Microsoft Technical Program Manager Intern reviews

Interviewing internally for a lateral job change can sometimes be a real challenge. Often groups are interested in you fitting a very specific description, failing to make allowance that when entering a new job one must learn a huge amount of job-specific information. Previous, specific job characteristics seem to carry a greater weight than your proven ability to adapt and succeed at a new position. While the company often touts that it makes a strong distinction between home and work life, it is sometimes not realistically reflected by your management team. All too often the "extra mile" is required from you in an on-going basis. Sure, you get the vacation you have earned, but the well known "vacation penalty" that you have to pay by catching up on work and email is sometimes staggering. Even though you get time off, you are treated with deadlines as if those days work days. This makes life difficult if you have a family.

Downside #1: 5-10% chance of getting fired each year (no I wasn't fired, but it's like an axe over the head of everyone but the so-called top 30%). Downside #2: the company is stumbling to keep up with the pace of Web 2.0.