Questions? Ask your Microsoft Recruiter!
Posted Thursday, June 26 2008 by The JobsBloggers
Hello Everyone!
This is something I hear about occasionally that came up again just last week. It appears as though some of our Microsoft candidates are relying on outside sources, even recruiters from other companies, for Microsoft related information because they're worried about asking their Microsoft recruiter too many questions.
So, it seems like a good time to encourage everyone to ASK YOUR MICROSOFT RECRUITER if you have questions about process, policy or whatever else is on your mind. We are here to help and have a direct focus on your experience as a candidate. It is our job to make sure you have as many of your questions answered as we possibly can!
As a recent example, one of my teammates was working with a candidate that was told by another company that Microsoft has a waiting period before we initiate Green Card processing. Although this was true in the past, it isn’t the case any longer.
This candidate was really motivated to take the Microsoft offer but almost passed up a dream job based on outdated information from another company!
We are constantly working towards improving our processes and policies for existing employees and those that we have yet to hire. What may have been policy last year could very well have changed this year.
So if it is important to you, to your career, to your family... just ask! We would be happy to give you accurate information about Microsoft instead of having you rely on inaccurate information from other sources. Just makes sense right? :-)
- Angela
17 commentsTagged as: angela, job-hunting, interviewing
Comments
Hi,
i am preparing for my MCTS 70-526. My kit is from Microsoft Press but i am unsure if the practice tests are similar to the actual exam in the following regards
duration
number of questions
percentage pass mark
is it 135 min, 45 questions and 80% respectively?
many thanks
pythonV
Angela I want to ask you a question. First of all I have industry experience not a newbie. I interviewed twice with Microsoft. In my first one team was impressed with my skills, they did not decide to hire me but invited me for next meeting. I have waited considerable time to meet next team again. In mean time I have done remarkable projects, one of them took attention of your office in my country and they contacted to congratulate me. By the way, your next team has arrived to my country and we interviewed. Result was complete disappointment for me. Team did not decide to pursue on me.
I asked for my recruiter to arrange me another interview when next time you are in my country but she stated that I have to wait one year before applying for a new position.
I did so much to work for Microsoft and I know I will be happy to serve widely used software applications. I don't understand why you are waiting industry candidate for a year to reapply. If I were a new graduate, it is understandable. You expect the candidate to gain more experience before initiating new application. Unfortunately I am not. Previous team was spoken very complimentary for me on inperson interviews. Next team expects me to gain more experince, why is that difference?. Also you expect your candidates to go and work for your competitors and gain more experience :). That is good, really good...
Currently I have upcoming interviews with a lot of company across the globe including Google. I decided to move and you know moving for a different country is not an easy thing. I wanted to use my selection to Microsoft but I can't. I can not wait for a year to reapply. I hope you will do something to fix that in the future...
Can you please post the information about the next recruiting trips of MS?
Thanks,
Ron
Hi Angela,
I don't see any answers to the existing posts. Are your answers posted elsewhere on this site?
Thanks....
wd
Angela, My question is there a point when recruiters look negatively upon the number of submission one makes on the Microsoft career site? I am looking for a product planner position and it looks like there are over 200 postings. Should I apply for 1..100...200 etc?
What about the person that wants an administrative job? These jobs are never posted. How does a person go about applying for jobs that are not posted.
Topgun...
Some groups have a one year policy but not all do. I would recommend that you continue to apply to the positions that are of interest to you. The 'industry' recruiters at Microsoft (industry candidates = those who have experience) are assigned to specific business groups. SO if you apply - there may very well be other groups who might be able to move forward with additional interviews. My advice is to ALWAYS keep trying - especially if Microsoft is where you really want to work.
GOOD LUCK!
Greg Lucas - GOOD QUESTION!
There are definitely times that multiple applications become questionable from the recruiter's point of view. BUT if you are applying to the positions you are truly interested in and qualified for - then I encourage you to apply to as many as possible.
I think when I question 'candidate motives' is when one person applies to ALL the SDET positions, ALL the PM positions, ALL the Tech Writer positions AND they have no experience or exposure to any of the areas they have applied to.
I am sure there are some of those Product Planner positions that are not of interest to you - but I definitely encourage you to apply to ALL that are of interest and especially those that you have the qualifications for.
GOOD LUCK!
Deborragh Woods - Administrative positions are posted - but not all of them start out as FTE positions. Many end up being contract to hire. If you aren't seeing the positions on our career site that are of interest, I would recommend touching base with some of the local staffing agencies that make placements at Microsoft to see if they currently are working to fill any contract administrative positions.
pythonV - OK - you have stumped the recruiter! :-)
I wouldn't have specific information about the certification tests. I do know that there are books out there that help you prepare and may give you a better idea of what to expect. But I would guess that you have seen those already.
Maybe you could ask some of your work / school associates what their experiences have been with those specific tests....
Ron - RE Recruiting Trips...
Not all business groups at Microsoft have planned recruiting events and so far I haven't seen a central location that 'holds' that type of information for the entire company. It sure would be a good idea so we could help promote each other's events.
I can tell you that some of the regional events I participated in previously were advertised on some of the job boards.
Did you have anything specific (job types, regions, etc) in mind? I would be happy to dig up info for you if possible.
watchdog - you caught me! I took a few days away from work... just getting caught up with my blogging duties. My answers will be posted here.
Note to self - DON'T do a blog post right before a mini-vacation :-)
Hope everyone had a HAPPY and VERY SAFE 4th of July!!!!
Angela,
Thank you for the reply. That is why I love this blog. You always recieve a reply.
Are the things you wrote operative for the industry candidates who apply outside the US? or for the ones who live and have right to work in the states?
Thanks for your reply,
I am applying from dubai and interested in SDE positions
Regards,
Ron
So I am trying to get a job as a SDET, and I actually know somebody that works on the team I want to work with. I have been in contact with him and he said that he talked to his boss's boss and he said that college hires are a bit tricky because they have to go through college recruiting channels. So he told me to find my college recruiter at my school (RIT), and I for the life of me cannot find it anywhere. I found the link on the microsoft college page (http://www.microsoft.com/college/YourSchool.aspx) but when you click on that it says "We are sorry, the page you requested cannot be found." So I of course got a cached version of the page but it doesn't help me much. Where on earth can I find out who the college recruiter for my school is?
Jess - That page just recently went down, and our HR IT department is working on it. In the meantime, you can contact Janelle (who also writes for JobsBlog) at jgodfrey (at) microsoft.com
Gretchen
Hi Angela,
I applied as a graduate (since I completed my MS in Dec 2007) but I do have 2.5 years of work exp.I was interviewed by Microsoft on Feb 7, 2008 for SQL Integration and SQL Performance Analysis team - SDET role.Both teams were impressed with my skills but decided not to pursue the opportunity further.I was told by the recruiting manager that it was tough decision to make and that I should remain in constant touch and re-apply.I was told to apply for positions after 6 months of the first interview.
I've applied for the same in numerous times but haven't back from anyone @ Microsoft.I also mailed my recruiter.Again no response.Could you please let me know the procedure?
I'm keenly interested to pursue a career @ Microsoft.