Microsoft Company Reviews and Ratings CareerBliss 2011 Top 50 Happiest Companies

"Microsoft as it is"

Microsoft Review by Software Developer in Redmond, WA on October 01, 2009

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

You can learn how things could be done if someone wanted to.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

Who works for Microsoft has decided to speak well about Microsoft, otherwise they won't work for Microsoft for too long. I left Microsoft and only I know what I have survived there. I needed 2 full years to recover. I know what is happening there, I know who why where... The fact that I was silent for 2 years and that I would probably remain silent for the rest of my life speaks for itself. All that "if Microsoft is good" "if Microsoft is bad" is a political game in the sense that if I would speak against Microsoft I must be Linux or Google oriented. But after 15 years with Microsoft's technologies all around world, I know what bothers that company better than all those lovers and haters. What they have, Microsoft cannot fix. For some time they will force the respect with their money, and beyond that they will vanish. It is irreparable. Sure some teams can live in isolation for some time, and maybe even not need to pretend how good is there. For me it was a pure horror, not that I was in a bad department or team, but learning that to reach that isolated probably good part you must fight for about 5 years and seeing scene that cannot belong to any normal software company in the world, and I've seen a lot... That does not make the entire Microsoft a good company at all. Anyhow, if I decide to speak, a novel on "How my mother survived holocaust and I survived Microsoft" will be definitely published at least on-line. I definitely know that many people would rather forget than put themselves into a position of being under Microsoft's attack if they speak openly. For me, I can't have any respect for them, I can either ignore them, or if I need to complete my recovery write something about my experience. Good? Yes, you can cheat yourself into believing that anything is good then, and join Microsoft in forcibly establishing dominance for some time. It is someone else's choice, not mine.

What suggestions do you have for management?

None that would help.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Open your eyes. Microsoft might waste your talent for no apparent reason.

"Leading edge product development and commercial success await your input."

Microsoft Review by Consulting Software Engineer in Redmond, WA on September 17, 2009

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

Wide range of products to work with. Well known commercial products that highlight your career. Innovative approaches and powerful tools are available to do the work. A well supported testing environment and the latest LAN based tools and web site support are part of the working package. Upper management is intelligent and highly capable in responding to your needs and explaining their development process.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

IT support was strangely hard to reach and capricious in removing our test servers while failing to respond to our communications. Lack of documentation on the testing details produced unaccaptable delays in recreating the test environment and data presentation. Entry into the schedule right before a major release made meeting the release schedule impossible.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Get a better overall picture of the status of each of the independent parts of your project department. When an employee leaves, get him to fully document his operational process so his replacement has a good set of notes. Insure that communication is working well between all your department members. And try to see that each employee is important to your success.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Read up on the business aspects of the company. Allign your interviews with your strengths. Be prepared for outdated suitability testing on software algorithms. Keep your energy up, its a very long interviewing cycle that will take days.

"Overall Bliss: Below Average"

Microsoft Review by Senior Technical Account Manager on February 10, 2012

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

Microsoft has some of the brightest minds I've ever worked with - they are always challenging you to grow and most are willing to help you do so. Being around the "rank and file" employees is energizing and fun.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

The company has gotten away from focussing on the customer and now primarily looks at revenue and playing internal politics. Sadly, this has produced many managers who have zero integrity and seem to enjoy harming both the customer and the employees in their pursuit to hit their revenue goals. This includes making promises to employees and customers but refusing to deliver. And if you plan on challenging Microsoft on their lack of ethics, they have absolutely no problem retaliating.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Clean house - get rid of the managers who have absolutely no moral code and bring in people who do. Profit is good (and necessary) to run a company, but it can be gained without lying to or stealing from customers and employees. There is no statute of limitations on integrity - go to those customers and employees previously wronged and take responsibility for the actions of Microsoft.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Be very careful - Microsoft puts on a very pleasant face, but depending on your specific management team, may not treat you as nicely when it's time for them to deliver. Also, make sure to get all promises in writing.

"Overall Bliss: Below Average"

Microsoft Review by Microsoft Employee on May 07, 2012

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

I have a very flexible schedule and a supportive manager.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

I have a lot of freedom at work and a highly supportive manager. Yet the manager is overly concerned with keeping you on our team, even though that may be to your professional/personal detriment.

What suggestions do you have for management?

If I were my manager, I would work on creating a stronger team culture. There is some turn over and my manager will leave some day. When that happens, I'm concerned that the overall performance of the team will decline. I believe there are two parts of improving the overall culture. The first is creating a standard of excellence that permeates throughout the team, not one that is top down, but one in which all team members uphold voluntarily and is passed on to new hires. The second is focusing on emotional/spiritual fulfillment. By focusing on excellence, I think it wouldn't be too far of a reach to help that inspire people towards bettering themselves professionally and feeling emotionally rewarded as they achieve/uphold this new standard of excellence.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Do your research on the team. Does this team provide you with valuable skills that translate well to other teams in Microsoft? Or does this limit your expertise and therefore you are stuck on one team or in one department for your career at Microsoft.

"Bitter about the good people laid off and the loafs that are protected by upper management"

Microsoft Review by Program Management in Redmond, WA on July 13, 2009

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

In the beginning as an exciting place to be involved in leading edge technologies.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

The deteriorating level of professionalism in project management principles as well as just plain business acumen in many organizations. No recognition of the value of PM fundamentals; no one I worked with could barely understand logic diagramming or principles of WBS creation. They just use MS Project to make pretty pictures that did a great job of showing how late their next project delivery would be.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Start paying attention to the fundamentals, forget the touchy-feely junk and start with sound PM fundamentals, use knowledgeable people to plan work before committing to a delivery, and root out the good-ol-boy protections for incompetent people that sit on the web all day doing the photography hobbies and never deliver on time.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Be very selective in the which group you choose to join.

"A fun place to work with smart people on very large problems."

Microsoft Review by Systems Engineer in Mountain View, CA on February 16, 2010

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

I don't know why this says Microsoft Malaysia, I was with Microsoft. Anyway, I liked the people I worked with on a day-to-day basis. Microsoft strives to hire the best and brightest people that it can find, there are always good exchanges of ideas going on.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

Advancement within the Silicon Valley Campus, is difficult to come by. There aren't many opportunities for advancement that open up without having to move to Washington.

What suggestions do you have for management?

I would suggest that management at Microsoft's Silicon Vally Campus work more on developing the potential of the employees that they have working for them. It's a great place to work but there's not a lot of management support for personal or career development.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Be honest. The company isn't looking for the most whiz-bang windows guru ever, they're looking for people who can learn quickly, reason through problems and work with dynamic teams.

"MSFT - Not the best place to work at anymore"

Microsoft Review by Architect in Tallahassee, FL on July 08, 2009

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

Lots of benefits and smart people to work with. The culture is changing, but some reminants of what made this a great company are still around.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

Too much importing of external management who has different cultures and values than what the company was founded upon. Political prowness has overtaken technical prowness as the best skillset to have, which is a darn shame.

What suggestions do you have for management?

The current layoffs and cost cutting measures will cost the company four-fold over the next few years in the areas of morale and hiring. The company is changing, and although there are pockets of sanity still available there are way too many "coasters" who show up to work in Redmond each day and still have jobs.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Be ready for off the wall questions like how to get some people going across a river in a boat. Interviews in Redmond are WAY different than interviews in the field.

"I'll give them a "-C""

Microsoft Review by Microsoft Employee in Deerfield Beach, FL on November 05, 2009

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

You have ownership of your job, the environment and the culture. The Best are the benefits and the salary wasn't bad either.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

It has change so much, it was a people oriented, such as "the People are the biggest assets we have, we train them and make them better" to fire anybody, people that had so many awards, excellence reviews performances to only leave those who make less money and those who suck up to their managements!!!!!

What suggestions do you have for management?

Upper Managements (Steve and the Board) need to be more on top of those managers that handle lots of people and had not people skills, don't know how to work and those are the one making decisions.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Maybe if you are new don't notice, but be careful with your sourrandings, some people most likely will put a knife you in the back because they are afraid you will take their job!!!! Environment there is not very healthy right now.

"Welcome to the machine. At least there is free soda and flexible scheduling. And buss passes."

Microsoft Review by Software Test Engineer III on August 23, 2009

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

Very growth oriented. Not only are you working along side the best developers, you are in the best place to learn development. The flexible schedules allow anyone to work there, and many of the other employees are positive and friendly.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

With 250,000+ employees, you are a tiny piece in a big machine. Many of the people who manage the company or develop are irresponsible and push their liabilities and responsabilities onto the people under them.

What suggestions do you have for management?

FTE testers (without development skills). Make a core team of testers who are there during the slow periods, and hire contractors when you need more test on products.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Speak your thoughts. MS managers are trained to ask engaging questions, but they need your thought process to determine if you pass the test their training gives them.

"Forget the Jungle, Welcome to the Pressure Cooker"

Microsoft Review by Software Test Engineer in Redmond, WA on June 08, 2009

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

The opportunity to work with driven professionals who exhibit significant mental 'horsepower' is always present at Microsoft. You'll find something or someone who can challenge you every day.

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

The forty-hour work week was not part of the lexicon during my time at Microsoft. This isn't automatically a bad thing, but when employees are castigated and have their desire to contribute questioned for 'only working sixty hours last week' on a product which was still eighteen months from release to manufacturing, it's a sign that the work/life balance is critically skewed.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Look for good people skills, not merely solid technical acumen in those you assign to oversee others. I've seen far too many Microsoft managers- and worked under a few- who have excellent technical abilities, but the people skills of a stone wall.