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.

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.

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.” 

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