software engineer

senior software engineer

solution architect

customer success manager

data scientist

Microsoft

A Typical Day at Work:

A typical day at work involves starting with a quick review of emails and setting the day's priorities. I usually attend a few meetings, both with my team and cross-functional stakeholders, to discuss ongoing projects and any challenges that need addressing. The majority of my time is spent on analyzing financial reports, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and working on strategic planning for the company's financial growth. I also allocate time for QA tasks related to payroll and benefits administration, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in our processes.

What I Learned:

Working in finance has taught me the importance of attention to detail and analytical thinking. I've learned how to navigate complex financial systems and regulations, which has strengthened my problem-solving skills. Additionally, I've gained valuable insights into strategic financial planning and how to drive organizational growth through effective financial management.

Management:

Our management team is highly supportive and emphasizes open communication. They provide clear direction and encourage feedback, fostering an environment where innovative ideas are welcomed. The leadership style is collaborative, ensuring that every team member feels valued and is given opportunities to contribute to the company's success.

Workplace Culture:

The workplace culture is inclusive and dynamic. There's a strong sense of camaraderie among colleagues, and teamwork is highly encouraged. The company also places a significant emphasis on professional development, offering various training programs and opportunities for career advancement. Overall, it's a positive and motivating environment that promotes both personal and professional growth.

The Hardest Part of the Job:

The hardest part of the job is managing tight deadlines while ensuring the highest level of accuracy and compliance. Financial regulations are constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with these changes can be challenging. Balancing multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously requires excellent time management and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

The Most Enjoyable Part of the Job:

The most enjoyable part of the job is seeing the tangible impact of our financial strategies on the company's growth and success. I find great satisfaction in solving complex financial challenges and contributing to the overall financial health of the organization. Additionally, working with a talented and dedicated team makes the daily challenges more manageable and rewarding.

The experience as a Support Engineer at Microsoft varied significantly depending on the team and specific area of assignment. While the initial onboarding process was well-structured, inconsistencies in management decisions became evident early on, leading to frequent changes in direction.

Performance evaluations were heavily based on the speed of case resolutions and customer satisfaction ratings. However, many cases were inherently complex, often involving third-party issues or unrealistic customer expectations. In some instances, customers lacked backups and expected Microsoft support to recover irreparable systems. When advised on the best course of action—such as rebuilding a server—dissatisfied customers would escalate complaints, sometimes resulting in disciplinary actions against engineers. Additionally, there were cases where customers requested modifications that were technically unfeasible due to system design limitations. When informed of these constraints, negative feedback and escalations followed, further impacting performance metrics.

A significant challenge was the apparent disconnect between upper management and frontline technical support. Many managers lacked hands-on experience in technical support roles, leading to a culture where engineers were treated as expendable resources. Despite assurances of learning opportunities, the overwhelming case load—often exceeding 20 active cases—left little room for professional development. Management emphasized rapid case closures, yet customers often expressed dissatisfaction with being rushed, creating a conflict between meeting internal KPIs and ensuring quality support.

Another notable issue was the lack of case volume during December, leading to instances where employees were reprimanded for being "non-productive." Instead of recognizing this seasonal fluctuation, management expected engineers to actively seek out case assignments, a task not outlined in the job description.

While the role offered competitive compensation, the high-stress environment, inconsistent management expectations, and reliance on customer satisfaction metrics—often influenced by factors beyond engineers’ control—made the position less sustainable in the long run.

•	Member of Microsoft’s lead Operations Consultant Team. Successfully lead the completion of eight large, multi-factorial and multi-million projects 
•	Developed strategic plans to initiate organic organizational maturity, improve governance and management of IT Operations around people, process and technology.
•	Identified specific measures to establish automation and governance practices to reduce resource dependence and enhance ROI, per ITIL and other industry best practices per ITIL, PMI, ISO, COBIT, and CMMI
•	Established people, process and technology roadmap to improve IT operations and embark cloud services. Created framework to grow IT operations consulting business within Canada, which increased number of engagements by +50%
•	Analyzed and optimized team structures to support diversified IT Operations for dynamic organizations. Enhanced processes required to ensure high services availability and reliability. Ensured effective coordination between cross functional departments by breaking silos and introducing collaboration services to enhance communication and coordination
•	Enhanced team members’ knowledge on ITIL, MOF and Microsoft technologies and executed internal training workshops. Exceeded customer expectations for all projects and engagements
•	Managed multimillion business, infrastructure, technology and solution transformation projects to rollout Microsoft technologies such as hybrid/private/public cloud, Microsoft System center (SCCM, SCOM, SCSM), Cloud private/public, virtualization, AD, Exchange, O365, ITSM Tools, CRM-Dynamics, lync, TFS, FIM, SQL Server, Share Point, PKI, and Windows azure/server/desktops
•	Exceeded customer expectations while working for Gov of Ontario (MTO, JTS, LTC, LAT, OCPC), Gov of Manitoba, Gov of Alberta, Gov of Saskatchewan,  Gov of NB, Region of Niagara, Sask Energy, City of Vancouver, eHealth, Metrolinx, Vancouver Transit,  ATCO, SUNCOR, EPCOR,  Magna, Vale, Telus, Rogers, Peel Region Police, CIBC, RBC, Conexus Credit Union, Sunlife, Manulife, Stikeman, Loblaws and Blackberry,

I worked for Microsoft as a contractor, employed by Lionbridge between the years 2010 and February 2014, so the direct employee expreience does not apply to me. 

Also, unfortunately, during that period, the company downsized its operations in my department, and there were several people that lost their job in the Office team. I believe I did not witness the company at its best. 

I was impressed by the loyalty of its employees, mainly in Redmond, the effort the company made to provide its staff with a good level of compensation and benefits, and how fun were our rare get-togethers. 
The Microsoft Full-time employees were very happy. It also had a remarkable ability to work with multinational, multilingual teams, mostly remotely! Not every company manages that successfully.

My department had a dynamic attitude, and people were professional, and devoted to their jobs.

I made friends, and met people that I respect very much in my days at Microsoft. I would reccommend the company to any young person that wants to grow in the IT field within a very large company with diversity of opportunities (while my team was downsizing, all the gaming teams, for instance, were growing, and the mobility within the company seemed to be very easy).

Arrival through Pearson security was always a friendly affair. Meeting travellers and informing them about the new Windows 8 was always a different and refreshing experience each time.

Management was great all around. They're friendly, considerate, encouraging, respectable, promote efficiency, knowledgeable, and helpful. The amount of time we all spent together allowed us to really become a team and we all eventually became friends even after the promotion ended. It was nice to look forward to coming into work and being around people you enjoyed being around. For example, when certains days felt longer than others it would be evident that we'd help one another pass the time. Throughout the duration of the program, we always learned from one another and were really beyond knowledgeable about Windows 8 and its products by the end of the program.

Although the job itself I could not consider in any way difficult, sometimes certain frustrations would arise due to faulty internet or software hiccups which would embarrassingly affect our pitches.

I really enjoyed the concept of "counting the wow's". To me "wow's" confirmed that the product experience we were sharing would be something very memorable for whoever I would be speaking to.

Working at Microsoft has been a truly rewarding experience. The company culture fosters innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. From day one, I felt empowered to bring ideas to the table and contribute to impactful projects that shape the future of technology.

Microsoft invests heavily in its employees, offering a wide range of resources for personal and professional growth. The mentorship programs, internal learning platforms, and open-door policy with leadership make it easy to advance your skills and career. The work-life balance is well-respected, and flexibility is encouraged through hybrid work options.

One of the most impressive aspects of Microsoft is its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. There’s a genuine effort to build a welcoming environment where everyone’s voice matters. Additionally, the company’s global reach and involvement in sustainability initiatives show a deep commitment to making a positive impact beyond just business goals.

Being part of a team that delivers solutions used by billions of people around the world is both humbling and exciting. If you're looking for a place where innovation meets purpose and your work can make a real difference, Microsoft is an incredible place to be.

My job consisted of being sent to two best buy stores to promote and sell Microsoft products primarily surrounding the Microsoft surface pro and Microsoft surface. My job consisted of training and development of the staff of the best buy stores I was sent to as well as being able to sell independently without any management around to support me. I was responsible of getting a customer interested planting all of the necessary seeds and then passing it off to a best buy employee to finish the sale. I learned how to work on my own and be able to merchandise manage my own time and self and learn new selling techniques that would further benefit me in terms of building relationships with customers and believing in what I sell. I learned a lot about Microsoft software, operating system and the products itself. I built very good relationships with the district manager and territory manager of Microsoft itself. During this time I build excellent relationships with the staff that worked in Best Buy. The hardest part of my job was that repetitiveness of the job and not being able to do more then what I was there for. Otherwise the company and job itself was an amazing opportunity that taught me many things.

Business program leader with 15 years of progressive experience with dynamic, fast paced customer centric organizations who drives transformation in customer support engagements for flagship products & services. Rich background in delivering support, service, sales, and loyalty and retention efforts for key Consumer brands.  Excellent achievement and a track record of creating valued partnerships with Business, Stakeholders, Partners, Marketing & Engineering teams that deliver business impact and customer value.   Extensive knowledge of online and Brick and Mortar merchandizing, billing, purchase and support experience.  
Demonstrated Vision and Success in the following:
Inspires and energizes organizations to commit and move together toward a shared vision. 
Takes on and sees through difficult endeavors with can-do attitude, honesty and integrity. 
Develops people, enable talent and embrace change.  Always ready to launch and land in market products and service to achieve a competitive edge.

The compensation package offered here is truly competitive and reflective of the value each employee brings to the table. The benefits provided are comprehensive and really show that the company cares about its employees' well-being.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this organization is the team of intelligent and talented individuals I have the privilege to work with. Collaborating with such brilliant minds on challenging projects has not only enhanced my professional growth but also fostered an environment of continuous learning.

There is a clear path for career advancement. The company provides ample opportunities for professional development, and the guidance and mentorship available have been instrumental in shaping my career trajectory. I'm excited about the possibilities ahead and the potential for personal and professional growth within the company.

Microsoft is a remarkable place to work, offering great pay, exceptional benefits, and the chance to collaborate with brilliant colleagues. The promising career trajectory and potential for growth make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to thrive in their professional journey.

I recently volunteered with Microsoft, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience. From the start, I was immersed in a supportive and innovative environment that inspired collaboration and creativity. As a volunteer, I contributed to meaningful projects, ensuring my work was thorough, organized, and aligned with Microsoft’s mission to empower communities. Taking initiative and solving problems creatively allowed me to make a tangible impact, and I took great pride in meeting deadlines and delivering quality results.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my experience was mentoring new volunteers. Sharing knowledge and helping others succeed reinforced my belief in the power of teamwork and community. Microsoft’s commitment to inclusivity and making a positive difference deeply resonated with me, and it motivated me to give my best every day. This experience not only helped me grow personally and professionally but also strengthened my passion for community engagement. Volunteering with Microsoft has been transformative, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such an inspiring organization. It’s an experience I’ll carry with me throughout my career.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Software engineer 46 salaries reported	$116,000 per year
Senior software engineer 34 salaries reported	$141,325 per year
Solution architect 4 salaries reported	$137,500 per year
Customer success manager 6 salaries reported	$116,167 per year
Data scientist 4 salaries reported	$125,000 per year

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