Why do I need a Live ID to apply online?
Posted Wednesday, June 25 2008 by The JobsBloggers
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 ID allows your recruiter an easy method for knowing one from the other. Speaking from personal experience, I’ve actually had several occasions where I’ve been talking to two candidates with the exact same name, from the exact same city, in the same day. I’m sure you can imagine the hijinks that might otherwise ensue!
- Tracking & Communication: This is kind of inter-related to my previous post, but relevant here nonetheless. Not only do we use your Live ID for tracking status in the interview process, but also for communicating with you at various points – such as interview and offer.
- Security: Given that some confidential and important information such as travel and offer details are both communicated through our careers site, it’s critical that we have an authentication service we can trust.
- Job Agents & Job Matching: Looking at the different openings and not seeing a match? Signing up for a Live ID lets you set up agents to monitor and keep you abreast of new openings. Never miss that perfect opportunity!
- Maintaining your history: Job description look familiar? Think you may have already applied? Having a standard authentication allows you to maintain history on your previous applications and lets you avoid duplicate submissions.
- It’s a cool technology: Okay – I made that reason up :-). But as an end user myself, I am glad to see a standard that’s used by other Microsoft services such as Windows Live and Office Live.
Any other thoughts, comments, or ideas? We’re always looking for ways to improve the overall experience and open to ideas. You never know – your suggestions just might find their way into a new-improved future site... someday :-).
-Kenji
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Tagged as: job-hunting, interviewing, kenji
5 commentsTagged as: job-hunting, interviewing, kenji
Comments
I shouldn't have to do this:
"allows you to maintain history on your previous applications and lets you avoid duplicate submissions."
Other sites, show that I have already applied for a specific position and removes the apply button.
I don't know. the live ID isn't a huge issue really.
If you WANT to work for Microsoft, you're going to have a LiveID anyhow. So why not fill it out? What the hey?
If it doesn't go through an extra email address (even if you never check it).
Monster.com requires you to register, so do all the big sites. So what's the difference?
I say go LIVE and go for it! Take that shot at your passions (Whatever they are) and see whey they take you. You just can't imagine where it can go.
I don't work for Microsoft. But because I have TRIED and started to try and see WHAT I can, I am not the same person I was a year ago. And the matter of a LiveID certainly is nothing. I've dealt with a quite a few agencies and they all require registration. Microsoft just has a prettier name to theirs... :)
Cheers all
Sean
Friday Funny Guy
Do not forget that is cute to see Hotmail identifying as Junk Mail all messages @microsoft.com. It was, errr..., like errr...., unbelievable?
I was wondering long does it typically take to get a response to a resume submission/job application from Microsoft. Do applicants hear back if they don't make the cut?
Why not OpenID? Oh, that's right, this is Microsoft, who can't just embrace an existing open standard...