Company: Microsoft
Date: 2012-06-02
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Confirmed

Smart, A type Personalities with leading technology
Pros: - The name Microsoft rings a bell, even amongst the ultimate Microsoft haters. 
- You will work with some of the brightest minds in the world
- Heavy on collaboration, but uses our technology to the fullest so remote work is easy
- The culture is still hip and alive, and just simply a fun place to work
- Wear whatever you want to work, everyone else does (unless you're in Public Sector and/or DC)
- Always cutting edge technology on your personal equipment (although internal tools are lagging)
- The benefits are the top of the top; you won't find better, even at Apple or Google
- The work is demanding, so being challenged is not hard to come by
- The software, partner, and prime card discounts (if in WA) are the best
- Healthcare benefits are second to none, although changing in 2013
- Work/Life balance is pretty nice, depending on your area (Engineering, not so much)
Cons: - Finding internal opportunities are difficult as politics and networking are front seat versus talent
- The salary can be so so and the performance reviews can be a downfall
- Old school management = old school technology thought process = slow to market with leading edge tech
- The reputation of Microsoft is being hammered daily, and Apple as now surpassed Microsoft in value, revenue, profit and perception
- Most positions have the worst onboarding, so the sink or swim philosophy is alive and well 
- Middle management are high performers with volunteer people management duties; finding good managers are becoming more difficult
- Microsoft doesn't reward you well for outside experience if you're not coming in at a high level (Lvl 64 and above)