Accenture

Some really amazing projects with the world's premier companies. Access to some fantastic Microsoft resources if you are within the Avanade company, but if not, Accenture has fantastic training and resources as well. Either way, you have plenty of great information readily available.

Pay is at or above market, though benefits are only available to full-time employees.

If you complete a project but sit on the bench too long (i.e., a few weeks) between projects, you can be laid off.

If you are on a contract and their "overestimated the budget," you can be laid off.

If the project ends prematurely, you can be laid off.

All of these situations happen far too often, and good people abruptly find themselves in the unemployment office.

Work-life balance is not a high priority here – you're either traveling or on the bench (and at risk of being released).

If you're lucky enough to have an office position, expect 50+ hour weeks.

If you want to pride yourself as a company where people have careers, start letting them have careers. No one wants to sign a multi-year contract and be released within one year.