Ask HN: How do I pick between Microsoft and OPower?
Microsoft - Windows Phone Team
__Pros:__
* Much higher compensation
* Working in C++ may make me a stronger coder
* I am passionate about Windows Phone
* Based on previous internship experience, I know most people there are quite smart
* Microsoft may look better on my resume (but that doesn't feel like a great reason)
* I've lived in the Seattle area my whole life, and know that I like it
__Cons:__
* C++ can be a pain to work with
* Despite being reviewed well, Windows Phone has a tiny market share
* I interned on Outlook in Summer 2010 and had a hard time socially connecting with my team
* I've lived in the Seattle area my whole life, and may want to try something new
* Push code to users every 6-12 months is slower than I'd like
* Is Microsoft stagnant?
OPower
__Pros:__
* Stock options could end up being worth a lot
* Java isn't the greatest, but it could be more fun than C++
* Push code to users every 3 weeks!
* Rapidly pivoting teams/priorities could nicely fit my desire to work on a wide range of projects
* Quarterly Hackathons
* Nice office with plenty of natural light and scooters
* Goofy, laid-back culture
* Arlington / DC could be a cool area to work
* OPower's 21st century approach to energy reporting / analytics is wonderfully refreshing after the horribly user-hostile traditional bills I get
__Cons:__
* Stock options could end up being worthless
* The interview questions were significantly easier than those at Microsoft - does that mean the quality of people is lower?
* Customers are utility companies instead of consumers, so it may be harder for me to relate
* Number of people who actually pay attention to the stuff OPower produces could be even smaller than the number of people who use Windows Phones.
Maybe if I worked at OPower, I could express my passion for the Windows Phone by continuing to develop 3rd party apps.
Both companies felt like a good culture fit - I enjoyed the people I got to meet during my on-sites.
I've interned at Microsoft and Google in the past, and I eventually want to work at a startup / maybe found my own. One friend suggested that I work at Microsoft for a bit so I can save enough cash that taking a risk on a startup is easier.
I have no idea what to do. I suspect I could be quite happy at either. I also suspect that as a new grad, I don't even know what the right questions to ask are to assess how happy I'd be at each of these places. Can you share any wisdom?