Taro Logo

slow promo, leadership overhyped ai

Software Engineer
Current Employee
Has worked at Microsoft for 2 years
March 20, 2026
Sydney
2.0
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDoesn't Approve of CEO
Pros

There was a decent WLB unless you're a tech lead.

Cons

There is no budget for promotions, even when the team is important and high impact, and you deliver. There are lots of processes and bureaucracy, which slow everyone down. People care a lot about titles. It doesn't feel like more senior engineers are incentivised to mentor junior engineers, so the bus factor is roughly one for many project areas.

Advice to Management

Leadership likes claiming that AI should make workers more efficient, maybe to justify a hiring freeze and lower pay.

Additional Ratings

Work/Life Balance
4.0
Culture and Values
1.0
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
2.0
Career Opportunities
1.0
Compensation and Benefits
1.0
Senior Management
1.0

Was this helpful?

Microsoft Interview Experiences