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Proud to have been Microsoft

AI Resident
Former Employee
Worked at Microsoft for 1 year
October 23, 2019
Cambridge, England
5.0
RecommendsPositive Outlook
Pros

I am immensely proud to have worked for Microsoft Research. Microsoft has admirable principles as to how they relate with both their customers and employees, always keeping as a priority respect and care for client data, as well as consideration for employees’ well-being.

While there, I participated in many social events organized by the company, received many benefits, and had multiple opportunities to engage in activities focusing on my professional and individual growth.

The work/research aspect is also very gratifying at Microsoft. By working at one of the largest software producers in the world, I had the opportunity to work beside brilliant researchers and software engineers, use state-of-the-art equipment, software, and algorithms, as well as get to know about and work in exciting and futuristic research projects.

Additionally, I have great respect for Microsoft’s policy for publication. They highly encourage their researchers to publish their findings, but only when there is actually something to be said, always supporting high-quality work and prioritizing prestigious academic journals and/or conferences. Contrary to an increasing trend in academia, Microsoft does not pressure their employees to publish for the sake of publishing, which consequently increases their credibility and ensures they always add meaningful and reproducible contributions to the scientific community.

I highly recommend Microsoft Research if you are looking forward to working on exciting and meaningful research, beside brilliant and friendly people, and under a culture of respect, transparency, and well-being.

Cons

I participated in the very first year of a newly implemented RSE (Researcher Software Engineer) trainee program at Microsoft Research called AI Residency. Because I was in the first round of this program, I witnessed issues in many aspects of its management, which I believe is absolutely natural. Again, it was the very first year of this program, and so they had to make use of trial and error in many management aspects for which they had no previous experience to base themselves on. More important than the mistakes made is the fact that Microsoft was highly invested in learning from such mistakes, always concerned with getting our sincere feedback to adjust the program in order to improve our experience and the experience of future AI residents.

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