Microsoft

The variety of teams and the flexibility of internal transfers makes this a great place to work. I have had the good luck of working in a team which values employees and fosters a culture of transparency, but I see that this is not always the case.

The benefits package is definitely top-notch. I have not had to pay any money for my dental, vision, and health care needs.

All employees in Redmond get access to a really well-equipped (but very crowded) gym. Also, the location is excellent. The Pacific Northwest, IMHO, is a far prettier place than, say, California.

1. Far too big and getting simple decisions approved takes far too much time.

2. Great emphasis on political correctness can take the fun out.

3. Stock awards are not attractive anymore.

4. Pay increases for annual reviews are pretty minimal; sometimes they do not even match the rate of inflation.

5. You've got to deal with politics. If you are the kind that just wants to get things done, you are going to have to deal with negotiations, persuasions, dotting your i's and crossing your t's.

6. Work-life balance is a problem on many teams, especially around releases.

Do recognize the value of innovation. Sometimes the innovative spark is snuffed at the very start due to the excessive amounts of processes involved to get buy-in on anything. Trust ICs to do the right thing and give them the opportunities to shine.