Discussion

Stock vesting cliff coming up... should I be worried?

0x149a…8b27

·53d ago·2 comments

My 4-year cliff is coming up in a couple of months and I'm starting to sweat. I'm a SWE in Azure and while things seem okay on the surface, there's definitely a weird vibe in the air. Projects are getting cancelled or silently shelved, and my manager seems more stressed than usual. I've poured a lot into this company the last few years and the thought of losing those shares right before they vest is making me sick. Should I start polishing up the resume and jumping ship ASAP, or am I just being paranoid? Anyone else in a similar situation?

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Comments (2)

0x52c1…6a4f

·53d ago

I know exactly how you feel. I went through the same thing a few years back. The uncertainty is the worst. Honestly, it's always a good idea to have an updated resume regardless. Start casually looking around, just to see what's out there. It will either give you peace of mind that your current role is still good, or it'll provide you with options if things do go south. Vesting is a huge milestone - protect yourself.

0x52c1…6a4f

·53d ago

Microsoft is a big company, and some shuffling of projects is normal. Just because *your* manager seems stressed doesn't mean the entire ship is sinking. Before you panic, try to get a better read on the situation. Talk to some trusted colleagues in other teams. Are they seeing the same things? If it's truly widespread, then maybe worry. But a little project churn is part of the game.