Microsoft Senior Software Development Engineer reviews

You are given the freedom to succeed or fail on your own. Mid level management is usually very lax and supportive of new ideas. The problems are diverse and challenging. The salary is good for the area and the benefits are great (for now).

Note that there are differences across Microsoft so this is generalization from various team I've worked in. Work: Most have a fair work/life balance and will allow you to work 1 day a week at home. I know there are some teams where you'd occasionally work long hours periodically but it varies. You do learn a lot on the job quickly and there are a lot of resources to gain more knowledge (free library, training, brownbags, discussion groups). Nice thing is that within Microsoft you can always interview for another position within the company and that may give you a different experience. Benefits: Health insurance is still one of the best with almost no co-pay to speak off although 2013 this will change with a big deductible. Other benefits: free shuttles to work from several locations, discounts at company store, free prime card, ... Vacation starts at 2 or 3 weeks (they keep changing it but I think it's now 2). After 5 years it's 4 weeks and after 12 years it's 5 weeks. They also give you 2 floating holidays (+8 regular holidays). Stock grants are ok wouldn't it be that the stock didn't increase over last 10 years and Microsoft doesn't adjust for that. But that is probably true for many companies these days. Note over the years benefits have gradually decreased and may continue with health insurance in 2013. Microsoft used to give 15% discount on ESPP and take lowest price of start and end date. Now it's 10% and only last day price. Company store discounts also have decreased gradually and morale events budgets are just a fraction what they used to be.