Pros: Lots of opportunities to do different types of work. Good benefits. Lots of perks, e.g., mobile phone discounts on every major carrier, discounted software and hardware, free MSDN accounts, telecommute, and free bus service.

Cons: It's difficult to get ahead unless you can get noticed by the right people. Cutthroat performance review practices.

Pros: Get to meet people from all over the world (not just 1-2 countries). Five languages were spoken in my hallway! Lots of benefits (which means marching to their drum). Get ahead of the curve on new Microsoft technologies.

Cons: The worst place in the world for a creative person! If you see a problem, you aren't authorized to tell the decision makers. Everyone's marching so hard (in the wrong direction) that you're holding things up if you want to stop and think. Author the lowest-quality work of your life, as "push it in now & label the rest of implementation as bugs for later" is the standard I experienced in two distant branches. Oh, and if you have ever lived in a place with regular sunshine, don't even try it up here unless you're only a gamer.

Pros: - Work with many smart people. - They have a varied portfolio of products that you can move around inside the company depending on your interests.

Cons: - Lots of politics and bureaucracy get in the way. - The review process is dependent on how you are perceived, not really based on what you do.