Google vs Microsoft as a workplace: Techie says one 'gave me shine', other 'gave me depth' in viral LinkedIn post

For software engineers, choosing between tech giants like Google and Microsoft is the ultimate career dilemma. While compensation and benefits often dominate the conversation, a Bengaluru-based techie is making waves online to break down the invisible cultural differences between the two tech giants.

Manu Agarwal, a senior software engineer currently at Microsoft, recently took to LinkedIn to share a candid comparison of his experience working at both companies.

His verdict? It’s about “brand” versus “manufacture”

Read also | Google employee making nearly $1 million a year quits, says ‘I felt some FOMO…’

The Google experience

Agarwal spent more than two years at Google in Bengaluru before rejoining Microsoft in 2025. Reflecting on his tenure at the search giant, he noted a distinct, pervasive pressure to embody the company’s identity.

“At Google, I felt like I wasn’t always being followed by managers, but by the brand itself,” Agarwal wrote in the viral post. He explained that almost every interaction—from PR (pull requests) and meetings to informal Slack messages—was filtered through the lens of, “Would a Googler do that?”

Microsoft experience

In contrast, Agarwal described his time at Microsoft as a period of hands-on professional building.

“At Microsoft, I felt like they were building me. More ownership. More freedom to build. More responsibility, but yes, more growth,” he explained.

In one catchy sentence that resonated across LinkedIn, he summed up his dual experience: “Google gave me shine. Microsoft gave me depth.”

Read also | Indian Techie Quits ‘Dream’ Google Job After 4 Years, Says Goodbye In Viral Post

what is better

Despite the contrasting landscape, Agarwal emphasized that no company is inherently better. Instead, he advised professionals to think of them as different tools suitable for different career stages.

“Neither is better. They’re just different tools for different stages of your career,” he wrote.

Agarwal’s key takeaways for job seekers:

Culture over logos: Agarwal suggested that job seekers choose a work environment that aligns with their current growth goals, rather than just optimizing for a prestige brand on their resume.
Environment shapes thinking: Where you work greatly affects your approach to problem solving and collaboration, Agarwal said.
Both are top notch: Reaffirmed that both Google and Microsoft remain excellent places to build a career

“Where you work shapes HOW you think,” Agarwal said. “Choose a culture that fits where you want to go, not just a brand that looks good on your profile. IMO both are very great companies to work for.”

Read also | How much does it cost to move to Hyderabad? Microsoft tech says ₹3.6 million

The journey from struggle to technology giant

Agarwal is no stranger to viral LinkedIn posts. Earlier this month, he shared a deeply personal story about his journey to making money ₹1.9 million salary at Microsoft’s Seattle office.

He remembered how his father had to sell his mother’s gold jewelry just to afford his own ₹College fees 15000 per semester. Years later, with his Big Tech salary, he called his mother and told her to buy back any jewelry she wanted, a poignant reminder of the sacrifices that often hid behind glossy tech resumes.

According to the post, her reply was, “Beta, tere aane se sab wapas aa gaya (Son, you came and I got everything back).” Agrawal concluded the post by saying, “Some debts are not financial.”

According to his profile, Agarwal started his career as an intern at Microsoft Hyderabad in 2016 before officially joining the company as an engineer in 2017.