Company: Microsoft
Date: 2012-02-12
Overall rating: 2/5
Employment status: current

A Once Great Company
Pros: Some good opportunities to work on really impactful project.
Good work life balance.
Great benefits (even after the recent changes).
Smart co-workers.
Cons: Most of the interesting work is in the hands of a few people driving Windows and Office.
Microsoft still doesn't get the Web.  Everything is still about Windows & Office.
Great projects get cancelled because of power struggles.
The Peter Principle thrives at Microsoft.
Politics, Politics, Politics. 
The review model - ensures intense politics.
   I've seen excellent new hires given bad reviews - 'just to break them in'
   I've seen good people pushed out - to give the job to a manager's friend.
   I've seen employees given gold stars for excellent performances - end up with poor review.
   I've seen the classic suck-ups given top reviews for kissing up the chain.
   Reviews are at best 50% performance; and 50% who likes whom.
   The review model ensures that teams compete against each other.
The fastest way to get a promotion is to quit - work outside for a while and re-apply.
  (did this myself) - is this really how the company wants its employees to develop their careers?