Working at Microsoft in Redmond, WA: 393 Employee Job Reviews by Real Employee working in Redmond, WA Area

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"Smart people, interesting work, great benefits, many new and interesting things happening."

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

"Depends upon the team your interviewing with... learn about that team and its culture."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"I end up being competitive and randomized... too much work to do a great job at everything."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"The ratings curve... it does not build an inclusive and collaborative culture... do something innovative in the management world."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"Microsoft is a good company to work for. I really enjoy working in this company."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"Sometimes it is hard to get the work done in efficient way."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Management needs a clear goal for his/her team and individual."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"Building products that impact billions of users is amazing, and the environment encourages the creation of great products for the customer. The pay and benefits are good."

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

"Be aware that recognition is not always given to the hardest working person. Sometimes it's given to the smartest working person, which might be the person who's figured out how to work the frustrating performance review system."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"Microsoft is too slow to respond to anything - employee needs, consumer needs, etc. It's frustrating to have to sit around and wait for things to get better, just to find it's too little too late."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"I would completely overhaul the performance review and employee compensation to encourage teams to work well together, and teams to work well with each other."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"I like the good benefits and pay, and the ability to work on well-known projects"

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

"Know what you're getting into and what you want out of the job. There are many great opportunities, but it is a politicized system."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"It is far too political; decisions tend to be made on what/who you know, and not always on what is best for the product."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Take MS in different directions and lead the industry in better directions."

"Overall, good - a solid B."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"I like the potential for greatness, lots of really smart A-types, and solid business/value proposition. There is weak innovation."

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

"Be a student of the industry, and be clear about what you want to do and what you expect from your manager."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"I don't like the lack of innovation given all the IP, experience and company assets."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"People management needs work, and the stack ranking system creates unnecessary competition between peers."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"I have a few colleagues whom I enjoy working with, and the working is flexible, but overall the culture is more about collaboration than accomplishment."

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

"Be politically active with your managers, and go with the flow."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"The inability to make a decision in a short timeline is frustrating at times."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Be a little more progressive with our products and not so reactive."

"For a vendor, this team is a good team to work with."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"I am assigned to the team by Chinasoft. All the people that I worked with are nice."

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

"It's pretty much the same as Microsoft would interview their own employees. Microsoft has high expectations."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"As a vendor, we are second class citizens compared to FTEs. For the most part I am fine with that, except when it comes to office space. Vendors sometimes don't have any place to sit."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"As vendors, we are getting less pay, and work harder than FTEs. The China vendor team is not as capable as Microsoft FTEs, so please lower expectations to the offshore team. As a team leader, sometimes I found its difficult to manage expectations."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"I like the ability to balance your schedule with personal needs - so the work-life balance. The office environment is good: free drinks, a lot of options for food, etc. I like the benefits."

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

"Make sure you CLEARLY understand the role and if it will change in the near future. If there are other factors at play or other orgs that impact your role, understand what those are as well."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"My dislikes are: too much company politics, people spend way too much time managing their careers and not their business, too much unclarity with roles, too much role redundancy, and not enough good managers in leadership roles."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"I would have someone in charge who is progressive and forward thinking about the business, where the next innovations in tech are being made, and set the company up for the long term."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"My likes are: well organized, demanding but not too much, nice salary and bonuses, and nice morale events (although not enough in last years)."

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

"Improve your coding and presentation skills; think out of the box."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"There is a need to innovate more, invest in team morale, and bring talented PMs!"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"I would suggest more innovations, more crazy ideas, and more budget for morale events."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"I like everything: the work, people, environment, the perks, gobs of support, and the fun that everyone was willing to pitch in on - just plain old work hard and have fun... good stuff."

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

"Take your time to answer. The interview will go on forever and they are looking for smart people, so take your time."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"I don't like the miscommunication. I was hired and laid off the same day. I was told that the headcount was too low after I was interviewed and didn't get the job. Bummer."

"Very good learning experience. A little coding, but very minor."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"I enjoyed the people and the culture. I did do a little coding, which I enjoyed a lot."

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

"Microsoft has very fast-paced work, but a laid back culture. It is a very interesting dynamic."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"A large part of my job was not coding-related. I want to get into a more programming-heavy position."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"A little more feedback would be very helpful, and periodic status updates."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"My likes are: passionate and highly skilled employees, nice single office, and good medical coverage."

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

"Be honest, work hard, and enjoy relaxing time while you still can."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"There is too much politics, and a slow promotion track. I am working as a PM, but my title isn't PM."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Have less politics, keep good employees, and speed up promotion for excellent employees."

"I have a 5 years of experience with Microsoft as a vendor."

What do you like about working at Microsoft?

"It is one of the top-most companies in the world."

What don't you like about working at Microsoft?

"There was nothing not to like about the company."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"I am very satisfied with the company."