Chapter 1: Introduction

Greetings,

I’m Alex, a software engineer currently employed by Microsoft. I previously spent a year at Amazon (2020–2021), which provided me with insights into the culture and values of both organizations.

Chapter 2: Retirement Planning

When you're young, retirement might seem far off, but it's essential to start planning early.

Amazon provides a 50% match on contributions up to 4% of your salary. However, you need to stay for three years to keep any contributions.

In contrast, Microsoft matches 50% on all contributions up to the federal limit. If you invest around $20,000, you could receive a $10,000 match from Microsoft, and you vest immediately—allowing you to leave whenever you want.

Chapter 3: Health and Wellness

Given the long hours spent in front of screens, health is a major concern for software engineers.

At Amazon, there's no wellness stipend available.

Microsoft, on the other hand, offers a $1,500 wellness stipend for full-time employees, which can be used for gym memberships, treadmills, bicycles, and athletic wear.

Chapter 4: Product Discounts

Both companies offer unique perks related to their products.

Amazon employees receive a 10% discount on purchases from Amazon.com through select retailers, but they do not get Amazon Prime as a benefit.

Conversely, Microsoft staff enjoy an 80% discount on Microsoft software, a 15% discount on hardware, and discounts on Xbox-related products.

Chapter 5: Stock Options

When it comes to stock benefits, Amazon's stock price is approximately $3,304.14, while Microsoft's is around $318.03.

Amazon features a unique vesting schedule that spans four years: 5% in the first year, 15% in the second year, and 40% in both the third and fourth years.

Microsoft offers a more standard approach with a 25% vesting over four years and a 10% discount on Microsoft stock purchases (up to $20,000).

Chapter 6: Food Perks

Free food is a staple of tech company culture.

At Amazon, you can find free bananas in select buildings across Seattle.

Microsoft provides free soda and juice in fridges scattered throughout most of its offices, though neither company offers an open cafeteria like Facebook or Google.

Chapter 7: Personal Favorites

Among all the benefits, my favorite is the library at Microsoft. The selection on the Libby app is impressive, and I can access a wide range of books. If I were to leave Microsoft, I would surely miss this perk the most.

If you found this information helpful, consider becoming a member for more insights, and follow my journey to reach 30,000 followers on LinkedIn.

This video titled "How to use Microsoft's AI Copilot, laptop microphones, and Amazon Sidewalk" provides useful tips and insights that align with these topics.

Another informative video, "Top 4 Reasons Amazon Recruiter Ghosted After Interview," sheds light on the hiring process at Amazon, which could be beneficial for job seekers.

If you're looking for the best system design resources to help with interviews, check this out!