Company: Microsoft
Date: 2014-05-29
Overall rating: 2/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Confirmed

Incredible work experience but by & large if you didn't grow up managing-up in a political company its a struggle
Pros: Even modified benefits are excellent.  People are very smart and the experience is priceless.  If you learn to do what makes your leadership hierarchy happy, not make waves and tell the story as they want to hear it, you can flourish and grow.  This is not necessarily a bad thing, but you need to personality accept and work in this environment and accept good results as oppose to better or best.

In Redmond and most of the world, the working environment (physical) is really nice and rewarding.
Cons: In Sales: Many of the smart people have learned how to thrive in a world of managing up.  As they pair down senior roles (65+) and males over 40, if you are not savvy you will not make it to next week's episode of Survivor Microsoft.  People you thought were on your side were only a temporary allegiance for last week's episode.

Don't be convinced coming in at a lower level is good for you in performance ratings, drive for the highest level you can get to start.  Put a smile on and deliver lots of sugar with any medicine and consider baby steps for change and ensure the story aligns to the Exec's vision.  Work smarter, not harder meaning be clever with visibility and communication.  You can work less and actually grow with that strategy.  Get on visible projects and take as much credit as reasonable to be noticed.  You need to worry about you.

Expect passive aggressive responses.  If you deliver the "What" (results) you will be called out for the "how" you did it.  You are always better off prioritizing the "how" over the "what".  HR is the best in the world.  They will protect the company, so work accordingly.