Company: Microsoft
Date: 2019-10-23
Overall rating: 5/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Junior

Proud to have been Microsoft
Pros: I am immensely proud to have worked for Microsoft Research. Microsoft has admirable principles as to how they relate with both their customers and employees, always keeping as priority respect and care for client data, as well as consideration for employees’ well-being. While there, I have participated in many social events organised by the company, received many benefits and had multiple opportunities to engage into activities focusing on my professional and individual growth.

The work/research aspect is also very gratifying at Microsoft. By working at one of the largest software producers in the world, I had the opportunity to work beside brilliant researchers and software engineers, use state-of-the-art equipment, software and algorithms, as well as get to know about and work in exciting and futuristic research projects. 

Additionally, I have great respect for Microsoft’s policy for publication. They highly encourage their researchers to publish their findings, but only when there is actually something to be said, always supporting high quality work and prioritising prestigious academic journals and/or conferences. Contrary to an increasing trend in academia, Microsoft does not pressure their employees to publish for the sake of publishing, which consequently increases their credibility and ensure they always add meaningful and reproducible contributions to the scientific community.

I highly recommend Microsoft Research if you are looking forward to working on exciting and meaningful research, beside brilliant and friendly people, and under a culture of respect, transparency and well-being.
Cons: I have participated in the very first year of a newly implemented RSE (Researcher Software Engineer) trainee program at Microsoft Research called AI Residency. Because I was in the first round of this program, I have witnessed issues in many aspects its management, which I believe is absolutely natural. Again, it was the very first year of this program, and so they had to make use of trial and error in many management aspects that they had no previous experience to base themselves on. More important than the mistakes made is the fact that Microsoft was highly invested in learning with such mistakes, always concerned in getting our sincere feedback to adjust the program in order to improve our experience and the experience of the future AI residents.