Any IT Hiring Managers on here ?

That's exactly it, to get your foot into the door. There used to be a youtube video about something like "start here go anywhere" with Microsoft Dublin. It was done several years ago, when they had the old office in Sandyford, near the LUAS stop.

The hiring process is initially a couple of phone calls by some recruiters, often they are external, but directly employed by Microsoft. Then there are two more in dept parts, one role play, and one competence based interview both by two different managers, - they then feedback to the hrining manager and then a decision is made. The whole process seems online these days. Pre-pandemic they paid for return flights, taxi pick up and one night at a hotel close by, but I doubt they still do that now.

Regarding the relocation fees, it helps stating that you're overseas, Irish, wanting to return to Ireland, and they may accept that. You just need to provide a foreign address for the contract to be delivered, possibly a foreign phone number and a short trip back and forth.

The roles catering for British clients are often optional, either Dublin or their Reading office in the UK. Housing is way easier in Reading, plus you're on a fast train to London Paddington.

The HR general manager by the name of Avil M something at Microsoft Dublin was a bit of a floozy in her younger years, - I've known her personally, also no idea how she'd gotten the job. Try to avoid dealing with her on a professional level at least.

Number one way of getting past the Great HR Filter is using referrals. If you don't have a referral then your CV is just another one that HR are looking at, but if there's 50 applications and you're not in the top 10-20% in terms of skills and quality experience, well then it's going in the bin. At least with a referral you're more likely to at least get a call from recruitment.

You seem to have worked in this industry. I have worked in this field for a while.

My experience was that in any of these inside sales and customer relations roles with foreign language requirements is that they aren't designed for staying there long. They tend to cheat you on your sales commission or other KPI target achievement after more than two years, in order to get you out of the organization. If you complain, you'll be slowly phased out, or fired, and earmarked for not to be rehired at any stage.

Salesforce seems to be the fairest what management, career development and commission payment is concerned, Microsoft is a bit hit and miss depending on which manager one reports to, Google and Facebook seem to massively target a younger audience of candidates.

What Microsoft is concerned, I've only noticed it recently as well that they constantly post the same jobs, but I've only been following them the last two years. I think lots of foreign international-people left during the pandemic, simply went home to their counties, and not too keen on returning, - sharing a house in Dublin in Covid times also isn't the best choice either. Some of the Microsoft inside sales roles even seem to pay a basic of 90 K plus OTE, even if one doesn't have a Microsoft certification in any product? I also know of all sorts of filtering tools for HR when the source candidates, but any organization is using them, - it's not exclusive to one.

I am aware that Salesforce is doing some hiring via CPL Recruitment and the relationship between CPL and Salesforce is rather old, possibly as old as Salesforce is in Dublin.

Regarding working at Microsoft Dublin, there are a few comments and rants on Glassdoors. It all sounds very much like my inside sales experience.

 Awesome office, including:

- great food (although not free)

- great cafe

- music room

- yoga room

- ping pong

- chill out areas

5. Huge amount of materials to learn (not only related to IT), possibility of getting your MBA or other study course funded - super cool!

Cons

This is only related to Digital Sales in Dublin Office!

1. Salaries are joke. Comparing to Google, Facebook, Hubspot, Twitter and other big players in Ireland, Microsoft pays less. Sometimes even 20-30%. They will tell you that 'they're adjusting salaries to market' but it's not really a thing. If you wanna earn a lot of money (especially in sales) go elsewhere. Negotiation/salary increase/promotion is rather symbolic and the promotion process has been criticized many times by employees yet nothing much has changed. There's a bigger change of getting promoted if you're 'visible' than getting rewarded for your hard work. That means there's a very little chance to get a proper salary increase regardless if you're a senior or not. Fun fact: Even MS managers tend to say - if you want a raise, quit and come back after 2 years.

2. Taxation in Ireland is ridiculously high -> keep that in mind when considering an offer. Income tax is around 40% and bonuses are taxed 50%! Big chunk of sales salary is a bonus... so do the math. There's nothing much Microsoft does in order to change it (even though they could, there are special tax schemes that, neither you get any benefits while paying highest taxes in the country. (No free healthcare, no public transport, no free childcare + ridiculously expensive rentals starting from 1700EUR/a month for 1bed apartment).

3. No career growth opportunities in Digital Sales. As a few other people mentioned already, Irish managers are always first to consider, regardless of their experience. That makes it really difficult for anyone else becoming a manager. Other than first line manager position, there's not much available (unless you wanna change position/workload but that's not too much of a change now is it. Finding a job outside of Digital Sales is very challenging and can take years (although it's possible).

4. Visibility Bubble. You'll keep seeing and hearing the same faces getting rewarded/awarded/highlighted etc.

Advice to Management

1. Be truly diverse -> Hire more non-irish folks as managers!

2. Stop the 'visibility game' once and for all.

----------------

Pros

Microsoft is hands down the best company I worked with when it comes to culture and embracing growth mindset. Everyone at the company is super helpful and approachable and you do learn a lot. This is not true in Inside Sales though.

I would recommend joining Microsoft over any other company but not Inside Sales.

Cons

Can you guys do me a favour and please upvote this if you agree with me? I don't care about upvotes, I just want Microsoft to realize that the majority of people are on the same page when HR read those reviews.

Coming from someone who has tried several roles at Microsoft, I think I am more than qualified to talk about my Inside Sales experience and how it compares to other roles.

1. The pay is a JOKE: Look, Dublin is in a SERIOUS SERIOUS housing crisis, which means that the salary you give is terrible based on what the living costs are. I can't believe a company like Microsoft gives those kinds of salaries in such an expensive city. But of course, who cares? The managers are at least above level 62 which means that they are super comfortable so why would they care? I'm not the first person who's mentioning the low salary. You need to revise this carefully and AT LEAST give a housing allowance. There is no budget is IMHO, a way to say: 'I am just not bothered to fight for this'. Of course there is no budget, do you think that upper management are just going to embrace us with their kindness and decide to raise salaries or give housing allowance without us fighting for it?

2. Inside Sales at Microsoft is a 'hire anyone' philosophy. If you are expecting to work with talented and driven people, then look elsewhere. In my previous roles, I was working with super talented people because getting into those roles means that you have a lot to offer. In Inside Sales, they literally hire anyone. This is not a knock on the people I work with, it's just the fact that working at Microsoft comes with the expectation that you will work with talented people, which is true for other roles, but not Inside Sales.

3. Visibility bubble: If you are smashing your numbers, I get it - you earned that visibility. But stop ccing managers whenever you breath. 99% of initiatives are pointless and add ZERO value. Upper management have no clue about the ins and outs of the job so they reward those with a lot of initiatives. I CANT stand this. I used to be a customer engineer at Microsoft and unless my initiatives bring clear measurable results, then they are pointless.

4. Management: Guys, trust me when I say this. If you are at Inside Sales, you did not experience the Microsoft management philosophy. I worked with amazing managers in other organizations. So Microsoft, do yourself a favour and just get rid of all Inside Sales managers. How on earth do you become a manager if: You have zero empathy, you have no clue or even desire to understand the ins and outs of the job, you are a terrible communicator, and you have no clue how to inspire a team. Why are you a manager? To read some Power BI reports and approve vacations? Someone just please tell me. Maybe I am missing something.

Advice to Management

What's so difficult about giving housing allowance as a way to counter the housing crisis of this city? What is so difficult?

Btw, every other country has car allowance (at all levels) and health perks for anything fitness related (50% discount).

And no, shared accommodation is not an option for everyone. What if you have a family or thinking of starting a family? This is ridiculous. I am working at Microsoft. People in other countries (and expensive cities like London) laugh at me when I tell them I have shared accommodation.

I think it depends on where and in which role of Microsoft Dublin you're working in. The statements only concern their inside sales/customer relations roles, called "Digital Sales". Also the statements are how an international audience is describing all the challenges they are facing there.

Microsoft looks good on your CV, the certifications will all give you at some point a competitive edge on the market, and yes, the office in Sandyford is awesome. But that's all about it.

If you're Irish, you're more likely to get promoted ( diversity and inclusion is just a shallow word there), many managers are often questionable regarding their competence sometimes even childish and the cost of housing and the salary in relation is probably the worst anywhere in Europe and a shock for most internationals working there.

Also starting a family is impossible, cost of living and housing will see to that. Thus there is always coming and going of employees there.

Other companies like HubSpot have relocated their inside sales roles for DACH to Berlin in Germany as they can't find anybody to move to Dublin. Whether that's a good move or not, I can't judge, Berlin often has a set of different problems as a city. Housing isn't better there than in Dublin but cheaper.

I know. Unfortunately HR of all these multinational companies doesn't understand that.

They want to hire people in their late 20ies and their 30ies. However they should focus on candidates between 45 and 55, those who would have made their money overseas and are keen to return to Dublin, buy a property and are able to afford it. It's by far more motivating at any stage and they would also stay longer, making business more serious and predictable.

Somebody in their late 20ies and their 30ies simply won't be happy and motivated, even if it's Microsoft, or Salesforce, especially if it means spending 1000 to 1300 Euros and upwards for a room in a shared property, if you're lucky one has an en-suite. It just doesn't work that way. Either it's stubbornness or a requirement given by their HQ in the US?

I've seen that as well. It may not be necessary for these roles.

Salesforce and Microsoft sometimes pay a basic salary of 70 to 90 k, and commission on top of that for inside sales/inside account management it IT knowledge and fluent foreign language skills. Google and Facebook/Meta may be in the same range.

Anybody in the age group of 45 to 55 wishing to return to Dublin would find that sort of salary range attractive in the long run.

Their seniority at their age would be their success, and their financial background and savings would allow them to buy a property and support a family.

Thus it would be a stable solution.

Serious client relationship and account management is way better if the relationship is long lasting.

However HR and various hiring managers in these companies focus on the late 20ies to the 30ies and below 40 age group and they only stay around for a short period due to the high cost of living and renting, plus still wanting to see a bit of the world. Long lasting client relationships are not made there.

This might be of interest

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119560187#Comment_119560187

I respect your opinion, and don't disagree. But I think this is ingrained corporate tech culture and we'll all be retired by the time, (or if) it ever changes.

It's certainly part of it, I'd say.

However it's also part of all the lies.

Microsoft Dublin is one of these companies, where the LGBTQ Rainbow flag is always out and about in the office.

Diversity and Inclusion are sadly shallow words. Shouldn't it also include the older more experienced people as well? - While sexual orientation should be a private subject.

Also the slogan "We empower each and everyone to achieve more". Aren't we all part of each and everyone? Then hire us more experienced guys as well to be empowered to achieve more....

That's the perverse part of it.

In rare moment I actually agree with you.

Networking. As as you say make the CV an easier fit for the recruiter, on trend qualifications and skillset. Leave anything not recent, or not directly relevant out.

I think the original poster meant more IT roles in infrastructure management and administration. The kind of work that goes on in an IT department of any given bigger organization, rather than inside/digital sales in various American multinationals in Dublin.

As with regards to Microsoft Dublin and these Digital Sales roles, I can only say "be careful" to any potential applicant, especially international candidates from the EU.

• Yes their new office is awesome in style, design, amenities but it and can easily blind a younger candidate, one must bear in mind it's not the real Microsoft.
• The colleagues and peers in your job are often positively interesting people. I also believe they tend to hire young singles below the age of 35 or so?
• Microsoft Dublin is just an appendix of the US and often far away in business culture not only from the US but also from their respective EU country organizations. If you get a job with Microsoft in Paris or Munich you're certainly better of, also in credibility.
• Management in digital sales at Microsoft Dublin is often below standards and lacks competence however there are very very few positive exemptions.
• There is often foul play involved, regarding sales target achievement and payment of commission in Digital Sales same as promotion.
• People don't stay around too long, most new hires get disillusioned quickly by the high cost of housing in Dublin, the lack of internal promotions and unfair management decisions. It's also the reason why Microsoft Dublin is always hiring in hopes of finding another stock of motivated, young and unsuspecting candidates. In the end everybody is just there to have a couple of years of international work experience on their CV.
• As said by others before it is Irish citizenship which helps getting ahead there.
• Few are doing the Microsoft certifications beyond the general "whatever product fundamental course". The reasons for this are unknown to me. These certifications are clearly the best thing the company can offer and they are all for free. One is well advised to do them.

And the biggest advice I could give anybody working at Microsoft Dublin: Stay clear away from HR if you ever have an issue with your manager and have an exit strategy from Dublin if you're financially unable to buy a property..

Candidates with this skill are sought everywhere in the world, I'd say. These skills are certainly not entry level.

Offering to work for free? Why would you do that?? The jobs market everywhere I look are screaming out for people.

That was exactly my experience as well with Microsoft Dublin.

Candidates with this kind of skill and background are not looking for work long.

That's all standard these days.