Microsoft Interviews/Life

pclancy

Could anyone provide some upfront info on what Microsoft Interviews are like? Ive never had one with a large american company and I know their way of doing things are probably different, Ive read up as much as possible on the role and its required knowladge, I know the work from doing it myself and am very eager to work there if I got the chance, travel benifits and training look great...but im just apprehensive about making the right impression.

Any insight from anyone that works there (Sandyford), company culture, worklife, socialife etc greatly appreciated!

damnyanks

What area are you interviewing for? Is this your first interview, is it technical, hr or with a "chat" with the people you may potentially be working with.

Interviewing with redmond at the moment not sure how it differs but there is a lot of hopps you need to jump through.

pclancy

Cool what kind of role are you going for? Redmond looks like an amazing place.

Its for a sales/business development role in Dublin working with microsoft partners. Phone interview first then face to face next week.

damnyanks

Ok well my experience of phone interviews with them is that it is typically a HR interview and they run over your CV asking questions as well as throwing in the generic interview question.

But thats for technical positions and usually they are just trying to gauge if you are a "microsoft" person and trying to find out where they woud like to put you.

I'm going for a technical role at ms.

pclancy

I see. What would you define as a "microsoft" person? Commited to their values kind of thing? Proactive kind of working?

damnyanks wrote:

Ok well my experience of phone interviews with them is that it is typically a HR interview and they run over your CV asking questions as well as throwing in the generic interview question.

But thats for technical positions and usually they are just trying to gauge if you are a "microsoft" person and trying to find out where they woud like to put you.

I'm going for a technical role at ms.

kenmc

They're very big on process improvement, they like to have procedures for EVERYTHING. Get used to jumping through hoops!

P.S I hope you like meetings!
Oh and good luck!

pclancy

Lol ah meetings are okay

damnyanks

pclancy wrote:

I see. What would you define as a "microsoft" person? Commited to their values kind of thing? Proactive kind of working?

When I say Microsoft person I have no idea what it entails Just meant it as the general HR checklist when asking you questions to see if you display their characteristics.

Believe you should say "I'm passionate about technology" at some stage. While I am more interested in tech then other things I feel weird saying passionate about it. But thats the buzzword they need to hear.

kaimera

Hoping for an interview myself via the Grad programme.

*fingers crossed*

RainyDay

I worked in the Operations Centre in Sandyford for 5+ years.

As others have mentioned, meetings, meetings, meetings. I seemed to spend half of my life on conference calls to Seattle - 4pm to 6pm most evenings, and later/weekends from home when required.

The Microsoft type is typically hugely dedicated to the company, willing to drop everything at the drop of a hat for any issue that comes up. Process is extremely important as another poster pointed out. The culture is very US-centric, with a fair amount of high-fiving and whooping it up. Image is very important - making sure people know what a great job your doing is more important than doing a great job. Expect to be re-org'ed (reorganisation) every 12 months or so, with a new manager and a new team and possibly a new job.

Money & rewards were super, but having done my five years, I decided I couldn't take another five years. I've taken a pretty savage cut in salary for a much better overall lifestyle.

pclancy

Cool thanks for the info RainyDay, Yeah thats the impression im getting, very US work ethic but great money and perks. Id be willing to do that for a few years and see what happens. Save and go travelling in 5 years is my plan, I think!

Is there huge competition between people and constant desire to see whos doing the best etc?

RainyDay

Yep - it is extremely competitive. The rating system (which impacts your salary increase, your bonus, your stock awards and your future promotional prospects) was all 'relative', with a 'normal curve' distribution being applied to groups as small as 5 or 6. So to survive, you need to be getting better ratings than your immediate colleagues.

Expect to get oodles of feedback - from your manager, your peers, your reports, your US counterparts etc. The whole world will be telling you exactly what you did right/wrong (or their view on exactly what you did right or wrong). I struggled with the subjective nature of much of this feedback to be honest - it seemed to be more about how you schmoozed people, rather than your real job performance.

On the plus side, you'll find yourself surrounded by piles of very clever people, so it is a great opportunity to learn from others.

damnyanks

Is working around 60 hours a week the norm ? I've heard you work weekends often in the states, is that just because of the american mentality (be seen in the office), is it because people really enjoyed what they were doing or was it that everyone was just so swamped tehy had to do weekends?

RainyDay

I don't think many people would be doing 60 hours a week all the time, but at in the run up to big launches, it certainly wouldn't be unusual. The Atrium building in Sandyford is open 24x7 for good reason - you could drop in at any time of the day or night, and you'll always find a few people working.

There was one weekend where I got a total of 4 hours sleep after a big launch on Friday evening screwed up. No sleep Friday night and just 4 hours on Saturday night. This was obviously exceptional, but this was what it took to stay on top of the situation.

But these extreme peaks weren't the problem for me particularly - it was more the constant, constant pressure to perform and move upwards. I had a couple of the best managers of my career in MS, but also some of the worst ones.

pclancy

Were you in sales? Mid-Market Sales or Partner Account manager is what im going for...

RainyDay

Nope - European Operations, not Microsoft Ireland.

pclancy

Ok. Well cheers for the info. I think i can live with all that...

kaimera

Quick question wrt attire for interviews.

Disussing this with a housemate, and he was of the opinion that as MS are an IT company, wearing a suit for an interview would be overkill and unnecessary.

Yes || No?
Suit || No suit?

pclancy

I would have thought any office/business job would require a suit for the interview? Ive had several with other IT co's and suits were the norm....would MS be different? Vista baseball cap and MCSE TShirt peerhaps?

damnyanks

Depends on the role you are going for really. Usually I wear a suit to all interviews, if the place is relaxed no tie.

Also depends where it is. My friend from finland thought I was insane wearing suit to a bank interview as only the main boss wears suits up there and even then its rare they do.

RainyDay

I'd definitely wear a suit. I didn't interview for technical roles, but everybody I ever interviewed for project management roles wore a suit.

MrPudding

pclancy wrote:

I would have thought any office/business job would require a suit for the interview? Ive had several with other IT co's and suits were the norm....would MS be different? Vista baseball cap and MCSE TShirt peerhaps?

Dude, sorry. My mate did not get back to me.

See you Sunday.

MrP

pclancy

No worries mate

Dont think im gonna make sunday....work next morning would never happen if i did!

Vokes

kaimera wrote:

Quick question wrt attire for interviews.

Disussing this with a housemate, and he was of the opinion that as MS are an IT company, wearing a suit for an interview would be overkill and unnecessary.

Yes || No?
Suit || No suit?

Yes, most definitely wear a suit for an interview.....regardless if the company has a business-casual policy around the office, or not.

pclancy

Yeah thats what Im gonna do, doesnt seem right without one.

Interviews today at 3pm :eek:

kaimera

gl Paul

tad late in the day and all that it is.

Peteee

pclancy wrote:

Yeah thats what Im gonna do, doesnt seem right without one.

Interviews today at 3pm :eek:

I'd be interested in how this went? Do you think you did okay? Any pointers/Advice?

pclancy

Didnt get it sadly, made a balls of the interview, really couldnt sell myself properly or get across my sales ability, was very nervous and just couldnt get words out of my mouth properly! Terrible. Ah well. Was very good experiance, interview was for a sales job so covered all aspects of selling process, my experiance and different sales techniques etc.

Only my second interview in 5 years so its back to the drawing board to prepare a lot better for the questions I realised I wasnt prepared enough for!