{"id":28146,"date":"2021-01-07T18:57:10","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T02:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?p=28146"},"modified":"2023-01-24T16:10:51","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T00:10:51","slug":"how-to-get-a-job-at-microsoft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-job-at-microsoft\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Land a Job at Microsoft: Fulfill the Job Description and Ask Thoughtful Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The tech world is experiencing an unprecedented boom right now and like many, you may be wondering the best way to get your slice of the pie by learning how to get a job at Microsoft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re interested in becoming a programmer or have a passing interest in computers, you\u2019ve heard of Microsoft. The company has become an institution all over the world with its Windows<\/a> software, but it has also branched out into the world of console gaming with the Xbox<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it is such a big company at the top of the technological heap, it may seem impossible to get noticed by Microsoft when you\u2019re looking for a job. But there are plenty of opportunities at companies like this for professionals at all stages of their careers, from IT apprentice jobs<\/a> to high-level roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we dig more into what it\u2019d take to start working at Microsoft, it may be helpful to learn more about the company, its culture, and the people behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft: Company Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lifelong friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the company that would eventually become Microsoft in 1975. Current CEO Satya Nadella took the reins in 2014. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You probably won\u2019t be seeing much of Nadella if you land a job at the tech giant. Since Gates and Allen started the company, it has ballooned from two employees up to 163,000 as of 2019<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of July of this year, Microsoft is still by far the most dominant desktop operating system with 77.74 percent of the global market share<\/a> in that division. Microsoft also offers its Azure cloud computing service<\/a>, which has become a staple for many companies the world over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its success in the field can be partly attributed to savvy executives and entrepreneurial spirit. But more importantly, the company employs an army of software engineers, product managers, designers, coders, and programmers that builds the products, test them, design the rollouts, and more. You could be a part of this army after getting a job at Microsoft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s It Like to Work at Microsoft?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The average workday for a Microsoft employee involves more than just work on the latest version of Windows or the next Xbox. Some coders work on patches and bug fixes for Microsoft\u2019s various software and firmware offerings. Other employees work on engineering hardware or research future products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employees tend to have a positive view of Microsoft no matter their place in the company, as Forbes recently ranked the business as the fourth-best employer<\/a> of 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few qualities of the Microsoft experience that employees talk about more than others. Below are a few of those common threads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work-Life Balance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft has a great work-life balance, according to reviewers on Glassdoor<\/a>. People report that they\u2019ve had no problem getting a schedule that works well for them and sticking to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, with the challenges of COVID-19, Microsoft has also implemented remote work for a large portion of its staff. Though you may still have to move as things change in the future, for now, you have a good chance of working from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Performance Reviews<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many Glassdoor reviewers report that the performance review system at the company can seem unfair at times, and it\u2019s the most common negative job trait among reviewers about their time spent at the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The review<\/a> that users have marked as the most helpful comes from a person that claimed to work at the company for 10 years. In the review, they sing the praises of the company in general but decry the performance review system which gives people ratings that some feel may be unfair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reviewer enjoyed their time at the company in general, but keep this review in mind when applying for posts at Microsoft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smart Coworkers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft has a 4.4-star rating on Glassdoor, so it has a well-formed culture that plenty of people love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A significant chunk of that culture is the intelligent and highly competent coworkers that you\u2019ll find yourself around at the company. The most common positive listed about the company is \u201csmart people,\u201d and if you think that sounds like you, then you should have a long and prosperous career at the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You wouldn\u2019t just be showing up and clocking in and out for a paycheck, you\u2019d also continue learning more about your craft during your tenure at the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting a Job at Microsoft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
You\u2019ll be working hard at Microsoft before you know it, but first you have to land that big interview. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Of course, before you start thinking about your place in the culture at Microsoft, you need to actually get a job at Microsoft.  
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are usually plenty of careers out there for the taking, but as they have such a high reputation and brand recognition, you may find yourself having trouble getting a foot in the door in such a highly competitive application process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Hard Is It to Land a Job at Microsoft?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, Chuck Edward, Microsoft\u2019s Head of Global Talent Acquisition, gave insight into the company\u2019s hiring process in an interview with Fast Company<\/a>. Edward served in this capacity with the company from 2014 until January of 2020, so the information is still fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edward says the company gets around two million applicants every year, and they have made a conscious effort to ensure they\u2019re looking at the best candidates across race, gender, and other identity markers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re aided in their recruiting efforts for new employees by a unique AI, which trawls for new talent on career site LinkedIn, a site which Microsoft bought back in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be hard to stand out from millions of applicants, but Microsoft recruiters like Jesse Sparks<\/a> offer tips to job seekers on Twitter and even take DM\u2019s to answer questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applying for a Job at Microsoft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first place to start when you\u2019re going to apply for a job is Microsoft\u2019s Careers page<\/a>. As mentioned above, you may also find yourself speaking with a Microsoft recruiter on LinkedIn without even applying for a position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft Application and Interview Process<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Chuck Edward explains that the company is looking for honest quick-thinkers that don\u2019t mind learning with an ear to the ground for the latest news and trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind, you may find several articles<\/a> that give an insight into what hiring managers at Microsoft think about when it comes to hiring candidates and how to nail the interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, after extending a job offer to a candidate, Microsoft would then fly that candidate out to its Seattle campus and conduct an hours-long interview with several teams that would take up the majority of a workday. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, this experience may have changed recently, so your experience may vary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft Career Opportunities: Job Titles and Descriptions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the time of writing this article, there are over 4,000 job openings at Microsoft across various departments. Below are a few of the jobs that you may want to consider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

IT Service Operations<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n