Company: Microsoft
Date: 2012-04-05
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: former

Great challenges, great rewards
Pros: Microsoft can be a fantastic company to work for.  The culture is very "can-do" and there is a ton of innovation on products and processes internally.  Some of this makes it out to the product space but we truly do feel like innovators.  The health benefits are legendary: no premium, no deductible, no co-pays, and they approve almost *everything*.  Financial rewards are great (over time) and excellence awards such as exotic travel remain the best in the industry.
Cons: Management nurtures cooperation among other consultants, but also competition, and the competition is fierce for parts of the generous yearly bonus pie.  Commitments other than customer work can take up much of the work/life balance.  Those who climb the success pyramid are those who can maintain a deep personal passion for the company and their work.  Opportunities outside of Redmond are nearly all in sales, support and consulting.