Microsoft

Location-wise, this is a very good employer in terms of the overall package (benefits + salary). Highly competitive salary in the field and a large set of bonuses provided:

• Cell phone
• Xbox Game Pass
• Budget for sport, WFH, and health via Perks+
• Very flexible in terms of WFH
• 10 sick days
• SW discounts
• Stock bonuses

Working with great, smart people, most teams are pretty good; I met no toxic managers nor teams. Very inclusive company. A lot of flexibility in terms of approach to work, albeit there are a lot of pointless processes, unimportant meetings, and architectural talks where nobody pays attention, etc. Interesting projects, many opportunities for self-realization.

A lot of pointless processes, meetings, and talks. People discuss architecture and implementation approaches and then still do not follow the agreement.

There is a lot of work constantly, hence most people only pay attention to their projects. It is difficult to make other teams provide vital services, endpoints, etc. (If you need something, you will most likely end up doing it yourself).

A bit chaotic management, sometimes lack of communication between teams. Multiple teams sometimes end up working on the same component, realizing only after such component is done, at which point it is too late to make it a library.

Some people might also feel there is unfairness about promotions, though this is roughly the same across all FAANG companies. Most of the time, it is easier to get hired as a higher-level engineer than to be promoted. Not that promotions would have any significant effect on salary anyway (the increase is usually around 5-10% per level).