My name is Kenji Yamaguchi and I'm a Recruiter for the Windows & Windows Live engineering teams here at Microsoft. My groups are responsible for a variety of products & services which really serve to enhance the Windows user experience and keep track of all the online "stuff" you care about. If you've ever used products like Hotmail, Messenger, SkyDrive or Photo Gallery - you've sampled the effort and hard work my team is passionate about delivering.

As a Seattle Native, and long-time reader of Jobsblog, I’m thrilled at the opportunity to contribute and give my first-hand experience of Microsoft from the inside.  

So if you have questions – ask away – that’s what I’m here for!

Dear JobsBlog: 

If I take a job where I get unrelated experience will it make me a less-desirable candidate?

-Tangent Torn 

Read on to hear the answer from Microsoft Recruiter Kenji...

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Resume review & advice. Part II of II. (read Part I)

Resume review actually consists of several different “layers” of consideration.

There are multiple factors that I consider simultaneously and all need to be accounted for before I make the decision to contact a candidate for a phone interview. What I’m looking for is a resume that “pops out" at me on multiple layers. 

The first thing that I look for when reviewing a resume, are the basics: does this candidate meet the minimum requirements for the position? Keep in mind, for many positions there are two sets of requirements – the bare minimum required – and the bonus qualifications that I’m ideally hoping to find. In this layer, I’m only looking for the former – but I’m militant in my resolve. If I need a year of experience, and you have six months – sorry, I just clicked “NEXT”.

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Resume review & advice. Part I of II. (Read Part II)

I’ve considered writing about resume advice since I started contributing to JobsBlog. However, I’ve put it off and even considered not writing about it at all because the subject matter can be VERY controversial.

I’m not going to make you the empty promise that following my advice will *really* help you land that next job or get your resume noticed in the sea of resumes. Resume writing is more art than science and any advice charading as the singular truth can lead you down the wrong path.

What I will share with you is, for better or worse, the process I use when reviewing resumes – and I’m going to give you the honest not-so-sugar-coated-truth about what goes through my mind when I click “NEXT.
This is an unvarnished account. Reader beware:

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With all of this focus on internet social media – it’s easy to lose sight of those tried and true methods of decades past.  

In recent years, it seems like everywhere you look the term “Social Networking” is staring you right in the face. Stories abound from recruiters and jobseekers alike telling of how their latest social media experience lead to that last “great” hire. But what about back in the day of the dinosaur: before Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn dominated the marketplace? How did people network for jobs before social media? Did people really have to *gasp* meet face-to-face??? It seems like a foreign concept – yet recently, I’ve discovered that face-to-face networking events are making a bit of a comeback. And you know what else? I think they actually work better. 

After a suggestion from one of my out-of-work friends, I decided to try out a networking event known as the Seattle Job Social, which is held monthly at Twist Lounge in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood (if you’re interested in relocating – Belltown has great nightlife, just FYI). While I’d been to my share of job fairs, this was my first social networking event, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

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Not long after JobsBlog started in 2004, Gretchen answered a reader who wanted to know what he should say when an interviewer asked him to describe his strengths and weaknesses.

Six years later, that post is still one of the most popular articles on this site. Gretchen’s advice remains relevant, of course, and we encourage you to read it – but we thought we’d give you an update from varying viewpoints. Check out what Kenji, Lisa and Matt have to say about this infamous interview question!

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Dear Jobsblog:
When and how is it appropriate to ask about salary, benefits and vacation time? I don’t want to seem like I’m just looking for money and perks, but, at the same time, this information is important to consider. How should I approach this? Whom should I ask these questions?

-All About The Benjamins (just kidding)
 

Dear Mr. (or Ms.) Benjamins:
Compensation (salary, benefits, etc.) is an important aspect of any job search. As a recruiter, it’s easy to forget how nerve-wracking this question can be for the candidate. After all, I answer it almost every day.

Questions relating to compensation are best dealt with early in the process and need to be treated with tact and care. By no means are they something that should be put off until the end or skipped over lightly. Candidates should approach compensation questions in terms of Who, When and How.

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Hey Jobsblog readers!

These past few months have been all about change and new experiences for me. While I continue to work very closely with the Windows Live team, I’ve also expanded to encompass parts of Operations & Windows Engineering.  It’s fun to see how other teams operate and learn about all of their exciting products and features. I really do love technology and that passion is one of the main reasons why I work at Microsoft.

On that note, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Now, with a few weeks between me and the event, I've had the opportunity to reflect on the CES and the state of technology:

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Congratulations!  So you’ve made it past the initial resume review and you’re being called in for those important next steps. There are a few days between now and then, and anxiety is building in anticipation. You want to do well in your interview, and in this economy you know that it’s tougher than ever to stand out amongst the crowd. So what do you do? Time to channel that energy into something productive!

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Now that you’ve seen where I’m coming from in terms of tips and advice, I feel it’s time to introduce my top six pieces of Kenji® branded recruiter advice. Handle with care!

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I admit -- this is a concept I struggle with. Like I’ve said in previous posts, as your recruiter I want you to be set up for success, and I want to help provide the toolbox to get you there. But at the same time, I also want you to do well on your own horsepower as much as possible.

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All the hubbub lately about Twitter (Google acquisition? No acquisition? – Originally read through Scoble) has made me a bit curious about the new trends in social media.

Heck, even Mini-Microsoft (the mystery Microsoft blogger) started Twittering, so you know it’s time to start paying attention!

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Dear JobsBlog: If I’ve already applied for a position at Microsoft but didn’t get it, will it hurt my chances of getting a position when I re-apply?

-Two-time Applicant

 
Dear Two-time Applicant: If you’ve applied previously and did not make it through the selection process, applying a second time may or may not end in a different result. Like many things in life, the answer here depends. A number of variables may impact the decision to consider you again, and granted you meet the basic requirements for an opening, it is up to the individual recruiter to decide whether or not to move forward.

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After discussing the basics of his transition from Canada to Seattle, Jay Sirju, who recently moved to work as a SDET with the Windows Live Shared Data Experience Team in Redmond, Washington, gave me the scoop on his experience with Microsoft’s temporary housing. JobsBlog: Okay, so tell me about temporary...

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Dear JobsBlog: I’m considering a position with Microsoft in Boston, but that means trekking halfway across the country from my hometown of San Antonio. What kind of relocation services does Microsoft offer and how can the company help me adjust to my new surroundings? -San Antonio Schlepper Dear "San...

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I can't stress enough that interviewing is a two way street. Team interaction and collaboration are a large part of any position here at Microsoft, just as they are a huge part of our interview process. As Matt mentioned, we like it when candidates ask us questions . Whether it’s to clarify ambiguity...

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Dear JobsBlog: I frequently see phrases like "ask your recruiter" or "talk to your recruiter.” I've signed up online and posted my resume, but I don't feel like I have a point of contact at Microsoft. How do I go about getting in touch with "my" recruiter? Answer: Whooo... This is a big one. I like it...

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Want to know a secret? When you’re in my office during an interview, I’m *rooting* for you to succeed. That’s right, I want you to do well, and I’m hoping you’ll impress me. It’s also why I, like many other interviewers, will provide hints that can really enhance your interview performance - if you catch...

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Ahh, summertime. Summer in Seattle is definitely one of my favorite times of year, and with it, comes some of my favorite outdoor activities. Boating, camping, and yes, the Microsoft Product Fair :). I have to say, there’s nothing like returning from a week-long vacation to the sight of a giant ferris...

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As promised in my last post , I wanted to shed a little light on our use of Live ID in the application process, and list some of the benefits that both recruiters and candidates can get from this step in the process. Differentiation : Multiple candidates with the same name? No problem. Tracking by Live...

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I’ve been getting a question a lot from candidates recently: “Why are you asking me to apply online?” There are a variety of ways I might reach out to a potential candidate and regardless of the method, I’ll *always* ask a candidate to apply online for my position through our careers site. So why is...

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