Microsoft

The number of technical areas in which you can work at Microsoft is, I would assert, unsurpassed by any other technology company. Microsoft is one of the last, true software development companies. If you're passionate about software, it's hard to beat a place where engineers rule the roost. Great compensation and benefits.

On the downside, Microsoft is very competitive, often not in a good way.

Competition can be a good thing. It often makes us work with others to create something bigger than ourselves. It is also the case that competition can be ugly and personal. Often it revolves around people doing what's good for them, rather than what's good for the company. I've seen my share of the latter, and it results in a very high-stress workplace.

Also, like any other large company, Microsoft has too much process. It takes 500 people to do what a startup can do with 25.

We need to really, seriously drive our company core values. Simply talking about Integrity and Honesty, Open and respectful, and self-critical doesn't get it done. Those values must be backed up with serious, commitment-based actions.