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Big layoffs, reforms, and reorganizations are upfront; otherwise, it won't survive

Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET)
Former Employee
Worked at Microsoft for less than 1 year
February 11, 2015
Redmond, Washington
2.0
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDoesn't Approve of CEO
Pros

Company store, which you probably won't use for yourself, but your friends and relatives would love to take this advantage.

Only if you have a charismatic leader should you go there.

Cons

It was an awesome place to work before ~2010. The company is struggling now due to competition, economy, and poor upper management leadership.

You may never make a good career there. If your team had 20 members and all were Nobel Prize geniuses, they would all get "average" on their yearly calibration/review and never get a promotion. To be "strong," you need to prove that you over-performed others.

Stack options are insulting.

Medical benefits were awesome before 2012. Now, if you have a family, you have to pay $6500 before insurance starts covering 100%.

If you want to ruin your career, join MS, work 20 years, and get laid off at almost the same level as you started.

Sick company. Big layoffs, reforms, and reorganizations are upfront, otherwise, it won't survive.

Advice to Management

None. They won't hear.

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