<p>I recently interviewed with both Microsoft and LivingSocial for summer internships and received offers from both companies. I am a computer science major, interested in all kinds of tech, as well as business and product design and entrepreneurship. I'm a big TechCrunch reader.</p>
<p>I need you help! Where should I go?</p>
<p>Microsoft - Seattle - Program Manager intern position - prestigious, established intern program, a new city for me to explore, lots of smart new people to meet.</p>
<p>LivingSocial (2 yr old start up similar to Groupon worth $1 billion) - Washington DC - development intern position - I would be the dev team's first intern ever, they say they not only program but also design the products and work through business decisions as well (I won't know how true this is until I work there though). They work in online monetization of offline commerce, which is an area I'm interested in. I am a native DC resident so they are close to home for me.</p>
<p>What do you guys think? Where would you go and why? I will be 21 this summer, so social atmosphere of the area is important to me as well. For those of you who have lived in Seattle, do you like it?</p>
<p>I don’t do chances. But I help people make decisions.</p>
<p>It sounds like DC is the way. If you were the adventurous type, you’d chose Redmond, without considering DC. Since DC is still an possibility, you have some feelings to stay near home. Thus for these two reasons you’d best stay close to home base. </p>
<p>Based on observations on our son, he’d chose the furthest, most unknown, and would never ask this type of question.</p>
<p>Microsoft is an amazing company. Like the software or not, they treat people fairly.</p>
<p>If cool weather and green forests don’t bother you, and you don’t need people to be all warm and cuddly at you for no reason at all, you’ll love Seattle. Please don’t come and honk your horn here, we only do that if someone is in danger.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about the technical choice or the job prospects, though, obviously. It really depends on what you are looking for.</p>
<p>If I was you I would take the Microsoft position without thinking twice. The main reason is that Microsoft has an established intern program that will not only look great on your resume but also provide you with invaluable training which you likely won’t get at the other company. </p>
<p>I am not saying to take a full time job with Microsoft, but I would do my internship there and then apply for future internships or full time roles and see what is out there. </p>
<p>I would 1005 recommend the LS internship because I interned there this past summer. Absolutely incredible people, incredible work and invaluable experience. I am actually looking to meet with a few computer science majors regarding a project I am starting and I was wondering if you would be interested in talking briefly?</p>
<p>Personally, I would be more apt to intern with Microsoft. They are an established industry leader that will be absolutely invaluable for future employment (larger alumni base, larger company, more disposable capital). I would still classify LivingSocial as a startup, and I am also rather risk-averse, so even though it is a clear growth company, I would still consider Microsoft a safer bet.</p>
<p>All that said, I would ask both companies (if you haven’t already) for a realistic day-in-the-life scenario. Once you know what exactly you will be doing, you will make a more informed decision. Location should play into it; if you go with LivingSocial, will you be living at home? If so, will that be a painful commute for you? You can safely presume that an internship far away will provide you with an easy commute to work every day, and that can honestly be as important as how much you get paid!</p>
<p>Also consider the social aspects of your job. How many interns will there be at both companies? Will you be given appropriate amounts of training through the internship? Will you have the opportunity to do real work without also assuming the same risk of failure that a first or second year FT employee would?</p>
<p>Lastly and most importantly, which company did you like better?</p>