Company: Microsoft
Date: 2015-01-06
Overall rating: 3/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Senior

Is Microsoft over the hill?
Pros: Microsoft is a good company to work for, with better than average stability and opportunities for career growth. The pay can range from average for most to exceptional for a few.  Most people you will run across and work with are smart and passionate about something. (but not always technology - see cons) Generally there is a lot of opportunity for autonomy and making decisions which impact the areas you own at all levels.  The culture is very diverse and diversity is valued, though that does not mean differences are respected by all.
Cons: It's a BIG company bogged down by its organization size and engineering complexity.  Teams mentality in generally towards other teams is negative and distrustful.  Microsoft has evolved from from a scrappy start-up like mentality to operate more like IBM. The average employees technical IQ and passion for technology and customers has waned over the years. Teams often have a hard time working together to achieve common goals. Good people managers (leads) are not rewarded as such unless you are a middle level manager where work-group and people management is your primary responsibility.