Microsoft

• Wide range of opportunities.
• Large boutique of interesting technologies in the "One Platform," which means more opportunities and breadth of what's possible versus other companies that excel in one or two lines of technologies.
• Size and global presence.
• Good benefits.

Don't dream of staying there longer than 3-5 years tops. It is increasingly hard for many reasons.

Don't leave your affordable city to live in expensive Seattle; your pay "increase" will result in negative flow.

Plan on spending 25% of your wake time looking for new roles. Annual re-orgs can mean you are out on a whim without any warning.

There are many other companies that pay a lot better than Microsoft.

Take some responsibility for your employees' careers. The curve performance review approach is harmful when you have to force good people into the lower ratings because you have to comply with the model.

Walk the talk of "human centric" and "Empathy."