From TCS to Microsoft, techie details 6 things different from the Indian company that surprised him

Moving from a service-based company to a product-driven organisation changed how Sailesh Gurung viewed corporate life, according to a post he shared on Instagram. Gurung, who began his career as a fresher at TCS before joining Microsoft, described several workplace differences he noticed, including hierarchy, dress codes, office amenities, flexibility and the level of responsibility attached to his role.

Gurung said his understanding of corporate work was initially shaped by his experience at TCS, where he joined immediately after graduation. His subsequent move to Microsoft, he said, exposed him to a different style of working and a less formal office environment.

“I joined TCS as a fresher right after graduation, so my idea of corporate life was pretty simple: log in, follow the process, log out,” he wrote.


He later added, “After experiencing both worlds, here are a few things that genuinely surprised me.”

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A post shared by Sailesh Gurung | Tech, Lifestyle (@saileshgurung97)

A flatter hierarchy at Microsoft

According to Gurung, one of the biggest changes he noticed was the way organisational hierarchy worked.

“The culture shift is real,” he said.

He described his earlier experience in a service-based setup as one in which reporting structures, approvals and multiple layers were more apparent. His experience at Microsoft, by contrast, felt less hierarchical to him.

“In a service-based setup, hierarchy was very visible. Seniors, approvals, layers. At Microsoft, it feels… flat. You can reach out to anyone, collaborate across teams, and actually be heard,” Gurung said.

From formal clothes to a relaxed dress code

Gurung also pointed to a difference that had little to do with job responsibilities but was immediately visible in everyday office life: what employees wear.

“No dress code. Earlier: Formals every day (except Friday freedom). Now: Just be presentable. Wear what you want. Be yourself,” he wrote.

For him, the contrast represented a broader shift in the way employees were expected to conduct themselves at work.

More than a place to work

Another difference Gurung highlighted was the range of activities and spaces available within the office.

“Office ≠ just work. From hackathons to cross-team events, there’s always something happening. Plus, gaming zones, chill spaces, and yes… even places to just rest and reset,” he said.

He also said employees could bring friends and family to the Microsoft campus, something he had not experienced in his previous service-based workplace.

“You can bring your world to work. At Microsoft, you can bring your family or friends to the campus, show them around, grab food together-even on weekends. That’s something I never experienced in service-based setups,” Gurung explained.

‘Ownership hits different’

For Gurung, the most significant change involved the way work was assigned and responsibility was shared.

“Ownership hits different. Earlier, work felt shift-based. You do your part, the next person takes over. Here, it’s yours. End to end. The responsibility is heavier… but so is the growth (and the pay),” he said.

He described the difference as a shift from handling one portion of a task to taking responsibility for it from beginning to end.

Food, infrastructure and spaces to reset

Gurung said the contrast extended to several everyday workplace facilities as well.

“Better food, better coffee, better infrastructure, massage chairs, spaces to breathe. It’s like the workplace is designed for humans, not just employees,” he wrote.

According to him, these features added to his perception of a more employee-focused working environment.

‘Just my personal journey’

Gurung also clarified that his comparison was based on his own career experience rather than a blanket assessment of the two types of organisations.

“This is just my personal journey, from a structured service world to a product-driven one,” he said.

He acknowledged that both environments had contributed to his professional development and that each had taught him different lessons during his career.

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Professionals share their own experiences

Gurung’s post also prompted other professionals to discuss similar transitions between service-based and product companies.

One user praised his journey and asked, “True inspiration, can you help in explaining how did you switch from TCS?”

Another said they had experienced a comparable adjustment after moving into a product company following a decade in consulting.

“So true, even I shifted to a product firm after being in consulting for 10 years. This shift is real, and it’s taking me time to adjust. It’s like a new free way of working, that I haven’t experienced earlier,” the user wrote.

A third person asked Gurung about his route into Microsoft: “Ok can u tell me the process of how did you enter microsoft?”

Another commenter, who said they had spent more than 10 years at Microsoft, agreed with Gurung’s assessment, writing, “100% true, been with MSFT for over 10 years and the culture is by far the best.”