a lot. I am not from computer science background, so I am not well versed in coming up flow chart, sequence diagram and state transition diagram. How to improve on these areas? Because of this, I am finding it difficult to communicate my idea to principal engineers/ architects. How can I improve on this?

How to improve on non-technical skills like writing Software design document?

I've been debating this though for a while. Is it worth it to go for a principal role 
(61 -> 62 -> 63 -> 64) or just go and build something your own

Career advancement or building a startup? Which one is harder?

I was watching this recorded session ["How to write better code faster as a software engineer"](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/iYpRj8XfyzCSaTYnce3y/how-to-write-better-code-faster-as-a-software-engineer-11192022/). In that series, Alex mentioned picking a tech stack and sticking to it.

In that case, I work in C# and .net tech stack, however, if I switch companies, and the other company uses Java and its relevant framework, how can I gain expertise in that stack?

Should I look for jobs that use the tech stack that I am strong with? \
Or learn and master the tech stack that companies use?

To pick a tech stack and stick with it: How is this possible when we switch companies?

At Microsoft, basic criteria for promotion is to deliver at next level consistently. 
Example: At L62, i need to work and deliver at L63s work level standards.

How to identify projects that are more suitable for senior engineers?

Software Engineer Intern at Taro Community

I would first like to thank Taro for helping me land internship offers at two amazing tech companies. I could not have done it without Taro's amazing courses.

I am trying to decide between the two offers for my last internship. The offers are as follows (both are for software engineering position):

- Meta (Menlo Park)
- Microsoft (Redmond)

I am currently leaning towards Meta due to resume value and opportunity to work on interesting projects. It is also a lot closer to where I live. The pay for Meta internship is also higher by around $10,000.

However, based on initial research, it appears Microsoft's return offer rate is slightly higher. According to what I have heard, Microsoft's FTE conversion rate is generally around 75-80 percent.\
\
Would it still be wise to choose Meta in my case, or would Microsoft be a better choice? I would greatly appreciate any insights.

Internship offer selection - Meta vs. Microsoft

When Should You Switch Teams Or Companies? - Daniel Tomko's Perspective

Daniel Tomko spent much longer at the companies in his career compared to most engineers: 11 years at Microsoft and 8 years at Meta. Within these companies, Daniel did various team changes.

- Switching companies has a higher "transaction cost" compared to switching teams.
- At a large enough company, you have tons of interesting technical challenges and people to work with.

Connect with Daniel Tomko on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieltomko/)

Other relevant resources: 
- [How to approach a team switch conversation with my manager?](https://www.jointaro.com/question/XFQqRINGf9JvW3xmnVHa/whats-the-best-way-to-approach-a-team-switching-conversation-with-my-manager/)
- [How To Figure Out If A Team Is Important To A Company](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/9OwPRwFFSMvEoVj6Zt5Q/how-to-figure-out-if-a-team-is-important-to-a-company/)
- [How To Find A Good Team With Career Growth Opportunities](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/UGIUC9zaGccK0tOarBri/how-to-find-a-good-team-with-career-growth-opportunities/)
- [What's it like working on an ads team?](https://www.jointaro.com/question/GCCIkaBVUpPxGCF4MjRL/what-is-it-like-working-on-ads-teams/)

I had a career discussion with my new manager during my one-on-one meeting. 
I did ask him if he is ready to put me up for promotion to senior software engineer. He said he will gather feedback and get back to me next week. 
In the following one-on-one discussion, he brought up a few points as feedback.
1. I have to do independent projects:
    (I have already delivered three independent projects right from design to shipping to prod. My old manager knows about this and he had given me the highest rating). 
2. I have to mentor juniors:
  (I have already mentored two juniors in my team). 
3.  He pointed out saying that I took more time to lock my recent design:
  ( We took over a project from another team, and the design had many open-ended loose strings. I took the initiative to fill those gaps apart from designing my module.) 
From this discussion, I feel like my new manager is either less informed or he lacks knowledge of the previous impact that I delivered. 

I am actually upset and demotivated. How can I handle this situation? How to move forward with my new manager regarding career discussion?

How to drive my promotion discussion with my new manager?

[Part 4] Software Engineer Onboarding: Understand Strategic Decisions

Learn the business to make good strategic decisions.

By the time you're a month or more into your job, you should start execution on your projects, but you should continue gathering context about your team and company. You should document key decision points in your work, and reflect on who is involved, how long various steps take, and the level of detail various stakeholders ask for.

------

This is part 4 of a 4 part series from Daniel about how to **most efficiently** and **most effectively** onboard into a new team or company. What should you spend your time doing in the first few months of joining, and how should that change based on your level? 

This masterclass covers this topic from the perspective of Daniel Tomko, a 20 year Big Tech veteran. Daniel spent 11 years at Microsoft and 8 years at Meta in various senior IC and management positions. 

- [Go back to part 1 of the masterclass here](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/IYZRmwp33E3TBeFQFr9c/part-1-software-engineer-onboarding-embrace-your-lack-of-knowledge/)
- Connect with Daniel Tomko on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieltomko/)
- Check out the [Formation.dev discount](https://www.jointaro.com/perks/) for Taro Premium members
- [How To Figure Out If A Team Is Important To A Company](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/9OwPRwFFSMvEoVj6Zt5Q/how-to-figure-out-if-a-team-is-important-to-a-company/)
- [How To Find A Good Team With Career Growth Opportunities](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/UGIUC9zaGccK0tOarBri/how-to-find-a-good-team-with-career-growth-opportunities/)
- [This Is How You Get Feedback - Making The Process Smooth](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/aGuxjGbFjYb34ofhRxjs/this-is-how-you-get-feedback-making-the-process-smooth/)

Staff Software Engineer [E6] at Taro Community

I have 15 years of experience in the tech industry. I joined meta as an E6 engineer in July, following 7 years at Amazon and over 6 years at Microsoft. Afte joining, I quickly initiated and led small projects, progressing to a major project. I utilized my experience to guide and support other engineers, contributing to their professional growth. Our team has another E6 tech lead with deep domain knowledge and currently, he is the face of the team. We maintain a positive and respectful relationship, trusting each other.

However, I observed that our engineering manager (EM) was not effectively providing direction, hindering team productivity. Recognizing this gap, I collaborated with other tech lead to create a project tracking sheet, enabling us to monitor initiatives with timelines and ownership. This significantly improved our team's efficiency and motivation, leading to the successful completion of a major project.

Now, here's the exciting part – my skip reached out and surprised me with an offer for the EM role! While I'm honored, I'm grappling with doubts about whether I have the necessary skills for success. Despite enjoying mentoring others in technical discussions, I'm concerned about potentially losing touch with the hands-on tech work that I love.

On the bright side, my tech lead partner is supportive and believes I should take on the EM role, offering full support. However, I'm contemplating whether I should explore the possibility of a Tech Lead Manager role to strike a balance between leadership and hands-on technical involvement.

I'm at a crossroads and would love to hear your thoughts and advice based on your experiences.  One side me want to try EM path but one side says why take this hassle and stick with what you know better i.e tech. Also, I treat myself as avg communicator. I feel, I am good at empathy, task breakdown and mentoring skills.

Staff IC to EM-1: Should I make the transition?

What is the average promotion timeline from an entry-level engineer (SDE I) to mid-level engineer (SDE II)? What is considered great?

What is considered a fast promotion? How do you convince others of impact and take on more meaningful projects?

SDE I > SDE II: How long does it take and how to make that promotion fast?

He keeps assigning me projects where the visibility is low and it has made me immensely frustrated. I'm looking for a new job but in the interim any suggestions how to deal with my manager? This has been happening for quite sometime now. I talked to him about it last year and then he moved me to a development project which I did pretty well but after it was over he again assigned me low priority projects/tasks which are very tedious to do and not so rewarding.

I'm not sure talking to him will help me in anyway because he is aware of my interests but he keeps doing this and acts like this is the best he can do.

I'm having trouble working with my manager at Microsoft (I keep getting bad projects)

5 Offers w/ FAANG Companies As A New Grad: Details + Lessons

In 2014, Rahul graduated from Stanford with a BS and MS in Computer Science. He received new grad Software Engineer offers from 5 companies: 
1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Microsoft
4. Google
5. Square

This video outlines the exact details of the offers, and models out the increase (or decrease) in value of those offers 8 years later, in 2022. The total compensation of the offers range from $174K/year to $262K/year, and those numbers go a lot higher if you factor in stock appreciation.

If you want to better understand how compensation works in top tech companies, first watch [this video](https://link.jointaro.com/819tdsqwJj4VnaEC6).

I live in orange county, CA. I have about 30 years of tech experience where I was a software engineer for most of these 30 years. I also had couple of jobs as manager leading a team of software engineers. For last 5 years, I have been working as a senior software support engineer for a local company here in Orange County, CA.

So I would rather be software engineer than be in a support role where I just do mindless support of enterprise software. And its not very challenging either. So when I started working for this company, 5 years ago, I started to teach myself angular and typescript. Worked on a project and deployed it live on the website and learnt a lot. And really *enjoyed* programming.

But then 1 year ago, I started applying for actual jobs in angular programming and got zero response. Zero emails from the companies. Zero interviews from the companies. That was very scary. So a friend who works at Microsoft, advised to prepare and apply for SWE job at Microsoft. She mentioned that MS would not care about lack of my latest/greatest experience. If I pass the coding interview, I have a good chance event to get an entry level SWE job which is better than what I am doing these days.

Another reason I would like to work at MS, is that all my 30 years I have worked for midsize companies. I would like to work at MS because I will be surrounded by really smart engineers and people.

I am lucky to have a job, Pay the bills and have health insurance for me and my family. A year ago I started the interview prep, leet code, algoexpert etc. But then for some reason for last 4 months, its really hard for me to study. May be its my age. May be I get very tired after all day of work, and just watch mindless TV and eat sugary snacks and waste my time and health away.

When I used to work on my angular skill sets I was really energized. I had small tasks already in my queue. I could easily get in the flow when programming.

But My highest priority right now is to get a job at Microsoft as a SWE so that I have job part taken care of. Then after that I could work on side projects so that is why I am focused on interview prep but that is not dopaminergic for me. If I work on interview Prep and work on a side project, that could be distracting and not very focused effort (I think)

I feel depressed about my career. Some of my friends are directors, VPs, CIOs for medium to large companies. Here I am still angling for mediocre DEV jobs.

Any how, here at Taro, I would like to meet, interact with engineers, and really find my passion back.

I would really like to join a mastermind here at Taro, where I could hangout with engineers where we could have a conference all once or twice a month, motivate each other, etc.

Thanks for reading..

Hi,\
\
I have recently received an E5 offer from RL team as part of the dev-infra org working on developer tooling infra such as debugger, code editor. I have received this offer after a long 2 month wait in TeamMatching. Given the long wait time in team-matching, the recommendation in general is to accept the first offer regardless of your preference and then do an internal hop later.

I have a safe and secure job at Msft L62 right now(about to be promoted in the next quarter), working in developer tooling as well.\
\
Team structure: The team is comprised of 4 sub teams with each sub-team focusing on a vertical and containing 6-8 members. My manager has 25 reportees under him and we have a tech-lead who is overseeing the whole product.

1. Any advice/gotchas in general about work-culture, leadership for the org?

2. Being an infra role, I wanted to know if there would be enough scope for me to succeed in this role ?

3. I see there is less diversity in my immediate team, except me all the other team mates, tech-lead, skip manager are Asian, my manager is Indian. P.S I am not against any race, but wanted to get some perspective if I would be isolated and if I could an impact and survive there.

4. I see that some of my peers are L6 at Amazon and I wonder if it would be difficult to compete with them and have decent job security. P.S: I am on H1B visa

Thanks!!\
\
YOE:9

Should I accept Meta Reality-Labs DevInfra Role ?

Some of my work involves coding in an old AngularJS codebase that has a lot of issues. Most files are 5-6k lines long, many of the functions are on v3() while v1 and v2 are left in there creating technical debt. We've already moved on to a rewrite of the application in React, leaving the AngularJS code a mess that no-one cares about. 

How should I approach work that is assigned to me in this codebase? Get it done as fast as possible so I can get back to my "real meaningful work" in the React codebase, probably adding on more technical debt in the process? Take my time and try to make the most even if the code is worse and I might be learning anti-patterns? The AngularJS codebase will be deprecated and migrated away from in a year anyways so developers don't really care about refactoring or improving the code quality. I've been trying my best to essentially avoid work in the AngularJS codebase, but unfortunately I can't ignore it since 200 million+ users rely on it and oftentimes on-call issues crop up in it.

How to make the most working in a messy codebase?

How To Decide To Leave A Company: Generalist to Specialist shift

Philip spent many years at Microsoft, followed by many years at Facebook (Meta). What led him to finally decide to leave each company? 

More to explore: 
- Our masterclass on [How To Build Deep Relationships Quickly In Tech](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/tyaPFMXPoz2pmzB7OVzt/how-to-build-deep-relationships-quickly-in-tech-12172022/)
- Connect with [Philip Su](https://www.linkedin.com/in/suphilip/)
- [Why Slack Sucks for Team Communication](https://www.jointaro.com/lesson/yurIkW9cyU9lkG3FjYnU/what-gets-communicated-gets-done-why-slack-sucks/)

What’s the best way to learn really good front end engineering? Specifically what frameworks / languages are useful, design patterns, and some projects to get hands dirty?

my motivation for learning front end is to build products that people would actually use :)

Senior Software Engineer at Taro Community

Based on Rahul's answer here, he mentions that you should move to a location where your team is based : <https://www.jointaro.com/question/ltyKjUmX0aWrJZjnEByD/does-not-being-in-the-bay-area-hurt-your-career-as-a-swe/>

I am interested in moving to Seattle if I get an offer from one of the FAANG companies. I would like to know what are the teams in those companies that have a center of focus in the greater Seattle area?

At Google / Meta / Microsoft , what are the teams that have a center of gravity in Seattle?

Hi Taro Community,

I’ve encountered an interesting situation at my company, where I was the sole member in India until recently. In March, we hired an internal manager in India, whom I now report to. In our latest 1:1, he mentioned that I wouldn’t be assigned direct coding tasks possibly until September or October. For now, my work involves renaming elements within the codebase, and while I understand the rationale behind these changes, I’m missing out on more substantive coding work.

Given this context, I’m seeking advice on how to proactively engage with and understand our codebase. Without being assigned direct coding tasks, what are some effective ways to delve deeper into the code, learn its intricacies, and prepare myself for future assignments?

- Should I take the initiative to review and study different parts of the codebase independently?
- Could I propose small, self-initiated coding projects to demonstrate my understanding and initiative?
- How can I use this time effectively to ensure that when coding tasks are assigned, I’m fully up to speed and ready to contribute meaningfully?

Any tips or shared experiences on how to navigate this period would be highly appreciated.

Thank you for your help.

Strategies for Engaging with the Codebase Amidst Non-Coding Assignments

Does your experience with certain technologies matter during your interview or team selection process at FAANG companies?

Does your experience with certain programming languages affect your compensation?

I am asking because I saw that some roles at Microsoft that are focused on C++/C# or other OOP languages have a higher compensation range that roles requiring JavaScript/React experience.

Does the experience you have with certain programming languages or technologies matter during FAANG interviews?

Hi everyone,

I'm a senior software engineer in Brazil, and I'm interested in exploring fully remote opportunities with FAANG companies.

Does anyone have experience or insights into whether these companies hire engineers from Brazil for fully remote roles? What are the main challenges or requirements? Where can I find such job postings? Do I need a referrer? Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Do FAANG companies hire brazilian engineers for fully remote positions?

Hi everyone, 

I joined Premium just now.

My first question is: *Should I re-apply to Microsoft after getting terminated?*

3 years ago I was terminated due to performance. My Connects and Rewards (for 3 straight years) were good up to that point. My performance mainly suffered due to mental health and motivation issues (this was mid-2021 during the pandemic).

They mentioned during my final call with them that I can re-apply after 2 years, but I'm thinking realistically and not optimistically. I didn't join another Big Tech company after that, and although I'm at a senior role now (I was level 62 at MSFT), I haven't really shown significant growth (or promotion) after 3 years at my current company. Is it worth my time to try to re-apply or get referrals there? I'm thinking even with a referral it will be an uphill battle.

Should I give up on Microsoft after getting terminated?

There are so many design patterns available. I read through all the design patterns and  sometimes I feel like more than one design patterns work well for the logic I am coding. Example: I am trying to eliminate multiple if-else and switch statements as it is not scalable. I see the "Chain of responsibility pattern", and "strategy pattern". Both work well for my logic. How can I make a  decision of choosing one of the designs for this? 

*During code review*: People share their opinion on using a design pattern, and I sometimes struggle to convince my reviewers of the pattern that I have used in code. 

I am open to getting feedback and analyzing different design patterns suggested by reviewers. However, in  some situations, I feel more than one design pattern fits for the logic and there is no right or wrong approach.

How to handle this kind of situation?

There are so many design patterns available. How to choose right design pattern?

Senior Software Engineer [63] at Microsoft

At my current level, my skip level manager expects me to help my team members grow. I have couple of SDE 1s and SDE IIs in my team who are doing good. I am not sure if I can schedule one on one with them to understand their career goals and volunteer to be their technical & career mentor?

Will it look bad if I volunteer myself to be their career mentor? Or should I just mentor people who reach out to me?

Can I volunteer to be a mentor for junior engineers in my team?

Entry-Level Software Engineer at Some University

@Alex Earlier you mentioned:

> Big Tech open-source is obviously ideal (many engineers got hired at :meta: contributed to their OSS), but it's extremely hard to ramp up on the library and get a major PR landed. And it's not like 1 PR will do it - You'll probably need 5 to 10 to get the attention of hiring managers. However, like with most things, it will get much easier over time (the first one's the hardest).

And here: [What technologies or stacks should I create a project to add in my resume for entry level software jobs? (](https://www.jointaro.com/question/c0DiG5ureLbkZ1mKD9Rf/what-technologies-or-stacks-should-i-create-a-project-to-add-in-my-resume-for-entry-level-software-jobs/)[jointaro.com](http://jointaro.com)[)](https://www.jointaro.com/question/c0DiG5ureLbkZ1mKD9Rf/what-technologies-or-stacks-should-i-create-a-project-to-add-in-my-resume-for-entry-level-software-jobs/), you said:

> These companies all have a large OSS footprint, and I know several people who got hired into these companies by submitting major PRs into them.

What are the parameters for determining whether something is a major PR in Big Tech Open Source according to you? Am currently working on Microsoft Windows Terminal.

Would you consider the below major PR candidates that would get the attention of hiring managers?

- <https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/issues/7158>
- <https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/issues/11092>

Btw they're both from this list as heroic tasks (7158 on completed tab since I've already completed that one): <https://github.com/orgs/microsoft/projects/686/views/2>

To my understanding Major PR means lots of people want it and 7158 has around 100 upvotes so that's Major PR. But there are also some PR's where people make commits with 500 - 1000 lines of code

What are the parameters for determining whether something is a major PR in Big Tech Open Source?

Hi Taro Community,

I’m scheduled for a 1:1 meeting with my skip level manager, who was also my initial manager when I first joined the company two months ago. This will be our first one-on-one discussion since the management shift, and I want to ensure it’s as productive as possible.

Given the context that he was directly overseeing my work initially, what would be important topics to discuss in this meeting? Here are a few points I’m considering:

What else should I consider bringing up during this conversation? If you’ve had similar experiences, how did you navigate your 1:1s to maintain a supportive and constructive relationship with a skip level manager?

Thank you for your insights and advice!

Seeking Advice for Upcoming 1:1 with My Skip Level Manager

I am not confident whenever I try to code a new library or a service. I simply copy-paste, look at other samples in the coding repo, and complete my tasks. 
How can I be better at coding, without copy-pasting? How can I gain confidence in this?

I am not feeling confident when it comes to coding a new library, or service API. I copy paste from other coding snippets in the repo.

I have been hearing from my friends about senior engineer's round table meetings happening in their company. I am wondering what is exactly Senior Engineer's round table. (Senior Engineers from the same team and peer teams working for same skip-level manager)\
What kind of topics can be discussed at this round table session?

How to initiate such discussions?

How to initiate Senior Engineer's round table in the org?

If you receive an offer from a different team, how do you communicate to your manager that you plan on moving to a new team / opportunity at Microsoft. What if you don't have the best relationship with them?

At Microsoft, the current manager does not need to approve team switch, regardless of whether it's a software role or not.

Hello everyone, \
\
I am currently moving from one team to another. I had an external offer from TikTok but I decided not to take it because it wasn't the right position for me. I want to focus more on AI and Mobile Development which I will get to do on this new team at Microsoft. I tried to get Microsoft to match the offer from TikTok but they said that they won't do that for internal Transfers. My new hiring manager wanted to give me a promotion and match the offer but the leadership denied it.

My questions are:

1. What can I do once I join the team to expedite my promotion and try to get exceeds expectations?
2. Is there a way I can target an SSA(Special Stock Award)? I hear getting awarded SSA's are basically a black box. Wanted to see if Taro has any insights on this.
3. Are there any other things that I am not considering?

I am switching teams and worried about being compensated properly

I recently interned at Microsoft, and I was able to get a return offer for another internship for the same team. I'm back at school now, and my goal is to nail the return internship so I can get a return offer to work full-time. In my spare time while at school, how can I best prepare myself to hit the ground running for my return internship? For context, I worked with Azure APIs during my internship, being more of a back-end developer.

How can I prepare for a return internship?

Sometimes we can’t make progress on our tasks due to situations outside our control. For example: waiting someone to review our code, waiting for a permission approval, a meeting that got pushed back, etc.

Are there ways I can continue to make progress and impact while waiting for these?

I considered having a side project and work on it when I can’t progress in my main task, or getting started on a future task to address it more quickly when I officially start it.

How to keep productive when waiting for things outside your control?

Hi,

I'm currently considering a career transition and would appreciate your insights on the best path to take. I come from a non-developer background and I'm torn between pursuing a career as a software engineer or a product manager. My ultimate goal is to ensure a solid growth trajectory in terms of career advancement and opportunities.

Given my background as sysadmin/infra person, and now a senior cloud architect, I dealt with a lot of software engineers, including co-designing apps from functional and non-functional requirements.  However, haven't had a chance to work as a software engineer myself. 

I am hesitant in moving to software engineering, due to potential down-levelling so Product/Program managers might be a better fit, but at the same time, a lot of PMs I talked to have SWE background.  

Is this the red pill that you have to swallow to be SWE first --&gt; PM?

What's the best way to transition without being down-levelled too much?

Transition to Program Manager vs. Software Engineer from non developer background

Will interviews for data-related jobs at FAANG companies be different from general software jobs? Given my most recent experience is in software engineering, how can I best prepare for behavioral questions for a data related job?

Switching stacks to data engineer role - How will the interviews work?

Hey everyone, I’m right now exploring breaking into Big Tech and want to determine if[ ](http://formation.dev)[Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev) is for me :).

Background:

- BS in CS (2022), 1.5yr SWE at Series B YC startup ($150M)

- Left Jan 2024 for break, explored GovTech/startup ideas

- Pivoted to Big Tech goal (Nov 2024)

- Completed 150+ Leetcode, 26 mock interviews on TryExponent

- Did 5 startup interviews Jan 2025 (rejected) - realized startups need different prep & chose Big Tech.

Along the way, I’ve tried creating interview prep groups but that failed.

Current state:

- Formation TIRA score: 525/1000 (could pass easiest tech interviews at JP Morgan Chase)

- Have referrals at Meta/Stripe/Google/Microsoft

- Got and failed Uber L4 first recruiter screen (7/18/24)

- Solo prep isn't working well[ ](http://formation.dev)& I’m clearly not at a level to pass any Big Tech interview.

My main priorities rn:

- Find a community. Interview prep alone is tough & feels inefficient.

- Have accountability to level up.

- Have real-world challenges (such as mocks interviews with real Big Tech engs)

- Know what to work on.

Spoke with recruiter and [Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev) offers:

- AI-generated DSA exercises

- Weekly small group interviews (5 people) with industry eng

- Weekly 1:1 mocks with staff eng

- Job recommendations

- Daily manager check-ins

Cost: $5k upfront + up to $15k ISA\
\
Worth it or not:

- Alex said: “So [Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev) is one of the better interview bootcamps out there. They have results, and the founders are legit. However, their results have definitely dwindled in this market, *especially* among junior engineers.”
- My current thinking is to do the 7 day free trial and just see how it goes.

Questions:

1. Given the 2025 market, is[ ](http://formation.dev)[Formation.dev](http://Formation.dev) generally worth it? How about given my situation?
2. Is the cost ($20k total possible) concerning?
3. What Big Tech level should I target? I received a L4 recruiter interview at Uber (7/18/24) and failed the recruiter call so that makes me a bit confused.

Is Formation.dev Worth $20k for a Startup SWE Transitioning to Big Tech?

Hi Taro Community,

I'm wrestling with a question about work hours that perhaps many of you have also encountered. Is it generally advisable to stick strictly to an 8-hour workday, or is it acceptable to work more when necessary? Specifically, if the tasks at hand don't get completed within the standard 8-hour window, should I extend my hours into the night to resolve issues?

Here's my dilemma: I've found myself working additional hours at night to tackle pending tasks. While this has helped me keep up with my workload, I'm unsure about the implications of this practice:

- Should I expect acknowledgment or appreciation from my manager for these extra efforts?
- Is it beneficial to communicate my extended hours to my manager, and could it potentially influence decisions regarding bonuses or other forms of recognition?
- How do managers typically view overtime work, and what is the balance between demonstrating dedication and setting healthy work boundaries?

I'd appreciate any guidance or personal experiences you can share on handling overtime work and how to approach discussions about it with management.

Thank you for your insights.

Navigating Work Hours and Discussing Overtime with Management

I’ve recently had my first 1:1 meeting with my manager, and we touched upon several critical points that I believe will shape my journey here. Additionally, I learned that my assigned mentor is based on the East Coast, which adds an interesting dynamic to my collaboration and learning opportunities.

After the meeting, when discussing working hours through the chat, my manager inquired about my preference. Considering the timezone difference and aiming for effective collaboration with my East Coast-based mentor, I’m contemplating proposing a work schedule from 12 PM IST to 12 AM IST. This would roughly translate to 1:30 PM EST currently and 2:30 PM EST after daylight savings adjustments.

I’m eager to hear your insights on these matters, especially regarding the proposed working hours. Do you think this schedule is effective for cross-timezone collaboration? How would you recommend navigating these initial discussions and action points in a new role, considering the timezone alignment needs?

Your advice and shared experiences would be incredibly valuable to me.

What should be my working hours be as the only non American person in the team? 

Hi Taro Community,

I’ve recently joined Microsoft India as an SDE-II, transitioning from Cisco where I had initially been based in the US before relocating to India in 2020 due to visa challenges. With an aspiration to move back to the US within the next 1-2 years, I’m seeking advice on how to strengthen my case for this potential relocation.

Here’s a bit of background: At Cisco, I reported to a US manager, and post-layoffs in 2023, I embraced the opportunity at Microsoft India amidst a lack of other offers. The remote work model, extending from my time at Cisco to now, has been challenging, often involving late-night work to accommodate time zone differences. This has reinforced my desire to return to a US-based role.

Understanding that I need to complete at least a year at Microsoft India to be eligible for relocation discussions, I want to proactively prepare and position myself as a strong candidate for such a move. I’m interested in hearing from those who have navigated similar paths or have insights into making a compelling case for international relocation within a large organization like Microsoft.

- What steps should I take in the next year to build a strong case for relocation?
- How can I effectively communicate my desire for relocation to the management team, ensuring they understand the professional (not just personal) benefits of such a move?
- Are there specific achievements or contributions I should focus on that would underscore my potential value to a US-based team?

I appreciate any guidance, experiences, or strategies you could share.

 Strategizing for a Potential US Relocation Within Microsoft After a Year

Can you share resources for data-related interviews (applied data science, data analysis, sql, big data, etc). Also, any tips that a former software engineer can best prepare for switching roles to a data engineer.

What are some good resources for data-related interviews?

Hi Taro Community, 

During my recent 1:1 with my manager, we discussed the idea of me sending weekly updates about my work, and he was in favor of it. I want to ensure that these updates are concise, informative, and structured in a way that facilitates clear communication and showcases my progress effectively.

Could anyone share formats or templates they’ve successfully used for similar weekly updates to their managers? Any tips on what to include and what to avoid would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your insights!

Seeking Advice on Weekly Update Format for My Manager

Hi Taro Community,

I’m a recent addition to my company and have embarked on my journey with a few initial tickets, completing 3 PRs in the span of 2.5 weeks. Alongside these tasks, I’ve been provided with architectural and design documents to help me grasp the broader system. However, these documents are quite high-level and, at times, challenging to comprehend fully, especially without knowing which sections are most pertinent to my current work.

Given the breadth of information and my eagerness to effectively contribute, I’m contemplating the best approach to balance my tasks with learning. Here are a few points I’m considering and would love your insights on:

1. **Targeted Learning from Documents:** Should I consult with my mentor on which specific parts of the document would be most beneficial for me to focus on initially, considering my current assignments?
2. **Codebase Familiarization:** How should I approach diving into the codebase? Is it advisable to ask my mentor for guidance on specific modules or areas that align with my tickets or overall team objectives?
3. **Balancing Tasks and Learning:** What strategies have you found effective for simultaneously working on assigned tickets, understanding high-level documentation, and becoming familiar with the codebase? Is there a recommended balance or sequence that could optimize my ramp-up process?

Navigating the initial phase and ensuring I’m building a solid foundation is my top priority. Any experiences, strategies, or advice you can share on managing these early stages of onboarding would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support and guidance.

Seeking Guidance on Navigating Initial Tasks, Documentation, and Codebase Familiarization

I have a Master's in Computer Science with a focus on Machine Learning. I currently work at Microsoft, where I have built one large-scale model and spent four years developing a platform for model building and inferencing. 

Due to a re-org, I was moved to a non-ML project. Overall, I have more than eight years of work experience, with four years focused on ML platforms and four years in backend development. I do not have experience with neural networks or deep learning at all.

I’m interested in applying for Senior Machine Learning Engineer roles at companies like Meta, but I’m not sure if I have enough depth to succeed ML interview round. Do I need extensive experience in machine learning/model development or deep learning to clear interviews for 'Software Engineer, Machine Learning' roles at Meta?

Expectation for Senior Machine Learning Role at Meta or other FAANG companies?

I wanted to share an update and seek advice following my first 1:1 with my manager. Based on one of Alex's earlier suggestions, I inquired about how many commits I should aim to have landed after my first month to gauge my ramp-up progress. My manager mentioned that he doesn't track commit counts as a metric.

Given this, I'm curious about how I should approach setting tangible goals or milestones for my initial period at the company. Without commit counts as a metric, what would be a good way to measure my progress and contributions during the ramp-up phase?

I'd greatly appreciate your insights on this.

Following up on my previous message, I've been pondering whether my manager's response regarding not tracking commit counts might be influenced by my recent joining of the team. Is it common for managers to initially downplay the importance of specific metrics like commit counts for new team members, perhaps to alleviate early pressure or for other reasons?

Seeking Guidance on Measuring Early Contributions 

Mid-Level Software Engineer [61] at Microsoft

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:

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

Cons: 

1. Last year, the head of UX left the team to join outside firm and recently the head of PM has taken internal transfer. 
2. Overall team culture score(known as Thriving Score) is lower than the average score of Microsoft.
3. 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.
4. 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?

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

Throughout my career, I’ve noticed a pattern of underperformance regarding working independently. This shows up in several different forms, like occasionally needing too much guidance on pull requests, not being able to drive oncall issues to their conclusion independently, some guidance on design docs, delivering large features with rough execution, etc.

What is the answer to this? I’m happy to put in 45-50 hours at my job. Others around me appear to be able to do it, so I wonder what they’re doing differently to achieve the level of independence required to operate at senior+ roles.

 I’m a bit alarmed/worried since this seems like fundamental incompetence that must be addressed immediately to avoid losing any tech jobs.

All advice is welcome here 😊

Hi Taro Community,

I've recently embarked on a new journey where I'm currently the sole team member based outside the US. The team here in India is still in the process of being established. My mentor, recognizing my unique position, has assigned me some smaller, initial tasks to get started. However, I'm aware that the project I'm ultimately supposed to contribute to is still in its nascent stages, with the codebase likely not fully available/developed yet.

This situation leads me to a couple of questions:

1. How can I proactively learn about and understand the codebase more closely aligned with my future work, especially when it might not be fully available or developed at this stage?
2. How will working on these initial, potentially unrelated tasks benefit me in the long run, especially if they don't directly tie into the main project I'll be working on?

I'm keen to make the most out of this initial phase and ensure a smooth transition into my core project once it's fully underway. Any insights, experiences, or advice on how to navigate this scenario would be greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to your valuable suggestions.

Navigating Initial Tasks Unrelated to Future Project Work

I’ve been working as an Android developer for four years and have contributed to two major Microsoft apps with 10M and 1B+ downloads. I also published a small app on the Play Store in just a week and have invested in improving my skills by reading Android-related books and taking courses. With this background, I felt confident about my expertise and began applying for Android roles.

However, I faced multiple rejections during interviews. The interviewers focused heavily on the internal workings of Android APIs—details beyond my practical usage, like understanding the mechanics behind coroutines rather than just knowing how to use them.

Recently, I came across a course by a highly experienced Android instructor (10+ years) who has transitioned to full-time teaching. His demo session stood out because of its focus on internal details, experiments, and case studies. It resonated with me, and I believe it could help me not only crack interviews but also become part of the top 1% of Android developers globally.

The challenge is the cost: ₹40,000 upfront (25% of my monthly salary) and ₹2 lakhs (10% of my annual salary) after securing a new job. It’s a significant investment, and I’m wondering:

- Is it worth taking this course given my situation and goals?
- Are there more cost-effective alternatives to achieve the same level of expertise and confidence for interviews?

Is Investing in a High-Cost Android Course Worth It for Career Growth?

Mid-Level Software Engineer at Taro Community

I am currently employed as a Software Engineer 2 at Microsoft India, where I have been working for nearly three years since graduating from college. I had been considering pursuing a master’s degree in the United States, but given the current global circumstances, including the political climate, I am uncertain if this is the right time to pursue such a move

Is it the right move to do masters (MS CS) in the US this year?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working as a Software Engineer 2 at Microsoft, with close to 3 years of experience. Since college, I’ve been deeply interested in Machine Learning, especially NLP, and have worked on several hackathons (even in Microsoft) and side projects in this space.

However, I haven’t yet had the chance to work in ML/NLP professionally. Most roles I come across either require direct industry experience or a master’s degree in the field. Due to some personal constraints, I’m unable to pursue a full-time on-campus master’s, and online master’s programs feel quite time-intensive at this stage of my career.

I’m now exploring graduate certificates or executive programs (like those offered by Harvard Extension, Stanford Online, etc.).

1. Are these certificates actually valuable for breaking into applied ML/NLP roles — or are they mostly signals without much weight?
2. If not, what’s a better path forward for someone who’s self-driven, but needs a stronger narrative for career transition?

Would really appreciate insights from anyone who’s been through a similar pivot or has hired for such transitions. Thank you!

Are Graduate Certificates good for an ML/NLP Career Pivot Without a Master's?

Hi Taro Community,

I’ve often come across the term ‘Pair Programming’ within discussions here and in the broader tech community. However, I realize that I may not fully grasp the various contexts in which this practice is applied. Could anyone shed light on what Pair Programming entails and how it might differ across different settings or scenarios?

Specifically, I’m curious about:

- The essential elements that define Pair Programming
- Variations in approach when it comes to Pair Programming in a remote vs. in-person environment
- The benefits and potential drawbacks of this method from your personal experiences
- Situations or types of tasks where Pair Programming is particularly effective or, conversely, not recommended.

Understanding this could greatly influence how I collaborate with my team and contribute to our projects. Any insights or personal anecdotes on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your help.

Clarification Needed on the Concept and Contexts of Pair Programming

Hi Taro Community,

I joined Microsoft in February, and interestingly, my manager started just a month later in March. As we’re both relatively new and navigating uncharted areas, I felt the need for more structured technical guidance. During a recent one-on-one, I suggested the idea of having a mentor or a designated technical point of contact. Initially, my manager acknowledged this need and planned to discuss it further up the chain.

However, the feedback I received later was that since we are in the process of building a new team here in India, we should first attempt to resolve issues internally. Subsequently, for additional insights, I’m advised to engage with the chat group, which includes around 100 members.

Here’s where I find myself in a predicament:

- My manager, being new himself, sometimes faces similar uncertainties, which complicates our internal resolution approach.
- Posting in a large group specific guidance doesn’t always yield practical advice due to its broad focus.

Any insights on managing these dynamics or personal experiences would be incredibly helpful as I look to establish myself and contribute effectively in my new role.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

Navigating New Roles and Seeking Effective Technical Guidance Within Microsoft

Hi there Taro people!

I want to mentor an intern, but in order to get one my manager asked me to come up with a few project proposals.

I’m finding that hard to do because I have no idea what could be good intern-level tasks, and to be honest I don’t have many ideas coming to me at all.

Have you ever been through that and could give me some advice?

How do you define an intern level project?

Currently I am working as Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft for the past 2 years and looking for change. I have close to 10 years of work experience. \
In that period I have worked in 5 companies (including Microsoft). \
\
In the resume, should I mention my entire work experience of 5 years or should I mention only my latest work experience of last 5-6 years (last 2-3 companies) since only the latest experience might be relevant to the companies?

How much work experience should I mention

Hi Taro Community,

I’ve recently embarked on a new role as an SDE-II with a company where I’m currently the only team member based in India, with the rest of my team located in the US. The company has plans to expand the team here in India, which could potentially include hiring someone at a senior level.

My current mentor, who is based on the East Coast in the US, has been a great source of guidance and support, despite the limited overlap in our working hours due to the time zone difference. However, I’m concerned about the possibility of being reassigned to a new mentor who might be very new to the codebase and potentially less equipped to provide effective mentorship, simply due to their proximity.

In this scenario, how would you suggest I navigate the situation? I value the mentorship I’m currently receiving and am apprehensive about the impact a change might have, especially if the new mentor is still familiarizing themselves with the codebase.

Should I express my concerns to my manager now, or wait to see how the team expansion unfolds? Any advice on maintaining the quality of mentorship during this transition period would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your insights.

Navigating Potential Mentor Changes with Team Expansion in India

I am a Computer Science bachelor degree holder who graduated in 2014. My overall work experience has been in BigTech or Fortune 500 companies. I had an opportunity to become Manager at Expedia back in 2022 but chose to go to BigTech as an IC due to a much better pay back then.

My main goal is to become EM. I have close to 11 years of work experience and might take atmost 2 years to become EM. Is it a little late to become a manager? My concern is that if I become EM a little later in the career, my whole career progression (to EM1, EM2, Director, VP etc) would be delayed since average work experience before becoming an EM these days is generally 10 years.

Morever I have received feedback to become an A player in current role before getting considered for EM path? How can I fastrack my transition to EM path?

Will becoming Manager later in the career impact my career progression?

I was very fortunate to have received internship offers from both Meta and Microsoft for summer 2025.

Would it be better to:

- try asking the recruiter to move Microsoft intern offer to spring 2025
- send a very polite email reneging Microsoft internship opportunity

Based on what I've seen, Microsoft historically has very rarely offered to move a summer internship to another season. I was wondering if it would still be worth asking the recruiter.

I will explain fast meeting? I know processes of a lot of teams AI can handle for sure I belive...have some concerns...5min meeting I believe that I will be able to explain 

Just to send one email to start to use it before they escalate?

Want to meet Meet Microsoft copilot to all hpe employees in Bulgaria

What taro card will be to bring Microsoft and HPE great again and bring Taro and AI to the oldest country in Europe Bulgaria = webit festival?

Any idea?

Make HPE and Microsoft great again and bring Taro and AI in Bulgaria

Microsoft is an American technology corporation which produces computer software, consumer electronics, and personal computers. It developed the Windows line of operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and the Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers. Microsoft is often credited for ushering in the modern PC era.

Mid-level engineers have very strong technical proficiency, able to execute on small to medium-sized projects with minimal hand-holding, leveling up from junior engineers.

Make HPE and Microsoft great again and bring Taro and AI in Bulgaria

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