Company: Microsoft
Date: 2015-08-23
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Junior

Solid blue chip, interesting times ahead
Pros: Microsoft has been a global top 10 technology company for decades. All this time it has been very profitable thanks to the Windows and Office franchises and more recently the growing cloud business. It has been able to hire very smart people and acquire any company it wants. This leads into an environment, where everything is possible as long as you can sell the idea internally.
Cons: For the same reason that it has been so profitable for decades, most of its employees are anchored in businesses, which are being disrupted. People are very aware of this, but not able to change it, having to continue milking the cow. This leaves a big part of the company operating as if one hand is tied behind your back, which means that even smart people will have trouble against more nimble competition. Regarding career opportunities, while there are plenty, you really must be willing to relocate to Redmond, so less promising if you are not.