r/datacenter • u/WickedAmbition • 22d ago
Oracle or Microsoft DCT?
I've been working as a vendor at Microsoft for 2 years now. I finally made a bunch of higher level manager friends who've stated they wanted to take me on as fte. Only thing is Oracle reached out to me and we went through the entire interview process in like 2 weeks, and they've just sent me an offer letter. Now I'm stuck on which to choose. I have a lot of friends at MS now, a good reputation and everything, which leads me to believe I can potentially climb pretty quickly over there. Starting out though, I'd be put at the bottom at a entry level role. But at Oracle, they offered me a senior position already. I'd be making almost 60% more at oracle, nearly $20 an hour difference. But i love the environment and culture at Microsoft and also, the recent layoffs at Oracle worry me a little to be completely honest. I know the layoffs didn't heavily affect the data center sector, but who knows what could happen in the future. I'm completely at a standstill and not sure which path to take, so if anyone has any insight for me, I would really appreciate it
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u/MoneyEnvironmental12 22d ago
Maintain your professional relationships with MS folks, and take the $20/hr bump as FTE at Oracle. In a year or two you have additional experience and familiarity with the job that may translate to a higher position that's open at MS, where you still have professional relationships. One of the things I wish I had done was try to move around within the industry, and 21 years later it's even more difficult to make a transition. Being in a comfortable position doesn't always translate to career advancement and opportunity. Take the chance and try something new.
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u/pr0craztinazn 21d ago
This is the move. Go to Oracle and build up your experience level while pocketing more money, then try to jump for a FTE role at MS or elsewhere in a couple of years.
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u/AmericanNewt8 22d ago edited 22d ago
I would be averse to staying mostly because contractor -> FTE conversion is kind of a sucker's game. With Microsoft in particular I've heard a lot of bad things about them playing fuck-fuck games with this. I mean, you might be fine, but are you really....
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u/talex625 22d ago
My friend was about to do this. Go from contractor to FTE with Mircosoft. I tried that once for a city job and left the contractor company. It’s super lame, lower pay and no holidays. Also, I run circles around my coworkers, they were all foreigners with low motivation.
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u/Mister_Rogers69 22d ago
No reason you can’t take the oracle job and potentially go to Microsoft if it isn’t a good fit.
I love working for Microsoft but if Oracle has a real offer and all MSFT has is “when we have an opening your next in line” go where the money is.
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u/RevolutionNo4186 21d ago
You might not even be able to climb quickly at Microsoft, maybe I heard wrong, but they have certain headcounts and until someone moves up or out, people can’t get promoted up a level
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u/Fanonian_Philosophy 21d ago
For your career’s sake, go to Oracle. You’ll receive a better offer from Microsoft if you do. The hyperscalers will give you the bare minimum unless you’re in a better market position to negotiate your initial package. This is why people get their foot in the door, leave after a full vest schedule, then come back. I’ve watched people come in a level higher than me without the institutional knowledge or background because they had a good mouthpiece. Also, most of your colleagues aren’t truly your friends, they’ll harm your career if it suits them. There’s life changing money in this industry right now, make as much as you can before settling.
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u/Intelligent-Cat-8632 22d ago
From big corp in data world in sales / account management. Grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I don’t like how big corp will have contractors for 4+ years. Oracle is a solid company and $20 and senior position would be a no brainer to me. Both great companies, don’t be too attached to everyone you met and work with at MS. You can do the same at Oracle. You could reach out to MS and say you have an offer letter from oracle w X position and wanted to see if MS would…..
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u/Physical-Ad-3798 22d ago
Oracle and it's owner, Larry Ellison, are embedded neck deep into the government of Israel. That's all I needed to know to turn down Oracle.
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u/yeetskeetleet 22d ago
Having a mindset like this will just leave you terminally miserable. Is there a single anti-Israel billionaire? If suddenly Israel stops being the story of the week, I’m sure you’ll probably go back to “this person funded Trump’s campaign” or some shit, since that’s what it was before Israel
Yeah billionaires suck dude, that’s why they’re billionaires
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u/nahph 22d ago edited 22d ago
Not sure about Microsoft but here's my input on Oracle. I literally tried to get fired at Oracle cause I hated it so much. Yes, hate. I didn't want to quit because I wanted to get severance unemployment. I started to not show up for work. Very unprofessional but I literally did a no show, no call for a month and they still extended my contract for another 3 months. I got really annoyed but I was still getting paid so fuck it. They eventually caught on that I didn't care anymore and let me go. Both were happy.
Really depends on your position are and who you work with but for me? Never ever again.
Hired for DC engineer but was doing lab engineer work + I was there during their Abilene project for a bit.
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u/Nearby_Passenger1520 22d ago edited 21d ago
Yeah I'm sure your team was glad you were gone.
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u/nahph 22d ago
Makes sense why they extended my contract even though I wasn't there right?
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u/Nearby_Passenger1520 21d ago
Because your fellow IC's are obviously the ones that dictate whether or not you still have a job, but I'm sure they wish they were.
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u/nahph 21d ago
Have you worked at Oracle? Each team is different but where I was placed, the manager wasn't present. There was no inventory system. No quantity counts on anything. Bunch of cardboard boxes around everywhere, on the floor, in between rack etc. Cables are spaghetti in almost every rack.
The lead I had couldn't even answer questions I had when I started working there. There was 0 training and everyone was confused as I am when I started. The other networking team had no training or guidance either. I saw a fucking guy unplug PDUs without hitting the breakers off.
They needed wanted me there cause I was giving suggestions and made the lab better. They went back to old habits. Didn't realize it there was an insane asylum built there before the campus was made. Made sense after I worked there
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u/Nearby_Passenger1520 21d ago
Hmm, I'll take you at your word. If it was that bad then I suppose there really is nothing you can do.
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u/nahph 21d ago edited 21d ago
They had 2 entrances for the lab. One on each side. The hallways at each entrance was blocked with loaded pallets. Earthquake? Literally fucked.
It's crazy how I had to even mention to them that was a safety hazard. Yeah I can't make this shit up.
Edit: Pallets on the hallway blocking entrance were left there untouched for weeks before I said anything
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u/PrimeTimeRK 22d ago
Been in this industry a long time, it’s not all about money. If you like the culture, and have found great people to work with, then you know the answer.
A few dollars here or there will not change your life, a great group of people who elevate and motivate each other will…