Microsoft

The pay is one of the highest in the software industry. You work with a lot of very smart people. There is a fairly high level of autonomy in most positions. You are expected to get your work done on time and with a minimum of hand-holding.

Work/life balance is almost non-existent. You are encouraged to come in early and stay late whenever possible. During "crunch time," it's more of a mandate than an encouragement. Political ties make more difference in promotions than actual work performance. If you are a successful SDE, you will most likely be moved up the manager track (since many successful SDEs have good leadership qualities that many current managers lack).

Encourage people to take time off more often instead of cashing in vacation days for extra pay.