You've figured out the secret to job hunting: where you want to work, what you want to do, and what you want to create. Now it's time to write that killer resume to make your dream a reality. Here at JobsBlog, we've shared our best resume tips for years so check out a few of our favorite posts to get started. But be sure read through our archives and keep following us for the latest and greatest in resume building technology! 

What a recruiter looks for in an initial resume review 

How to make a lifetime impression in just 40 seconds

Resumes and accomplishments: what, how, and why

Customizing your resume to fit a job description 

And hear what JobsBlogger Lisa looks for in a resume ... 

http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Dan/Get-Hired-at-Microsoft-Episode-1-Write-a-Killer-Resume/ 

There was a great bit in the original Clerks film where Dante and Randal discuss if one’s stated function always ties to what they actually do… (As pointed out in the past by Kenji!). Anyone who’s been around the technology industry knows that the meaning of a job title differs greatly from company to company. There’s a famous blog by Steven Sinofsy that dissects the difference between the PM role at Microsoft vs. anywhere else, so no need to revisit that here.

I did want to call out though that when you get on the phone with a recruiter, they will pay less attention to the title you held at company X and more attention to the responsibilities you performed in that role. I bring this up because there’s been a few times where I’ve seen something interesting on a resume that made me think about them for a title different than what they are working as now.

Continue reading...

It’s no secret that there are a lot of people out of work these days. What you may not have known is that the national unemployment rate has a direct effect on everyone looking for a job.

Companies are inundated with resumes, many from people who aren’t necessarily qualified for—or even interested in—the position for which they’re applying. This has been not only my personal experience, but I’ve also heard similar reports from many of my peers regarding the sheer volume of resumes landing in our inboxes.

So how do you highlight the right skills on your resume to stand out, especially given the current quantity of resumes recruiters are sifting through? 

Continue reading...

Dear JobsBlog: I have a computer engineering degree and several awards, distinctions, and honors. However, I did not attend a bigger college on the east/west coast. How do I get a Microsoft recruiter to look at my resume?

-Under the Radar

I’ve asked Alicia, a fellow recruiter from our U.S. University Team, to help answer your question.
-Janelle

Dear Under the Radar: Microsoft has always made it their business to hire the best and brightest students, regardless of what university they attended. We know that students choose universities based on many factors like location, cost, size, urbanization, program standings and, of course, reputation. That means that incredibly smart people are everywhere, not just at the Ivies.

Continue reading...

The Washington Post's recent article Tiny Typos Can Add Up To a Big X On Your Résumé details a few suggestions on how to avoid typos on your resume.

Continue reading...

Many candidates find it difficult to capture their experience on their resume, so what ends up happening is a pretty generic explanation of their role and responsibility with little detail on their impact and contribution.

Lifehacker had a great simple tip to create compelling resumes by avoiding 6 commonly used words on a resume - ditch these six words from the fold.

Continue reading...

Recently I decided to explore new opportunities at Microsoft that are aligned to my career aspirations.  This meant that I needed to update my resume (which hasn’t been touched since 2005) with my work experience that I have gained over the last 4 years.  Hmmm…  what exactly did I do over the last 4 years?

I must have sat there for 30 minutes with a blank resume while I tried to remember what I accomplished.  Besides a general idea of the responsibilities I had, I couldn’t remember the exact metrics I achieved, awards I won or extra projects I took on.  That’s when it hit me that I shouldn’t have waited until I was looking for a new job to update my resume!

Continue reading...

Today's guest post is from Microsoft's Student Audience Marketing digital team, a group who reaches out to all students who use and are interested in Microsoft products and technologies - not just those who want to work here. The team manages our student digital outreach efforts such as the Microsoft Student Experience site,  Microsoft Student Lounge site, Microsoft Student Facebook and Twitter sites, and Mobile Student Experience site. They engage students through social causes, videos, and content that spans from career to learning to fun stuff to software and technology.

Hi all,
I’m Amy – I've been with Microsoft over 10 years but have a unique work history here.  About 4 years ago, I left to be a “bigger fish in a smaller pond” (so to speak) but realized that my heart and passion is with Microsoft.  So, after 6 months of being away, I interviewed with Microsoft and was re-hired.  

Continue reading...

My mom recently asked me to review her resume, and so did some of her friends (one of the joys of being a recruiter). These are all very accomplished healthcare executives, but their resumes lacked the pow that I find in resumes of candidates I usually choose to move forward with. It wasn’t because they weren’t stellar professionals, but because they didn’t present their skills in the most advantageous way.

Continue reading...

As we continue to work on our new careers site, we've come up with another topic that we'd like to hear your thoughts on: resume tips. This one is particularly important to us here at JobsBlog since resumes is one of our favorite subjects to blog about.

Continue reading...

Whether you're seeking employment or already have your dream job, it's always beneficial to learn new technical skills. Picking up knowledge that you can talk about in an interview and use on the job, can have a huge impact on an employer. But in a field that's constantly changing, how do you know which skills to hone in on? Here's an awesome list from TechRepublic's Justin James of the 10 skills developers will need in the next five years:
 

Continue reading...

Dear JobsBlog: After working for 9+ years as a technical lead, I am now considering a change in career path and am seriously considering the Program Manager role. I work at a start-up and wear multiple hats like meeting customers, working with development teams, managing schedules, resource planning and risk analysis. I read the Zen of PM article, and I think I do some of it.

 I can see it is quite possible for someone from within Microsoft to change gears from SDE or SDET roles to a PM role. Do you see that happening to someone from outside? Do you have any specific advice for me in this regard -- like to get my resume noticed, given that I am coming from a dev background?

-Pondering PM

Dear Pondering PM:  Program Management isn’t a consistent discipline across the technical industry, and as Steven Sinofsky blogged, “PM is unique to Microsoft and I think it is fair to say this is a role that is often copied but never duplicated.” The good news is, when hiring from outside Microsoft, we rarely interview people who have already been PMs because, well, there just aren’t many!

Continue reading...

Dear JobsBlog: Would you recommend I tailor my resume when applying for a job? Does this help or hinder my chances of getting the position?

-Resume Riled

Continue reading...

Long time, no talk! Hello, readers! I send you my best wishes as I type this email with 2000 resumes on my desk. This is the busiest time of the year for college recruiting, and I love every second of it. I have been doing a lot of travelling to the east coast and will be there for the entire month of...

Continue reading...

A few months ago, Channel 9 asked us if we'd like to refresh the old "What's it like to interview at Microsoft" videos that Gretchen and Zoe filmed 4 years ago. Sure! So Kenji , Gretchen , and I - along with some other Microsoft recruiters and employees - took part in a 7 part video series called Get...

Continue reading...

Dear JobsBlog: I’m concerned about how to focus my resume. For instance, when listing my professional experience, should I only list past accomplishments that relate to the job I’m applying for? Or list all my big accomplishments? - Over-Accomplished Dear Accomplished: When it comes to accomplishments...

Continue reading...

A few months ago, I did a post on what a recruiter looks for in a resume review. This time, let’s take a look at what a SDET hiring manager looks for in a resume. Before we begin, if you aren’t sure what a SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) does, check out Zoe’s post or Manish's ViewmyWorld...

Continue reading...

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...

Continue reading...

Dear JobsBlog : I recently found a position I'm interested in at microsoft.com/careers . I could rewrite my resume pretty much word-for-word as listed in the "main responsibilities" section. Would doing so be helpful, or would it seem like I'm trying too hard? Answer: I don't think rewriting your resume...

Continue reading...

Remember those interviewing at Microsoft videos Zoe and I did for Channel9 four years ago? Well, we're finally updating them. The videos will star a new cast of recruiters, hiring managers, and recent hires, and we're planning to film 7 segments. Roughly: Applying (resume tips, the journey of a resume...

Continue reading...

When I do initial resume reviews, there are certain things I'm focusing on in each section. I’d like to share with you what I look for (and don’t look for) in the resume during this quick scan. Of course, keep in mind that every recruiter is different and what I look for in a resume might be different...

Continue reading...