Tips for Microsoft jobseekers
things you should know before you accept the
offer
If you're interviewing at Microsoft for a
technical position, there are some things you should
know:
1) In general, Microsoft
interviews take all day and end with a meeting with the recruiter. If you're
finished before lunch or after a couple of hours and you aren't doing a second
day, you probably aren't getting the job.
2) If you want a development position
and you have experience, be very wary before taking (or even interviewing) for a
position in support or testing. A lot of college hires come in through support
or testing, but it will take a while to move to actual development from one of
these positions. In the meantime, you'll be killing a lot of time in your career
that could be spent actually doing development at another
company.
3) Do not take a pay cut. No
matter what your potential manager or the recruiter says, it is nearly
impossible to "make up the difference" in the short (or even long) term.
Microsoft may try and undercut your salary requirements. Given the average raise
caps these days, and the cost of living, it is pretty unlikely that you catch up
on the 10K or more that Microsoft shorts you at the
beginning.
4) Be realistic about your
future prospects. Microsoft is a VERY large company now. You will not be the
CEO. You will probably never make it to be a VP. If you are lucky, you'll make
it to Director, but you got about 50,000 people who also want that
job.
5) Be very, very careful about
which group you work for. Your quality of life at Microsoft is 100% dependent on
which group you work for. Some groups grind their employees down like wheat.
Some groups at strictly in by 9 and out by 5. Think through the questions you
ask the people you interview with. Ask for honest opinions about the manager.
Ask for honest opinions about schedules and work/life balance. Ask about raises
and bonuses and how available they have
been.
6) Check out the membership of
the team. If you join an established team with many experienced people you are
going to be the low man on the totem pole forever. You may learn a lot, but you
are going be stuck with the crummy scores on the stack ranking; you will be the
first out in the lifeboat drill; and you will be last on the list for
promotions.
7) Find out what your level
is going to be. Your level determines your salary range. Your level determines
which jobs you can take. If you are assigned a level too low it could take years
to get to where you are supposed to be. Find out what the responsibilities are
for each level. If you've been in the industry for a decade, you probably should
be at least a 62, and depending on your experience, possibly a 63 or 64. If you
are leveled low, you may spend years trying to get to where you should
be.
8) You will not be a millionaire.
You will not be a multi hundred thousandaire. Microsoft switching from stock
options to stock grants will make it hard for you to get much income beyond your
salary.
9) If you live outside Seattle,
check the relative costs of living between where you are now and Seattle.
Seattle has become one of the most expensive cities in the country to live in.
Make sure the salary you ask for and the salary you are offered take that into
account.
There is my advice for the
moment. I'll add more in the future.
Posted: Wed - October 12, 2005 at 10:45 PM
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