Microsoft Software Developer reviews

They focus too much on their technologies. It may be the best place to specialize in MS technologies, but if you want a more general experience that will be restricting. There is a general atmosphere and hype inside the company that "Microsoft is the best", which gets tiring after a while. Combined with the facts that MS is less diverse in their projects than other tech giants, the huge bureaucracy and the large number of ineffective managers unable to give the right feedback, i couldn't think of myself working there for more than 2-3 years. In conclusion, working for MS is great to launch your career, but working for a smaller, newer and faster developing firm is much more interesting.

management is terrible. many managers got into microsoft in the 90s when it was rapidly growing and quickly moved up the ladder when there was a low bar. today, some of them may not even be hired if they applied. they hold on to what they have by blocking anyone new below them from moving up. employees joining microsoft in the 2000s have a major turnover rate due to frustration of no career growth from this, not to mention lack of mentorship from incompetent managers above them. there is a highly unnecessary amount of managers and layers of management, its no wonder it took over 5 years to make vista. efficiency is impossible with this. consequently, poor management leads to a flat, non-growth value stock for 8 years or so. bright people with innovative ideas below management have a hard time getting their ideas pushed forward with the extreme bureaucracy. the review process is highly opinionated and more like a popularity contest, lacking objectivity based on actual performance.