Company: Microsoft
Date: 2014-01-19
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Senior

A varied, fun journey.
Pros: Career development and movement.  If you have a mentor or a sponsor, in particular, you can really move around and grow.  Early career growth was fast and phenomenal.  Perks are good - running trails, lockers, showers, towels, as well as other free things (soda, medicine, etc).  No free food but the food available for purchase is diverse and good.  Work-life balance has varied throughout my career but it's really what you make it here- at present it's very good.  High flexibility, depending on your role and manager. Smart people. Good managers and a good place to learn the art of management.  Collaborative.  The new performance review system!  The comp and benefits are excellent also.
Cons: The past performance rating system ("the curve" and its competitiveness) has been challenging.  Can be bureaucratic and political, depending on where you work/who you work for.  Work-life balance can be bad if you get sucked in and don't establish boundaries -- can be a 24/7 culture where everyone is on email, especially due to other time zones.