Microsoft Career Guide
Career ladders, promotion guides, and review season resources for Microsoft.
Career Ladders
Promotion Guides
Articles
How to Survive a Microsoft PIP: What the Process Actually Looks Like
Microsoft's PIP now starts with a 5-day binary choice: 16 weeks severance or fight. Here's what the process looks like, when fighting makes sense, and what happens after.
How to Get Promoted to Senior PM at Microsoft
Microsoft's L62 to L63 PM promotion is a band crossing that requires skip-manager approval. What calibration looks for and how to build a case that clears the bar.
How Promotion Panels Work at Big Tech Companies
Google uses a committee. Amazon uses a promo doc review. Meta calibrates by level. Microsoft has 'aunts and uncles.' Here's how each system actually works — and why borderline cases almost always lose.
Microsoft RSU Cliff: What Happens at Year 5 and How to Decide if You Should Stay
Your Microsoft on-hire RSU grant ends at year 4. Here's the math on the comp drop, how to negotiate a bigger refresh, and when leaving makes sense.
Microsoft PIP: What It Means and How to Respond
A Microsoft PIP now comes with a 5-day binary choice: take 16 weeks severance or attempt the plan. Here's how the process works and what to do first.
Microsoft Connects performance review for engineers
Microsoft Connects explained: semi-annual cycles, three impact dimensions, Perspectives 360 feedback, calibration, and how ratings affect comp and promotions.