The JobsBlog

More summer fun

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:00:00 GMT

How Microsoft women play

By Michelle Feder

We asked Microsoft women around the globe: What are you doing for fun this summer? We recently asked geek guys the same question. Now it’s HER turn to talk. Whether it’s something technical or getting outdoors, heading to San Diego Comic Con or GenCon, some female Microsofties share their plans and hopes for the coming summer.

To start us off, Joy Lin, who works in service operations on Advertising in Bellevue, thinks big:

“I would love for my kids to learn how to develop online games. Games are their passion. If kids can get lessons on how to get started, we will turn these kids into game developers, software engineers. Kids are sometimes bored in the summer, with too much free time on their hands. I know tech camps can make an impact.”

Here’s what other women of Microsoft are thinking:

Lori Woehler, Principal Program Manager, Compliance, Redmond

I ride my horse competitively on a national circuit and I attend a few hacker conferences, including DefCon in Las Vegas in late July– the world’s largest hacker conference.

Here’s a picture of my horse and me, taken at a show in April: We won a circuit championship. His registered name is Get Lucky Sensation. Lucky is his barn name.

There will be other Microsoft attendees at DefCon, from various internal security teams. I most look forward to networking and sharing ideas with a really diverse group of people who are similarly curious and very collaborative.

Lakshmi Saranath, Senior Solution Manager, India

We moved from Redmond to India two years ago. My daughter Rhea, who is eight, absolutely loves learning to use the computer. Her newest craze is using PowerPoint to build presentations about every country she visits.

She attended summer camp in Hyderabad. She loved every bit of it. She loved going to the planetarium and learning all about the planets, the sun, the moon, and stars. And she wants to read up on astrophysics because she feels that’s uber cool. ; )

Cheryl Platz, Senior UX Designer, Bellevue

This is my third summer performing in “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” a family-friendly improv parody of original Star Trek episodes. I love spending summertime with geeky audiences! Performances are August 16th and 17th in Seattle, WA.

Summer’s also a great time to get kids interested in technology careers with hands-on workshops – DigiPen in Redmond, WA has a ton of summer workshops in game design and technology, some with open spots.

Ana Lampret, Consultant in Global Delivery, Poland

I love science in action. One of my favorite things to do is visit science and technology museums, such as Deutsches Museum Munich, one in Vienna, and the Technical Museum of Slovenia.

I recently moved from Slovenia to Warsaw, Poland, and I plan to visit the Copernicus Science Centre at least twice this summer.

June Blender Rogers, Senior Programming Writer, Server and Tools Business, Escalante, UT

I'm taking a bunch of Coursera classes and perhaps a Udacity class. I'm also trying to find a RailsBridge conference nearby. I do these things all year, but I love doing them in the summer when I can work outdoors and "on the rocks." (I live and work remotely in Escalante, UT, near the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.)

Jessica Campbell, Briefing Consultant, Redmond

We will visit the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle and Pacific Science Center. We will build robots. We’ll play a lot of Euro-style board games, as a family and with grown-ups only: Carcassonne, Kingdom Builder, Agricola, SmallWorld. We also have Tea & Croquet parties in the park. (These have nothing to do with science, but my husband and I are geeky and it is something we do every summer.)

Share this story with friends and family (and fellow coworkers of course)—so everyone can benefit from these great tips and activities.

Come summer, what’s YOUR favorite way to play? Give us a shout @MicrosoftJobs on Twitter or Microsoft Careers on Facebook.

How to raise 21st-century kids

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Meet two Super Dads who are doing it right

By: Heather McGouth and Cindy Parrish

As Father's Day approaches this year, the day offers us the opportunity to honor fathers, celebrate fatherhood and look at the influence of fathersin society.

In particular, we wanted to acknowledge two IT/geek Dads: Daniel and Darol, a couple of our PFEs (Premier Field Engineers). We asked them how they share their passion for technology and foster that interest with their children. In their own words, here’s what they said:

“Can I get a new game for the Surface?”

Daniel:I am a PFE here at Microsoft, and I focus on the Windows Server Platform. I am the father of two terrific boys ages 7 (Aidan) and 3 (Owen). As they
have grown, they have gotten more curious about my job, computers and such. It is always an interesting conversation with them when I try to explain my job. In the words of my 7-year-old, "I help people who are having problems with their computers and I tell them stuff about computers.”

Kids are curious about everythingand technology is no different. As you can imagine, that leads to even more questions: “Is this picture going on Facebook?” “How does the Kinect really work?” The best part is my kids think they know how to use all of them. Ironically, they do very well without my help.

Technology will be even more prevalentin their future. As someone who works in IT, I want my kids to understand technology and know how to use it. Currently they are doing exceptionally well! (Future Microsoft employees…)

“Daddy, what do you do all day for your job?”

Benjamin: “Tommy’s dad is a doctor, and I want to play basketball when I grow up…and you sit at your computer all day?”

Darol (Benjamin’s Dad): How does a father give his children a correct value of technology and a sense of its importance in today’s fast-paced culture, when working with computers–apart from playing games–is often perceived as BORING?

Given the national trend towards lack of exercise, and that the average American three years ago (BEFORE the explosion of mobile devices) spent more than 35 hours of screen time per week, I’m not one to push my children to spend a great deal of time in front of computers.

I actually prefer they spend more time playing sports and interacting with other children in games and challenging activities, rather than glued to a video that is doing the thinking for them.

However, I also desire that they develop a healthy appreciation for technology and the benefit it provides as a tool for the present and future. Some of the key lessons we make sure to teach our children are that technology is a wonderful tool to gather vast amounts of information about the amazing world around them, whether it be for a school paper or simply appreciating the culture in which they live.

I also push them to think analytically though logic puzzles, so each of my kids can develop a quick, sharp mind that can reason through difficult problems. My wife and I also like for them to develop the ability to build things, an aptitude that carries over to becoming skilled with new technology. The main principle I strive to convey in fathering, with respect to technology, is to have a fascination for the amazing things in our world, and to realize how technology can be an excellent tool to provide answers to their questions, as well to lead the way to more questions.

Meet more PFEs who love their jobs.

Another dad, Kinect engineer Johnson Liu, reflects on the cross-generation effect of tech.

Could a PFE role be in your future? See Microsoft Careers for new opportunities.

You said it: The geek guy’s guide to summer

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 07:00:00 GMT

You tell us what’s hot this summer

By: Michelle Feder

“Q: What are the top 3 summertime activities you're most looking forward to?”

On our Microsoft Careers Facebook page and @MicrosoftJobs on twitter, we asked what activities rank high on your summer bucket list. And because Father’s Day is coming up this weekend, we’re focusing on what all guys are passionate about this summer—dads, dads-to-be, or geek guys who are kid-free. From around the world, here’s the deal for the livin’-is-easy season:

AT PLAY

On our social channels, our community members said they’re ready for adventure. C. Mason tweeted that he is looking forward to “Beach vacations and Parkour.” Parkour is an obstacle-overcoming discipline that originated in France, but Seattle-area geeks can vault themselves

off walls at a Parkour Visions gym—the first class is free!

Our community members are taking to the air, the trails, and the sea:

Jeremy Foster, a Microsoft Developer Evangelist, is looking forward to “sailing in the Sound.”

Back on earth: James is excited about “bike rides, summer holidays and BBQs.” For geeks in the Pacific Northwest, hard-core cyclists put on their armor and rocket downhill at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park or the new bike park at Stevens Pass.From Italy, Daniele writes: “Soaring with gliders!”

With a short-and-sweet tweet, Dan sums up what holds a place in his heart: “One word: Golf.”

AT WORK, AT SCHOOL, IN THE MICROSOFT ORBIT

The sun also rises, but as we all know: work and for some students, school continues. Shannon has summer classes, so his plan is to “study, study, study!” Maybe, at least, outside.

On main campus, there’s nothing like the Commons to keep everyone’s spirits lifted. Azra shared excitement about playing volleyball.

Bill is fired up for the 2013 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference. He chants: “WPC WPC WPC!”

In other Microsoft up-comings, Prince_of_Utopia is excited about “the opening of Michigan’s first Microsoft store!”

And as summer gets going, Will is planning on “getting an internship.” Hey, Will, here’s some advice on how to make the most of your internship. Mohammed is looking for a job at Microsoft. Mohammed, here are our top six job-search tips. Good luck!

Tell us:

If you have kids, how do they spend their “104 days of summer vacation”? (For those who haven’t seen the show, that’s a lyric from the title sequence of the Disney Channel’s hit series Phineas and Ferb.)

Prabhat tells us: “In New Delhi, India, it’s 42 degrees Celsius!” For those of you in the warmest climates: How do you weather the weather?

Let’s keep up the conversation. Find Microsoft Careers on Facebook or send us a tweet.

Game-changers - Meet five women of Xbox who are changing the game

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

The big reveal of Xbox One has propelled excitement about what’s coming. It’s only fitting that we introduce you to the people behind the product.

In our video series, “Celebrating the Women of Xbox,” you’ll meet five female employees who are making the magic happen behind the scenes so gamers (and everyone else) can enjoy what’s on the screen.

GAME-CHANGER: Bonnie Ross, General Manager of 343 Industries, which manages all things HALO

A DAY IN THE OFFICE:“It’s seriously like playing in the most amazing sandbox ever.”

TWO CENTS:“Entertainment is for everyone. The more diverse a team you have, the more interesting creative process you get.”

ADVICE:“Believe in your passion. Be willing to make mistakes, and have fun.”

GAME-CHANGER: Nancy Han, Senior Program Manager, Xbox Live

WHY SHE LIKES HER JOB:“It’s a combination of math and creativity all rolled into one.”

SUPERMOM:“My kids think it’s so cool I work at Xbox. They say, ‘I want to be just like you, Mom, and work at Xbox. They love going to the Microsoft Store and saying, ‘Which product did you make today?’”

YES, YOU CAN:“My parents didn’t think I could get a job in games. They still don’t think it’s a real job.”

GAME-CHANGER: Angela Hillier, a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

THE BACKSTORY:“I’ve played games since I was young. I was raised on the Atari.”

HER MISSION:“I want to enable game developers to make the games I want to play.”

HER ROLE:“I work for the Kinect team, which means I work with really awesome technology. The better we get at gesture recognition, the better Kinect titles will be. I want to see more of them and play more of them in my living room.”

GAME-CHANGER: Nahil Sharkasi, a producer for Xbox at Microsoft Studios

OUR MISSION:“To push the boundaries of entertainment.”

WHAT SHE DOES:“I’m working with artists and composers, designers and developers, and trying to understand the emotional impact we’re giving to the user.”

GIVING BACK AS A MENTOR:“There’s a big community of people at Microsoft who work at Big Sisters, Big Brothers.”

WHAT’S FUN ABOUT BEING A ’BIG SISTER’ TO A TEEN:“It’s great to be back in high-school mode and just goof off with her. There is the cool factor of being able to show her new products and new games and it’s great to get the teenage perspective. She is our audience.”

GAME-CHANGER: Irina Frumkin, Senior Development Lead

HER DRIVE:“I always want to feel challenged. I always want to take risks.”

STAYING ENERGIZED:“I look forward to going to Zumba. I go and work out and then I get three times as much done. It puts me in a positive mood, which helps with my work, and with my family.”

IN THE BEGINNING:“I joined Microsoft 10 years ago being a scared, shy girl who would not speak up in meetings. Working with people who really believed in me—and seeing the coolest products used by customers all over the world—really empowered me to have the self-confidence to say, ‘Hey, I am good at this!’”

YES, SHE IS.The Bing team recently recruited Irina away from Xbox.

Why do we need more women in technology? A male recruiter says it.

The Explore Microsoft internship program gives university students from diverse backgrounds access to tech training and mentorship.

Find opportunities to make your mark at Microsoft.

All in the family - Three international siblings land dream jobs at Microsoft

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

Ever since they were kids, the Aslaners loved technology. Now, in Germany and Dubai, the two brothers and a sister have jobs they love—all in the same business group. The three employees explain how they made their family tree flourish at Microsoft.

The oldest: Aydin Aslaner is a Senior Premier Field Engineer for Networking and Security at Microsoft Gulf (Dubai).

Question: When did you discover your passion for technology? And how did you wind up at Microsoft?

Aydin:I always felt I was born to be a geek. It started in childhood with an Atari 2600, Commodore 64, and continued through high school.

I was the first one of us to come to Microsoft, in January 2006. I joined as a support engineer based in Istanbul for German-speaking customers. I had worked in Germany for a Microsoft partner before that.

Since my childhood, I always dreamed about working for Microsoft. I applied for a job and didn’t hear back. I figured, it’s such a huge company, they’re considering a thousand people. In the meantime, I moved from Germany to Turkey for a life change. Somewhat out of the blue, I got a call from the hiring staff, and after a couple of interviews, I was hired. After five years in Turkey in support, where I became an Escalation Engineer in Networking, I moved with my family to Dubai and joined Premier Field Engineering, where I am now.

My brother Milad is a 12-years-younger version of me, with the same passion but more energy. I think he has a very good career growth opportunity at Microsoft. It wasn’t that hard to make him switch from Apple. ; )

The youngest in the family: Milad Aslaner is part of the Premier Field Engineering group, focusing on Windows Reliability and Performance. He is based in Germany.

Before Microsoft I was working in a similar role but for Apple. I always wanted to work for Microsoft but I thought, “I have to build a reputation before I apply.”

Near the end of my time at Apple, I was visiting my brother in Istanbul and I went with him to the office. Aydin gave me a speech that finalized my career decision. He gave me two books, one on Windows Internals, and one on TCP/IP. He said, “Milad, I know you want to work for Microsoft. Read these books, understand them, and be able to explain them to me in the words of an IT decision maker and support engineer.” It became obvious to me that I had learned everything I could from Apple and the next step was for me to join a company where I could utilize the things written in the books.

When the time came, I asked my brother, who was doing technical screenings for Microsoft Support, if he could test me. After about 20 questions, he said, “You are ready.” That’s when he suggested I apply for the role of Premier Field Engineer.

During the technical interview, my manager asked me how flexible I could be on the job. My answer was, “You could send me to Alaska for 10 years. I don’t mind. All I want is to join Microsoft and let my dream come true.” Well, I didn’t have to fly to Alaska but have relocated twice for the company within Germany.

So after two years at Apple, I joined Microsoft. I’m doing exactly what I love and what I always wanted to do.

The sister: Aylin Aslaner is a Technical Account Manager in Germany.

Just like Milad, I always looked up to my older brother. I was always looking at how he was learning and communicating and tried to do the same.

I wanted to have a career that would combine innovation and creativity. I decided to study civil engineering. This is not an area women typically study, but as my mother used to say, “Tell Aylin to run 5 km and she will try to run around the globe!”

With two brothers working in IT, over time I became more and more interested in what they were talking about at the dinner table: how they help customers have a healthy IT environment, and how they prepare for holding sessions at events like TechEd.

One night we were all talking and my brothers were saying how they were working with Technical Account Managers to support a customer. I noticed the job they were describing was similar to the role I had at the time at another company. A week later, I called Aydin. I had looked on Microsoft’s career website and saw a job opening for a Technical Account Manager.

Now I’m working at Microsoft and proud of what I’m doing every day. Besides getting married and having two adorable kids, it was the best decision of my life.

What does a Microsoft Premier Field Engineer do? Read Milad’s day-in-the-life blog post.

Meet some more PFEs who love their jobs.

Learn more about careers at Microsoft.

What’s Microsoft really like? - Our interns find out for themselves

Thu, 30 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

As an intern, you want to launch your full-time career. You want your work to have an impact. So why not make your 12 sunshine-y weeks a stellar career preparation, a coveted peek at the real deal—AND a blast?

Our My Intern Life videos highlight the experiences of real Microsoft interns. They offer a window into what’s really happening around here. You’ll find our interns speaking freely.

Imagine: What would be a perfect summer job for you? See if a summer at Microsoft might be a match.

What’s it like to work at Microsoft?

In these videos, you’ll get a taste of what real jobs are like at Microsoft. Amanda O’Neal was an intern in the Xbox group, and now she’s an SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test). Amanda asked her manager, Charlie Mahlman, who’s a senior test lead: “What do you like about being a tester?” His answer: “The freedom.” Interns here can get their questions answered.

You’ll also meet Frank, a Program Manager intern. Frank’s manager explains what a PM does: figuring out what the developers are going to build. On the scene, you’ll meet our interns’ managers, coaches, mentors, and friends. You’ll spy a practical joke, and you’ll see how a team might unwind on Friday.

What do interns do when they aren’t working? (Hint: It’s not business as usual.)

To name a few doings: Enjoy killer concerts, eat peaches at Pike Place Market and hike Mount Rainier.

John D. Goodman, now a Microsoft Finance Rotation Program analyst, shares some summer-in-Seattle highlights: “Fun. Mountains. Trees. Coffee options.”

Come summer’s end, what’s the big reveal?

E.J. Layne, now a Microsoft PM in the Office organization, says: “It’s really awesome and awe-inspiring to make something millions of people are going to use on a daily basis.”

Frank says: “I know I want to come back to Microsoft.” And he did.

Here’s an update on Frank’s intern life:

“During the period in which ‘My Intern Life’ was filmed, I was an Explorer Intern (summer of 2011). Last year I was a regular PM intern in Windows and I worked on the PC Selector Tool on windows.com. This summer, I'm a PM intern in Windows again, but this time working on the Windows App Store.”

Today, as of this posting, is the third day of Frank’s third summer internship at Microsoft.

Your internship can be this bright. Future-think your career plans. These three months can change your career, and your work can change the world.

Learn about technical internships, business internships, and MBA internships at Microsoft.

Employee writes 5-star book

Tue, 28 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Why is C++ still the answer?

By Michelle Feder

SRIDHAR PODURI, a PM with the Reader team at MSDIC (Microsoft India Development Center), recently published his first book, Modern C++ and Windows Store apps.The book is selling on Amazon—with a 5-star rating. When Microsoft Library ordered some copies for the Redmond campus, it quickly went onto the waitlist, with 24 employees waiting their turn.

Sridhar says, “My book helps readers understand the story that has fueled the movement to a device-centric world. C++ is seeing a resurgence, not just at Microsoft but the industry in general.”

How did you get into technology? When I was in high school in the early ‘90s, I took a class that taught BASIC and the basics of C programming. It was an elective class that allowed students to dabble and play around. I considered programming a hobby, rather than something I would pursue as a career option.

I went on to pursue a bachelor’s in engineering. Surprisingly, it was not computer science, but mechanical engineering. I continued to take electives in subjects like computer graphics, but I still considered writing code a hobby. But as I was going through the engineering curriculum, I realized I was better at programming than the curriculum I originally started.

What was your path to Microsoft? I worked at multiple startups and small shops in India. I finally joined Microsoft in 2006. I worked in the Consulting division before I moved to Windows.

How did you decide to write a book? While in the consulting role, I engaged with our enterprise customers, from analyzing application compatibility requirements to developing embedded software that works off Windows Embedded. After moving to Windows as a PM, my responsibility was to build the Reader app on the new native XAML platform and Windows Runtime being developed in Windows 8. I began thinking about writing what I had learned to help fellow developers learn the new technologies.

When I was working with the Consulting division, I met Ale Contenti and Vikas Bhatia. They were in the C++ product team, and over the years we maintained contact. In 2011, I visited Redmond. I had lunch with Ale and Vikas, and they brought up the subject: writing a book, or a small part of a book, on C++ and Windows 8 apps.

Why is this topic important? We are moving into a devices-centered world. People spend more time on tablets and phones in addition to their work PCs. Think of Surface: It runs on battery power. Until you go home and plug it in, you are using a finite source of power.

Users want cool apps, and they don’t want to run out of battery power. The key question is: Is there a technology that allows me to write amazing apps that will consume as little power as possible? C++ is the answer. I wanted to tell that story.

Why is Microsoft a great place for young developers to establish a career? We keep hearing in the blogosphere that Microsoft is too big, compared with the lean startup community. I tell the younger developers that Microsoft is not different from other companies. Some of the cool things do not change: having passion, working for people who do great work. Their peers and managers are willing to help out. When junior developers hear about all these things, they are pretty impressed by the processes and practices we have at Microsoft.

Sridhar blogs regularly on WinRT and native C++ at http://sridharpoduri.com/.

Many Microsoft employees are dedicated to learning and career development for tech professionals. Dandy Weyn teaches IT professionals about Cloud computing.

Zach, a senior PM lead on SharePoint, tells you why Microsoft is a great place to build a career.

Get started.

Meet 5 women leaders

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Microsoft 4Afrika initiative celebrates change

By: Whitney Cubbison

The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative is a new effort through which Microsoft is actively engaging in Africa's economic development to improve its global competitiveness. It focuses on three pillars: innovation, skills and access. In honor of Africa Day (May 25), we are delighted to introduce you to the women helping to lead this important effort.

Amrote Abdella recently joined Microsoft from the World Economic Forum and is responsible for VC and start-up projects. Originally from Ethiopia, Amrote has worked in the US, Europe and various African countries before joining the Nairobi office.

Q: Amrote, what made you decide to join Microsoft and the 4Afrika team?

A: There is no better time to be involved in Africa than now. As I assessed my opportunities to work in Africa, the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative presented the biggest opportunity to have an impact on the continent. There is growing optimism around Africa's ability to become innovative and competitive, but no other company has developed a holistic strategy around ways to harness technology with a long-term investment view in Africa. And it's this technological readiness and innovation that the 4Afrika Initiative is addressing today. It's a great opportunity, as an African and as a professional working in Africa, and I'm very excited about the impact we will have as a team!

Mariam Abdullahi is responsible for 4Afrika business development in the telecom sector. Somali by heritage, Kenyan by birth and British by education, Mariam has had the good fortune of living and working across Africa, Europe, India, Middle East and the United states.

Q: Mariam, what advice do you have for other women who are considering a career in technology?

A: I have a confession to make. Even as a Computer Science and Business graduate, I am not the most technically advanced person in the world. I very occasionally worry that I will be called out as a fraud when in a room full of my counterparts and colleagues discussing how many megabytes are in a gigabyte.

What I do know and would say to anyone looking toward a career into the technology sector is that what you are creating, developing, marketing or selling is not a few wires in a metal container, bits and bytes flying up in clouds. Products and services created in our sector are tools of empowerment. At Microsoft, we change the way people interact to bring the world closer together. I get excited every day knowing that what we do will shape how people learn, communicate, integrate and work.

Technology is bridging gaps in the social, political and economic spheres. Being part of an industry that allows my mother in Nairobi to email, Skype IM, voice and video-conference her eight children spread across Europe, the Middle East and Africa at no or little cost is the thrill of why I am in this industry. My advice to anyone looking to join the world of technology is to look beyond the mere mechanics but rather to the effect that our work has on real people’s lives. This sector continues to be the biggest revolution since the industrial revolution and will continue to shape the world.

Leila Charfi is managing the partnerships with incubation centers and community hubs for Microsoft 4Afrika to support the growth of African startups. She is a proud Tunisian, and she is engaged in a political party, various NGOs and artistic projects.

Q: Leila, what was your best-ever day at Microsoft, and why?

A:It was during the closing ceremony of an annual program for startups, when I was running the Microsoft Innovation Center in Tunisia, where startups that benefited from the program presented their projects and gave testimonials on how the program changed their lives, boosted their companies and helped them grow their businesses and create jobs. At the end of the event, some of them came to me thanking me for believing in them and for allowing them to have such great support that made them successful entrepreneurs. It made me feel so proud of the impact of the job I’m doing for employment and SME development (small and medium-sized enterprises). I felt and still feel that I have the best job in the company!

Perry Kamel is an Egyptian national and as part of the 4Afrika team, she is responsible for helping small and medium enterprises across Africa get online.

Q: Perry, what is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

A:It was about following your gut feeling when choosing your next job rather going for the best “logical” move in your career path. Sometimes it’s important to take a leap of faith for an opportunity that you feel is going to make you passionate and energized in coming to work every day. I believe in giving my job my all, every day, so that passion is what enables me to constructively deal with the ups and downs of the job over the long term. And isn’t it just more fun to do what you are passionate about on a daily basis?!

Tonia Kariuki is the Marketing Director for the 4Afrika team. She is a Kenyan national and a long-time Microsoftie.

Q: Tonia, what is it that keeps you engaged and passionate about your role here?

A:I am on a constant journey to reinvent myself, create new experiences and build new competencies. I look at each challenge and ask myself, what is the craziest solution, and then I work backwards to reality from there. The amount of learning you pick up that way is simply amazing, plus, you force yourself to think differently each time and you end up surprising yourself.

I also like to surround myself with smart people, which here I get to do every day. You know that moment when it feels like you're the dumbest person in the room? Those are the best times. I take those opportunities and soak in everything, learn, absorb, I'm like a sponge. Later on, I will have time to filter and pick my learnings.

Never underestimate what you can learn from other people and how far that goes towards keeping you on the constant journey to be better at what you do. The day I'm the smartest person in the room, is the day I'm done. On a recent trip home, I saw this quote at an airport: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." There is no better feeling for me than when the people I am with are part of my success and I am a part of theirs.

Women all over the world are making a difference at Microsoft.

Meet Juliana Gomez, a native of Brazil who now leads Microsoft’s Extended Quality and Business Excellence organization in Europe.

Jessie Gertzin San Francisco considers Microsoft’s commitment to health and community especially fulfilling.

Kara Fong came to Microsoft after participating in DigiGirlz, a program that gives high school girls the opportunity to learn about careers in technology.

How to use your internship to prepare for a full-time career

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

4 ways to get the job you really want

By: Anthony Rotoli

With summer right around the corner, many of you are preparing for an exciting internship. While you’re doing everything to make the most of it, here are some tips that will also help you leverage your summer experience to prepare for your full-time career:

Learn from industry experts

During your internship you’ll be working side-by-side with industry professionals who have various areas of expertise. Just as you look to your college professors for guidance, you’ll want to take advantage of the career knowledge these experts can offer. Find the full-time employees working on the technologies that excite you most. Ask them to lunch: Find out more about their career path, what they might have done differently, and the true pros and cons of the work they do now. In your day-to-day responsibilities, with your full-time colleagues, always be inquisitive: Ask for advice, and listen.

Recognize what you don’t like–but keep things in perspective

During college we get used to our areas of focus re-shifting every few months as semesters change and those less-enjoyable classes get swapped out for new ones. When you enter the work force it can be intimidating to think about focusing on one area for several years. Because of this, new grads may become ultra-sensitive to the less desirable areas of a particular job.

During your internship it makes sense to identify the areas of your current work that you don’t particularly enjoy, but at the same time it’s important to be thoughtful about the big picture. Even for those of us who truly love coming to work every day, there will always be a few aspects of the job that excite us less than others. At the end of the day, if you’re passionate about the larger goal of the work you’re doing, make sure you don’t let slight undesirables scare you away.

Even if you are less than thrilled about your initial assignment, let your work ethic, determination and intellectual horsepower shine for those around you. You’ll build a strong reputation that will follow you as you pursue other opportunities.

Explore different products and business groups

Most likely, you’ll spend your internship working within one specific division. Get to know everything about that department, and explore your interest within the area you’re assigned. Beyond your assignment, learn more about other groups across the company. Get a broad view, and then dive deeper in an area or two that might really interest you. Understand how different technologies function and evolve. Think about what you’d be passionate about working on with your current company or another employer.

Do really well at the work you’re doing now

One of the most valuable pieces of career advice I’ve ever received is: The easiest way to get to the job you want next is to do exceptionally well at the job you have now. You might think this is a no-brainer, but it’s important to highlight how valuable it is to build the strongest-possible track record for yourself in the work you’re currently doing.

Enjoy the sunshine—and think about the resume you’ll be writing at the end of the summer.

Get ready to tell your internship story by using strong words.

Explain the specific technologies you worked on, and areas where you showed the ability to turn your own great ideas into a tangible result.

Then start looking at New Grad Jobs.

How to land a sales, marketing and services job at Microsoft

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Master personal branding and the secrets of Search

By: Kevin Lamsback, Staffing Consultant

Personal branding and Search: How does this help you land a job at Microsoft, you ask? Good question.

In this post, I will map out a three-step formula for you that will increase your chances tenfold. However, it comes with a disclaimer: “This formula requires work.” So if you are not really, really, serious about Microsoft, no need to read any further.

1. You have to be proactive in using social media to your advantage.

When it comes to personal branding via your social network, as the saying goes, “content is king.” You’ve got to know your audience. People on LinkedIn, for example, don’t really care whether you just grabbed the world’s best caramel macchiato at the corner coffee shop (then again, I’m not sure if anyone really cares…but to each his own, I digress).

Start by paying attention to the days of the week your social network is most active and make a note of it. Next, find an interesting article that isn’t getting much airtime, then post it during peak social-networking times. This simple technique will increase your reach, bolster your brand and attract attention to yourself.

Remember, be sure your information is current, descriptive and readily available. Don’t just wait for a recruiter to call you about the perfect role, be proactive and get out there and network.

2. Do your research.

Here at Microsoft we see resumes from a lot of applicants … so prepare yourself for a social introduction by doing your homework. Research our openings by accessing our Careers site online, then thoroughly vet the openings that look like a fit. Hint: Pay particular attention to the “requirements” section.

Once you’ve identified those ideal roles, research the groups or organizations that they are a part of. For instance: CSS (Customer Service and Support), PFE (Premier Field Engineering), corporate headquarters, Bing, Xbox, and so on.

3. Use the Search feature.

Run a variety of simple searches using the search function on LinkedIn to look for recruiting contacts within the organization you’ve identified. Example: “Microsoft” and “recruiter” are two good keywords to get you started. Drill down based on the organization research you conducted in the last step.

Note: If you can’t find the exact recruiter who supports the group in question, the next best option is to start connecting with any of our recruiters/staffing consultants. Be sure to keep your message short and concise while including the position number(s) you’re interested in. This shows you’ve done your homework and you’re not just throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks.

If you are in the introduction phase, do NOT just send a resume with a one-liner saying, “Let me know if you have anything.” This = ‘Delete button’ in the recruiting world.

So, if you want to take ownership of your career and get proactive about Microsoft, give this approach a shot and see how it works! Start searching for your next exciting role. If you never envisioned yourself at Microsoft, you’re not alone… Check out Jack’s surprising story about taking a leap of faith here.

If you want more ‘how-to’ build-your-skills advice, here’s why personal branding matters. And learn more about how to represent yourself.

Resume Power Words Part II: 5 ways to strengthen a weak CV

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

1. DON’T speak in the passive language. DO use words that show impact.

Rewrite statements that convey any trace of back-seat driving. Instead: Amplify your leadership experience. “When I’m reviewing a resume I’ll sometimes take caution when someone suggests that they played the role of an almost passive observer, less involved in leading solutions to challenges,” says Anthony, a university recruiter.

“Words such as maintained, contributed, helped, and participated make it difficult to understand your unique contribution,” Anthony says. “Even when you’re a team member of many, there’s always something that you’re likely tasked with leading. It’s easier for me to imagine the impact you’ll be able to make when you share what you personally delivered.”

2. DON’T be vague. DO provide specifics.

When you’re talking to recruiters (remember, your resume is your big sales pitch), don’t leave ‘em guessing. Eugenia, who finds talent for Bing, gives some examples of how developers should hone in on their portfolio of skills: For instance, rather than saying you’re “familiar with”a particular technology, show expertise. “We don’t want to know what you’ve used once, we want to know what you’re known for knocking it out of the park with in terms of skills, ability and experience.”

As Eugenia says, these words need more information:

Used (Existing tools or did you develop your own?)

Attended (What did you do besides attending?)

Corresponded with (You talked to this person? What did you deliver?)

To sum it up, Eugenia says: “Any of those words or phrases undermine your efforts to emphasize your background, experience and skills.”

3. DON’T sabotage your interview with too-high expectations. But DO highlight how you got results.

Some insight from Paul, a university recruiter: “I encourage students to avoid claiming ‘expert’ at any coding language. There are other methods I recommend to write resumes more effectively. For example, avoid the words work experience and replace with ‘professional accomplishments.’ Rather than listing job duties, this forces the writer and reader to communicate in terms of outcomes and measurable impact.” Paul adds an important point: Besides thinking of keywords, he says, “I recommend using the resume to get noticed and to control parts of the interview.”

4. DON’T over-acronym your language. DO spell things out.

Heather, who recruits for SMSG (Sales and Marketing Services Group) says, “Think about when you are using industry acronyms vs. company acronyms. For example, you would put C# on your resume as that is a standard coding language, but you would NOT put ‘my work in CTS consists of…’ Instead, you would write ‘my work in Commercial Technical Support (CTS) consists of…’”

5. DON’T say: “References available on request.” DO assume we’ll ask.

Be savvy, says SMSG recruiter Steve. Eliminate this cliché from your resume, but be prepared to share the contact information of people from your professional network who can put in a good word for you.

Be a contender. Choose words that tell your professional story to your best advantage. Then put these guidelines to work when you apply for the role that will take your career to the next level.

Three reasons why we need more women in technology - How Microsoft empowers women

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

By Sandeep Sood

When it comes to balancing work and life, including a rewarding, impactful professional role, can women have it all? YES, says recruiter Sandeep Sood, who has hired hundreds of women in tech over 14 years, after his own five-year career in engineering. In Sandeep’s own words, as we get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day, here’s why we need more women at Microsoft:

In the U.S., Microsoft currently has more than 3,500 openings for engineers. And we are focused on finding more women to fill these roles. Why? Is it just for diversity?

According to John Gerzema, author of The Athena Doctrine, “Feminine traits are a strategic advantage in today's economy.”

The author’s research, in which he surveyed 64,000 people around the world, indicates that so-called “feminine” traits (intuitive, flexible, nurturing and collaborative) have an important business impact. These findings have major implications for the workplace. From their Athena research, here are a few telling statistics:

81 percent of people said that, man or woman, you need both masculine and feminine traits to thrive in today’s world.

And 63 percent of the men polled agree with this statement: “The world would be a better place if men thought more like women.”

Clearly, for all of us to succeed, we need to attract and retain more female employees. However, as a recruiter, I see how many women in technical disciplines hold themselves back from advancement. It’s time to buck that trend.

Here are three things women need to know about life at Microsoft:

1. It IS possible to climb the corporate ladder and have a life outside of work.

Many women have grown their career and taken leadership roles at Microsoft: A great example is Julia Liuson, a Microsoft corporate vice president. In her Seattle Timesarticle, she advises other women to “ask for what you need personally in order to do a great job professionally.”

In Julia’s interview on the JobsBlog, she addresses the importance of strong role models and how they are accessible to everyone today. And she emphasizes being “clear about your priorities,” including the tough juggles of work-life balance.

There are many ways Microsoft anticipates employee needs. To name a few: flexible work options, paid time off for life events, assistance with backup childcare, and employee communities of women and parents who share insider tips for positive family life. Learn more here.

2. We value career development.

At Microsoft we encourage you to grow your career, whether in management or as a senior individual contributor. And just as Julia mentions, we offer mentoring programs. We also offer management support and myriad opportunities across our business groups to follow one’s passions. We provide resources through employee networks and various workshops, such as our bi-yearly Global Women’s Conference. Learn more here.

3. Diversity is important.

Research shows that diversity is a boon to business outcomes. The National Center for Women and Informational Technology (NCWIT)found that while 60 percent of men at startups believed that diverse teams innovate and troubleshoot more efficiently, only 41 percent would support company-wide hiring practices to increase diversity. But consider this: If 60 percent believed that knowledgeable coders would make better hires, would only 41 percent be in favor of hiring people who know how to code?

It’s so important that we talk with our kids early about their own goals—maybe even by age six. That’s when their interests in technology and their sense of equality can begin.

Read more about building skills such as self-assessment and salary negotiations in our series about take-aways from the Grace Hopper conference.

Geek Grads: How to power your resume - The insider’s guide to words that work

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:15:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

Your resume allows you to make the best first impression. It’s your sales pitch. Every word needs to convince us that you’re a good fit for a role you’ll love.

With insights from our recruiters, here are some ways to deliver big impact:

Choose active words that show leadership.

“At Microsoft we’re always looking for people who are going to be ready to come in and make major impact,” says Anthony, a university recruiter. “We embrace a culture of constant progress, and to make sure we never lose sight of this, we need people who will bring their ideas to the table and champion creative solutions.”

“On my search for people like this I’m always excited to see signs of someone with a track record of making their ideas reality.”

Anthony highlights some persuasive picks: “Implemented…Created…Innovated…Founded…Lead a team.”

WHAT did you create? Express yourself.

Eugenia, who recruits talent for Bing, offers some pointers for software developers: “As a recruiter, I want to see what you have completed as a developer, the things you have shipped, changed, built and overall what you consider your expertise to be.”

Here’s Eugenia’s leadership lexicon:

Developed…Coded… Designed…Architected…Tested…Optimized…Performance…Scaled… Managed…Drove…Shipped.

Steve, who seeks pros for sales and marketing roles in SMSG (Sales, Marketing and Services Group), offers his power-vocabulary list:

Achieved….Accomplished….Drove….Enabled….Mobilized….Coordinated….Engineered….

Mirror the job description.

Heather, another SMSG staffing expert, who finds pros such as Premier Field Engineers who love their jobs, says you should use language that matches the job description. “If the job is a Program Manager,” Heather says, “but your title is Project Manager or Process Manager, make sure to include Program Managementdetails in your resume. Likely you have done ‘program management’ but it won’t pull up in our searches if those exact words are not in your resume.”

What are your career goals? Pinpoint the job you know you want. Then get in the game.

An often-asked question we hear is: What should I title my resume? We want to get to know you. Grab our attention.

The Power of Team Spirit

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

A surprise “get well” video cheers an injured employee

By Pang Ngernsupaluck

Senior Marketing Manager Pang Ngernsupaluck broke her ankle in a freak ski accident. A get-well video produced by her colleagues on the Microsoft Dynamics team speaks volumes about the warm and cohesive team culture at Microsoft.

In her own words, Pang shares her experience:

My family is Thai. A few weeks ago, we were ready to celebrate Songkran holidays, a time when Thai people take time off and visit their family. My brother flew in from Thailand and I took him skiing at Crystal Mountain.

My ski boots were not properly fitted, and so when I fell, I twisted my right ankle and it broke inside of the boots. I was transported down in a state of trauma. The accident turned our vacation plan upside down; the rest of my family living in different parts of the world cancelled their flights.

Immobilized, working from home, and frustrated, I started to feel a bit depressed. To receive a get-well video and beautiful flowers from my team was really refreshing and motivating. I feel so fortunate and grateful to be part of the Microsoft "family"—to work with people who are fun, smart, and caring—and to foster lasting friendships with them.

In the video, you will see my team plus their kids and dogs.

I enjoy going to work and spending time with the team. Can’t wait to get better and see everyone again!

Meet another employee who is inspired by close-knit colleagues, and four things that surprised him about Microsoft.

University students and graduates, if you missed us in the fall…

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

It's not too late to get a fun job

By: Michelle Feder

Spring means graduation is just around the corner. We visited campuses last fall, and we’ve hired great candidates to join us.

But some students are approaching graduation without a job. We understand that you’ve had your head down studying hard. We’re sorry we missed you on campus, but we still want to meet you.

You may be wondering: Is there still a role for me? The answer: YES!

You can still apply for a job at Microsoft. We care about matching good-fit university candidates with satisfying roles at Microsoft, and we welcome applicants year-round. You still have time, and you still have options.

Because: In addition to campus visits, we provide multiple avenues for university candidates to apply. There are two online paths a university student can follow to pursue roles with Microsoft:

Scenario 1: Apply directly

microsoft.com/university Meet Microsoft New Grad Jobs

In this scenario, you create a profile for yourself in our system. You’ll see descriptions of our three core-tech roles, which are common matches for new grads who are pursuing roles in software development:

Software Development Engineer

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Program Manager (PM)

You’ll also see information for MBA graduates. We have technical and non-technical roles in every business group.

Scenario 2: Find your recruiter

microsoft.com/university -> Find Recruiters & Events -> Select the type of recruiter -> Read your recruiter’s bio -> Send your recruiter a direct email

One thing that’s amazing about this process: As a university candidate, you will be corresponding with a specific person. So you want to make your best impression, right from the start. Note: If your school is not listed, find a recruiter for your state.

The good news:

A late start doesn’t mean you’re a late bloomer. In fact, we consider new grads as university candidates for a full calendar year after graduation. And of course, we’re happy to consider great candidates any time of the year.

What are you waiting for?

Everything you need to know is right here.

We’ve got resume tips, personal branding pointers, and an inside look at what it’s like to interview in Redmond. What’s more, here are some suggestions for how to consider an offer. Last but not least: Don’t miss our post on Microsoft’s three key software development roles. Good luck!

Seattle vs. Silicon Valley start-ups

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Why build a tech career in Seattle?

By: Paul Sledd, University Staffing Consultant

Entrepreneurs and innovators widely recognize Silicon Valley as the most important location worldwide for technology product development. Because Microsoft also recognizes the importance of Silicon Valley, more than 3,000 employees work on several teams located there. With so many opportunities, why would new tech grads choose to start a career at Microsoft – especially when the job is outside of the Silicon Valley?

Some students ponder and approach Microsoft opportunities with real doubts. As a Microsoft recruiter and HR professional, I observe how career decisions unfold over time. Here are some issues to consider:

Impact: Because our products ship to billions of users, each improvement makes a big impact, but some students fear that newly-minted engineers won’t have opportunities to create something original. The truth is, Microsoft places students and fresh graduates quickly onto innovative teams. For example, Microsoft Fresh Paint, Photosynth, Surface, Health Vault, and Perceptive Pixel are a just a few projects in which new hires have made fast impact in applied science and product development.

Connections: Wherever you choose to live, everybody needs a network: No successful person can make an impact alone. Contacts in both regions can make your career ever-stronger: The distance and travel options between the Puget Sound and the Bay Area allow technology professionals to grow a huge network and cultivate contacts, even while based in the Pacific Northwest.

Money: California and Washington are both beautiful states. But when students are evaluating offers, it’s important to factor in not just salary, benefits, and bonuses but also the cost of living. There are lots of resources available to help you compare the cities.

Also, if you are an entrepreneur with an awesome idea, you’ll need venture capital. The Bing Fund and others are more interested in your idea than your address. If you are a freelancer, you might want to learn about The Microsoft Garage, Marketplaces for Moonlighting, and the fact that some Microsoft benefits are portable upon leaving the company.

No one becomes an “outsider” after leaving the Bay, and with a great education as your springboard, tech careers have legs. There are many opinions on how to begin a STEM career, but I would question those who say the wonder of Silicon Valley only exists during a small window of time in your career.

I enjoy seeing university grads kick-off their careers because I feel that STEM students readily demonstrate the energy, empathy, and problem-solving that makes life fun. And I enjoy watching careers and ideas unfold. Maybe I will see you at Microsoft!

Learn more about our university-recruiting process and our three core tech roles. Consider which discipline might be the best fit for you. Go for it!

Why personal branding matters

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Show us your passion

By: Eugenia Sawa

As a job seeker or someone who is seeking industry notoriety, you need to build an established, tactful, and wholesome brand. The tactful part is up to you–as you know, there are always folks who love to push the envelope.

Bing recruits and hires a wide variety of talent. For any role, a dream candidate will provide me with a universal, well-rounded, and informative picture of themselves professionally (hence I’m leaving Facebook out of this conversation). Everything content-wise that appears on each channel should match up in terms of expertise, accomplishments, and personality (cheeky/out there), and fit with how you present yourself in person.

Here’s how you can target each channel:

LinkedIn

A place to describe your career to date: I should know who you have worked for, where you went to school, and what your expertise is in a few sentences. Then I might check to see who you’re connected to and check out your publications and groups.

Twitter/Quora

Recruiters don’t want to see a copy-and-paste dump for each channel. On Twitter and Quora, I am going to look at who you are connected to, what you have been tweeting about in your area of domain expertise, what conferences you attend, and what kind of questions/answers you post to Quora.

Conferences

We love meeting candidates at conferences, so let us know you’re attending the same conferences we are through our various social media channels. How else will we get the chance to meet you there? Help us get a good idea of who you are and what you’re looking for so we can set up a meeting with someone from our team.

If you’re interviewing with our Bing Social team, for example, come with your own ideas on how to integrate new ideas through your own personal experiences and preferences – We would love to see you whiteboard an idea, and who knows -you may see it implemented! And on a more fun note: Let us know which Bing homepage image was your favorite? Who could forget those monkeys relaxing in a hot spring…

Personal Websites

I love these. There aren’t too many anymore, but when I find one that has a link to your CV, publications, patents, and contact information, I’m almost always going to give you a call directly.

All of these things give me data points on who you are professionally, what your drive is in your industry (wallflower/contributor), and allow me to peek into who your peers are and how you might represent yourself on behalf of Microsoft. ; )

Personal branding is so important, we decided to double up on the data. See what Travis Scott, a talent sourcer for Windows Services, also had to say about it.

The importance of personal branding - How to represent yourself

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:00:00 GMT

By Travis Scott, Talent Sourcer, Windows Services Staffing

On the Windows Services team, we hire a lot of SDETs (Software Development Engineers in Test). Since SDETs at Microsoft are software engineers who love to break things and solve big problems, it is important that they can demonstrate their ability to code, as well as their passion for problem-solving and technology. If even one of those things doesn’t come across during the interview, they likely won’t be hired.

All of those elements contribute to the issue of personal branding. When you apply for jobs, it’s important to ask yourself: “What is my brand?” If you think about marketing yourself in the same way that companies think of marketing their products, you’ll realize that it’s not a good idea to try to be everything to everyone. You’ll never succeed.

Instead, if you narrow things down to specifics, you’ll be successful. Consider:

Who…is your target audience? If you’re a recruiter, will your audience be potential candidates or other recruiters? Two totally different audiences will be interested in very different topics. So if you’re a software engineer, keep in mind which audience you want to receive which message.

What…is your specialty or niche? You cannot be everything to everyone. Figure out what you know best and go with that.

When…will you interact with your audience? What is the optimal time? This may take some A/B testing to really get a feel for the time that’s most effective.

Where…does your target audience live? Facebook? LinkedIn? Twitter? Meetup groups?

Why and How….will you reach them? What is your strategy? I think the cornerstone of personal branding is to have a consistent theme across every channel you use. Having a blog is also a critical piece of self-branding as it provides a platform to share your knowledge at a deeper level. The other social channels can be seen as the distribution system for promoting your blog and any high-level ideas, article shares, and so on.

Your passion and skills should come across at every level—resume and online profiles (with links to side projects) and during interviews (genuine energy when talking about technology). When I see that someone has links to side projects, for instance, it is a pretty good indicator that they are passionate about what they do and they have an insatiable desire to learn and build things outside of their 9-to-5 role.

As with any type of branding, it is important to do research and develop a strategy before jumping into it. You have to know what you want to be and who you want to be it to.

Which of Microsoft’s top three software development roles is right for you? Find out, and meet Kory Gill, who left Microsoft for a startup and came back to Windows happier than ever.

7 Reasons to Hack - Hackathons help you build your network

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:10:00 GMT

By Anthony Rotoli

“Hackathons are the perfect environment for improving your programming skills, developing that idea you've been wanting to work on, and meeting like-minded people who may become your co-founders,”says Kathleen Warner, president of Innoblue, a student-run idea incubator at Penn State University and frequent hackathon host. “With just 24 hours, students are forcing creativity and collaboration to happen.”

Hackathons have been growing in recent years as a great way to learn and get more deeply involved in technology you’re passionate about.

Many of these modern “hacking” marathons are actually less focused on hacking in a traditional sense, which has been often associated with security exploits. Today’s hackathons typically take place over the course of a day or two, and open the doors to anyone who wants to work on turning an idea into reality.

Here are seven key reasons to get hacking:

1. Learn from and collaborate with others. It could be the concentration of focused brainwaves, or maybe just the scent of pizza and Red Bull, but there’s a unique culture you can really feel at a hackathon. Everyone is there to think big and try new ideas, and with this comes great opportunity to collaborate and support each other. You’ll meet new people who are not only interested in what you’re working on, but will be excited to share their thoughts on how you could make it even better.

2. Work on that idea you’ve been eager to pursue. Life is busy! Whether with classes and tests, or the hectic demands of job and a family, it can be difficult to set aside time to get momentum. A hackathon provides a block of 24/48/72 hours dedicated to fleshing out your ideas and working on turning them into reality.

3. Show off your skills. When I’m speaking with an interview candidate it’s always great if they have a tangible example to show me the type of work they like to do. A hackathon is the perfect time to build something, whether simple or complex, like a mobile app you can use to show your work.

4. Learn a new platform. Often hackathons will include workshops to help people learn how to develop for a new or updated platform. It’s a great way to get in-person training and then put it directly to use. Once the event is over you can use this new knowledge on future projects.

5. Learn to present your ideas. An important part of the experience comes at the end of the event. With your last bit of energy after your hacking marathon, you can present your idea to the community. The skills you build by being able to effectively and succinctly
demonstrate your idea’s potential are invaluable.

6. Get noticed. You never know who’s in the room listening to your pitch. In 2010, two partners at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon used the event to develop GroupMe, a mobile group-messaging service. During their 97-second pitch they caught the attention of some venture capitalists. Within 18 months, GroupMe was acquired by Skype. What’s more, recruiters often attend these events to find people with the right talent and passion to join their team.

7. Have fun! Most hackathons have mini-games or competitions to keep everyone awake and excited. During presentations, even if you’re competing for a big prize, you get the feeling that everyone is on the same team, supporting all the ideas.

Read Anthony’s real-life guide to the university recruiting process—and get the inside take on what gets you an interview—and might get you hired.

Follow him on Twitter @anthonyrotoli.

What Microsoft technologies are you excited about right now?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

We asked and you answered!

by Michelle Feder

We invited you to a community chat on Facebook. We put forth the question you see above. WHY? Because there’s a lot of great stuff going on around here, hot technology that’s going to change lives and make a huge impact. And you can be a part of it.

Responses to this conversation came from all over the world: Microsoft Careers is, literally, a global community. We heard from hundreds of you who learn and work in tech environments around the world—and not just for Microsoft. Developers, geeks, students, everyone who uses Microsoft technology for work and play: You dropped some comments about how you’re fired up about tech that’s current—and tech that’s coming.

Here’s what you had to say about the technologies you’re excited about right now:

The Cloud

People responded from all over the world to share their enthusiasm about the Cloud. For instance, we heard from Jobb in Tanzania, who says he likes “Cloud service.”

Jobb’s interest is fitting, because hiring managers all over the world are looking for candidates with IT cloud skills. A recent IDC report revealed that one in four IT positions worldwide is currently unfilled— and 28% of those are cloud-computing related. This niche is where the jobs are! Training and certification can help bridge the skills gap. Check out how Microsoft Certification changed the life of one employee—and could change yours too.

Interactive environments, Kinect, and the future of Surface

With your Facebook posts, you showed us you’re especially excited about Kinect and Surface and their potential. You also gave us some constructive criticism. For instance, Michael is excited to see “what direction you go with hardware. The Surface Pro is a fantastic tool for artists due to the top-notch pressure sensitivity, but no one knows about that since it's only being marketed with choreographed dancing.” And on his features-and-benefits checklist, Marvell would love to see a Microsoft tablet with WiFi printing: “That would be beyond awesome.”

If you’re interested in NUI (natural user interface) and the future of touch-screen functionality, you won’t want to miss these stories:

Kinect optical engineer Johnson Liu is using light to make an impact on not just our living rooms but our lives. And Surface marketer Jack Cowett found his “dream job” when he came to Microsoft.

Office and SharePoint

More and more, our work and personal lives are converging, and technology is responding. Marcel and Satya are excited about using Office 365 and SharePoint. For his work, Simon tells us: “After years of WinForms (Windows Forms) and ASP.Net, I'm finally getting into WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation), and loving it!” And Keerthi calls out Dynamics CRM (customer relationship management) for hitting sales and marketing goals.

To learn more about how these technologies make an impact and what it means for ‘Softies, read Zach’s story, The Truth about the Office.

Windows Phone, Windows 8 and what’s on the way…

As you know, in the last year, Microsoft has launched hot products, and some of your Facebook comments reflect that you’re as fired up as we are. For instance, Andrew says, “I love my Win RT tablet and Win 8 laptop; I just need a Windows Phone to complete the trifecta.” Corey says, “The Nokia Lumia 928...when the official announcement comes out I will be even more excited!” And Mathew adds, “Developing in Windows 8 with Visual Studio '12 using C# has been a dream. It just keeps getting better.”

If you spend time with Albert Shum, director of design for Windows Phone, it’s pretty hard not to get excited about what’s coming. He’s passionate about using technology to make things that will delight people by responding to what we need.

Xbox excitement

Many, many of you in the community are looking forward to, as Filipe cleverly put it: Xbox.next (and so are we!) Paolo adds: “I'm looking forward to new Direct X technology.”

Don’t miss our interview with McKenzie Eakin, a program manager for Xbox, who talks about how when it comes to the console you love, expect the unexpected.

Famous last words on tech you love:

Tailton says: Everything.

The French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss once said, "The scientific mind does not so much provide the right answer as ask the right question."

Here’s a question for you: It’s happening right now. You in?