Company: Microsoft
Date: 2016-04-08
Overall rating: 3/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Junior

Great company if you're on a well managed project
Pros: Some of the most talented people I've ever had the opportunity to work alongside with. Input was welcome from all levels and all disciplines. Ownership of certain project aspects was encouraged. Credit was given and recognized by those who deserved it. The group I was in operated akin to a Special Operations Group. If they brought you in they knew that you were good at what you did, so they allowed you to designate your own targets independently without having to get full authorization from Command.
Cons: Not all management was as good in all studio groups (YMMV). Some contractor relationships with FTEs were strained because of their transient situation ( Don't get too close to that Dude he's out of here in a few months or until a re-org occurs). Conversion to FTE from a contractor position although a possibility is something I never saw first hand (some kinda unicorn scenario)