A company that can promise a lot - FastTrack Manager Microsoft Employee Review

3.0
Feb 7, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Access to latest technology. A lot of self development potential for either relationship, project or technical skills. Unlimited trainings for Microsoft products (if you are an FTE, not a contractor). Equity bonus and other benefits for healthcare, breakfast in the office. Great community and culture that promotes diversity.

Cons

Work life balance disregarded. Managers would not care what your days look like, how well prepared you are, they would just throw work and put pressure on you to finish it. Management changes too often (3-5 months change in leadership). Performance reviews are not fair, sometimes bonuses are halted because of one little thing that has no influence on the whole period reviewed, rather just a managerial decision. Mid and High management are very demanding and do a lot of micro-management. They also don`t take any opinions from employees, and put themselves on a pedestal with ease. Most management positions are given on friendship rather than competency and skill level assessment, and motivation most importantly to drive people to success.

Explore other reviews about Microsoft

5.0
Jun 30, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Love it you are surrounded with smart people and complex problem to solve

Cons

Lots of new features and roll outs happening hard to keep pace

4.0
Jan 28, 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

1. If you love tech, this is a great place. No doubt you'll talk tech (mostly the MSFT stack) from enterprise to consumer - from PCs to phones to Xboxes - from datacenter to desktop. 2. What were GREAT benefits are now VERY GOOD (took a small step down) but still probably better than you'll find at 99% of large corporations. If you've got family - the value of the benefits is even higher. 401k match is nice. 3. Even with it's struggles MSFT is still a cash printing machine. This means if you can keep your nose clean and do reasonable work, you can have a stable job, pay your bills, feed your family, and not worry (too much) about layoffs. The stock you own likely won't tank, but probably won't go up much either. You'll get a bonus each year and some stock. It's a decent life if you aren't looking to light the world on fire.

Cons

Brand on Your Resume: After many years of losing market share and struggling to be at the front end of innovation and the fact that there's 90,000 employees, don't think MSFT is necessarily going to be attractive on your resume to more agile and smaller companies. Managing Your Career: Make you say this out loud so it registers - 90,000 employees work there. Double that for vendors. It is VERY hard to "stand out" and move up in the company. Don't expect your manager to be much of an advocate or enabler to help you meet your career goals - they are basically trying to survive the stack rank every year too. Not familiar with the stack rank? Check out the 2012 Vanity Fair article called "Microsoft's Lost Decade".

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