Company: Microsoft
Date: 2010-01-01
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: current

My view of Microsoft after four years' of employment
Pros: Lots of opportunity to advance or grow your career in other directions. Extremely diverse and dynamic workplace - it's not uncommon to overhear conversations spoken in three or four different languages as you walk down a single hallway. Pay and benefits are very competitive. Because the interview process has become extremely demanding over the past five years or so, those who work at Microsoft can feel proud that they work with some of the most qualified people in their industry.
Cons: Like any competitive company, it can be a meat grinder. Performance reviews pit one employee against their peer, which impacts the overall climate of the company. It's tough to succeed while balancing work / home life. I don't feel Microsoft manages out low-performers as aggressively as it should, given the economy.