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Big bucks, great benefits, and your own digs—90% of entry-level hires get private offices.
No. of undergrad internships in:
2005: 889
2006: 1,113
2007: 758
2006 interns from the following classes:
0% Freshman
4% Sophomores
24% Juniors
72% Seniors
0% Graduates
2006 interns from the following majors:
8% Business
63% Computer Science
1% Economics
29% Engineering
0% Liberal Arts
2% Math
1% Science
2% Undeclared
10% Other
100% of internships paid
0% of internships unpaid
Is there an offical summer internship program? Yes
Average length of summer program: 24 weeks
Minimum: 12 weeks
Maximum: 24 weeks
Average hourly wage: $NA
Are interns paid on lump sum basis? NA
Average total intern compensation: $NA
NA% of eligible 2006 interns received full-time job offers
NA% of interns with offers accepted
85 undergrad campuses where employer recruited 2006-07
NA* undergrad campuses where employer made job offers
Applicants for entry-level jobs
2005: NA
2006: NA
2007: NA
Entry-level hires
2005: 872
2006: 1,350
2007: 259
Entry-level hires who were undergrad interns
2005: 27%
2006: 23%
2007: NA*%
Most important characteristics for new hires:
1-Analytical Skills
3-Work Experience
2-Other
Individual excellence
2006 new hires majored in:
8% Business
63% Computer Science
1% Economics
13% Engineering
0% Liberal Arts
2% Math
1% Science
2% Undeclared
10% Other
...and are:
3% African American
4% Hispanic American
29% Asian American
2% Other
38% Total minorities
27% Female
NOTE: Microsft extended offers to students on 322 undergraduate campuses during 2006-07 school year, including schools where the company doesn't send recruiters.
Entry-level hires since Jan. 1
Average base salary: $70,000 and above
0% earn less than $35,000
0% earn $35,000 to $39,999
0% earn $40,000 to $44,999
0% earn $45,000 to $49,999
0% earn $50,000 to $54,999
0% earn $55,000 to $59,999
5% earn $60,000 to $64,999
7% earn $65,000 to $69,999
88% earn $70,000 and above
Bonuses, Overtime & Perks
17% received signing bonuses
Average signing bonus: $4,438
100% received performance bonus first year on job
Average performance bonus, 2006: $6,000
0% of 2006 entry-level hires eligible for OT
100% of 2006 entry-level hires not eligible for OT
Reimburse employees for ed expenses?: Yes
Do employees become eligible immediately?: Yes
Maximum annual education reimbursement: $7,500
Full grad school sponsorship for jr. level employees? No
Partial grad school sponsorship for jr. level employees? Yes
Time Off
Is there a Paid Time Off (PTO) Bank? Yes
If no, total paid vacation days:
During first year: NA
After 1 year: NA
After 3 years: NA
After 5 years: NA
After 10 years: NA
Total paid holidays: NA
Time off for religious observances: NA
If yes, max PTO days:
During first year: 25
After 1 year: 25
After 3 years: 25
After 5 years: 25
After 10 years: 30
Total days off for religious observances: NA
Is flex time available? Yes
Sick, personal days, first year: NA
Health Benefits
Do entry-level hires have access to health plan? Yes
Employees pay part of the cost? No
Does health plan provide dental coverage? Yes
Extra charge for dental coverage? No
Does health plan provide vision coverage? Yes
Extra charge for vision coverage? No
Are same sex partners permitted as dependents? Yes
Pension and Profit-sharing
Do entry-level hires have access to 401(k)? Yes
0 months to full vesting in 401(k)
Max. company match as a percentage of salary: 3%
Min. employee set-aside as a percentage of salary to receive max. co. match: 6%
If 401(k) match not calculated as percentage of salary, explain:
In lieu of matching 401 (k) contributions, company has a Supplemental Employee Retirement Program (SERP). In recent years, company has contributed 8% of employee's salary.
Are entry-level hires eligible for co-funded pension? No
Months to full vesting in co-funded pension: NA
Are entry-level hires eligible for profit-sharing program? No
Months to full vesting in profit-sharing program: NA
Maternity/Paternity Leave
Maximum Maternity Leave
60 days during first year
60 days after 1 year
60 days after 3 years
60 days after 5 years
Maximum Paternity Leave
20 days during first year
20 days after 1 year
20 days after 3 years
20 days after 5 years
Other Benefits
Does company match employee charitable gifts? Yes*
Max. annual company match for employee charitable gifts: $12,000
Does company pay relocation expenses? Yes
Max. annual relocation expenses? $NA*
Employee Discounts
Car rentals*
Gym memberships
Cell phone/service
Insurance
Cultural events
Publications
NOTE: No limit on relocation reimbursement
Charitable matching includes matching dollars for employee gifts of time and money.
Microsoft offers discounts at restaurants, has on-site cafeterias, free premium coffee (Starbuck’s), software discounts, free beverages, showers, and discounted financial services.
45 hours worked weekly by entry-level hires on average
Does average vary by business unit, department? Yes
Entry-level hire work locations...
5% in open work stations
0% in cubicles
5% in shared offices
90% in private offices
0% have no company-supplied work space
Does organization monitor e-mail?: No
Does organization monitor Web usage? No
Typical dress code
Business Casual
Casual Fridays
Casual
Formal/Business
Does organization sponsor employee volunteer opportunities? Yes
Does organization offer employee daycare? Not offered*
Does organization have fitness facilities on site? Facilities not available*
NOTE: Microsoft offers emergency back-up day care, and many resources to secure day care. Other parental-related perks include: adoption assistance, 'Babies and You' Seminars, external parenting resources, and 'new mother' rooms on campus.
Microsoft offers a fitness club membership, which has several locations, and in Redmond there is a shuttle service from offices to the gym. Company also has locker and shower rooms available for use throughout the day.
Training Programs
Does your organization have a formal orientation program? Yes
If yes, how many days is it? 3
Orientation includes:
Guest Speakers
Diversity Exercises
Team Building Activities
Benefits enrollment, business overview
$1,500 average spent on training, per new hire, in 2006
Is there a formal leadership program for entry-level hires of a year or less? Yes
Manager at Microsoft*
Do candidates apply directly? No
If not, how is eligibility determined? Sponsor
When are new hires first eligible? Within First Year
Is program rotational? No
If yes, number of locations or business units: NA
Minimum rotations: NA
Maximum rotations: NA
Length of program, in weeks: NA
Minimum: NA weeks
Maximum: NA weeks
After program, employees offered permanent positions: NA
After program, do employees offered permanent position receive raise? NA
If yes, amount of typical raise: NA
Is there a formal leadership program for entry-level hires of a year or more? No
NA
Do candidates apply directly? NA
If not, how is eligibility determined?
NA
When are new hires first eligible? NA
Is program rotational? NA
If yes, number of locations or business units NA
Minimum rotations: NA
Maximum rotations: NA
Length of program, in weeks: NA
Minimum: NA weeks
Maximum: NA weeks
After program, employees offered permanent positions: NA
After program, do employees offered permanent position receive raise? NA
If yes, amount of typical raise: NA
Does company have formal mentorship program? Yes
30% of entry-level hires participate
NA days of additional training expected
NOTE: Managing at Microsoft is an online course for anyone who's interested in learning more about learning how to lead in the company (Last year 4,800 people attended). A one-day conference called Exploring Management is also available to attendees who are nominated by their managers.
Getting Ahead
Three-year retention rate: 75%
Five-year retention rate: 67%
How are raises determined?
Performance
When are entry-level hires eligible for first raise? Performance review starts in June; eligibility is based on start date
How are promotions determined?
Performance
When are entry-level hires eligible for first promotion? Promotions can occur at any time
Evaluations
Frequency of evaluations
NA
Important qualities
Other-Performance against commitments
Min. tenure in years required for job change: 1
Describe any rules that apply:
Long-Term Prospects
Does position of VP exist at this organization? Yes
If not, is there a comparable title? NA
No. of employees who hold VP or similar title: NA
No. of employees with VP or similar title with 20 years plus seniority: NA
Age of youngest employee with VP or similar title: NA
Seniority of youngest employee with VP or similar title in years: NA