Entries tagged 'bits-and-bytes'
Building 4 remodel makes room for The Garage
By any stretch of the imagination building 4 on our main campus in Redmond is old. It was one of the first buildings occupied by Microsoft when we moved here in 1986. Bill Gates even had his first office here overlooking the pond we now affectionately refer to as Lake Bill. So it only seems natural that it was time for this building to undergo an extensive remodel. And even more fitting that, the very place where Microsoft started off, is now home to our grass roots innovation incubator called The Garage.Now, thanks to our friends over at Channel 9, you get to have a first-hand video tour of the changes that were made to building 4. What goes into making a building functional, enjoyable and tailor-made for kick starting creativity? John Snavely gives Channel 9’s Nic Fillingham a tour of the transformed workspaces that some ‘Softies now call their home away from home.
If you are interested in opportunities working in building 4 or any of our other locations, make sure to apply for open positions at Microsoft Careers.
Pranking Softies: The Faces of Microsoft campaign
Our Channel 9 team is at it again ... this time convincing fellow 'Softies that they are participating in a photo shoot for a new Microsoft campaign called The Faces of Microsoft. (Sounds like a recruiting campaign, huh?) Yes, we do photo shoots around here, but we promise it's nothing like this! Although this does give us some ideas ... Hmm.How far will these 'Softies go? Check out the video.
Interns cap off a great summer with Dave Matthews and Kinect for Xbox 360
It’s hard to believe summer is drawing to a close already. This year, we were lucky enough to host more than 1000 summer interns, representing the world’s top universities and working on technologies from Azure to Xbox.Last night, we kicked back and celebrated our latest intern class' hard work and amazing accomplishments with a party at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. One of our favorite local artist, Dave Matthews, stopped by to perform, and all interns left with a special edition Kinect and Xbox 360, adorned with artwork designed by Dave’s artist. Yeah, it was kind of an “Oprah moment.”
Of course, internships shouldn’t just be about perks and fun. Launching a career is a pivotal time in any student’s life, and gearing up with the right internship that can give you real-world experiences is more important than ever. That’s the best benefit of interning at Microsoft—but we’ve got to have some (ok, a lot of) fun along the way, right?
Check out more photos from the event below, and don’t forgot to watch the latest from the My Intern Life crew.
Thanks again to all our talented interns. We hope you loved getting to know Microsoft as much as we loved getting to know you!
Microsoft Interns, chime in down below in the comments with your thoughts about your summer internship experience!
Andre Artis: Influencing the next generation of Black Technologists
‘Softie in question: Andre Artis
Job title: Area Sales Manager for the South Central Region and Microsoft’s unofficial recruiter at the annual National Black MBA Association Conference.
It’s not unusual to find Microsofties who are eager to spread the word about their own experiences and help introduce a future generation of ‘Softies to the company. We caught up with Andre Artis to learn about how he got involved in representing Microsoft at one of the largest networking events in the U.S.
Andre started out as a potential Microsoft candidate back in 2009 when he attended his second National Black MBA Association Conference. “Microsoft was number one on my list of potential employers,” Andre said. “Microsoft was ultimately interested in me because of my ability to manage people and my proven track record in high tech sales. As an employee, I love the enthusiasm of my colleagues and I feel honored to be part of this company.”
After joining the company, Andre’s passion for working at Microsoft and the potential for other African Americans interested in a technology career spurred him to attend the National Black MBA Association Conferences on his own time to help Microsoft recruit new talent.
Memorial Day - an opportunity to give thanks
We will observe Memorial Day on May 30th this year. Though we have shared the story of this video before, but we'd like to take a minute to share the video again as we prepare to honor all those that served our country. Espcially to everyone in our Microsoft family - thank you!p>
Bring out the sun, bring on the sports
It’s true what they say about our neck of the woods; we have an incredible appreciation for an active lifestyle. There are few places where you can participate in so many diverse pastimes from hiking to biking, kayaking to skiing, individual and organized sports – really we have it all.The best part is when the sun comes out and we get to experience some of the most perfect weather days. And when that sun comes out our campus provides the perfect backdrop for pick-up games of every kind. Just today we caught a group playing a little Ultimate Frisbee. But it doesn’t just end there..JPG)
Campus tours show off unique spaces
There might be the perception out there that Microsoft is a digital fortress that houses dimly lit offices and cubbyholes where zombie employees zone out coding all day while drinking mass quantities of free soda. Nothing could be further from the truth! Well okay we do drink free soda, but we’ve also developed some pretty interesting and aesthetically pleasing work environments that support the creativity of ‘Softies as they work on innovative and technologically diverse products.One way to experience these spaces and places is by taking this campus tour with our friend Steve Clayton over at Next at Microsoft. He just completed a series of tours showing off some of our more unique work areas on our Redmond Campus.After taking a revealing look at the seldom shown Microsoft Home , he pulls back the covers on his own unique work space before taking us over to the Microsoft Model Shop. This is arguably one of the coolest places on our campus where they produce prototype hardware for products such as the Arc Mouse.Maybe we're just biased
The best way for us to share the thrills, and sometimes tribulations, of working here is to get you directly to the people that make life at Microsoft so interesting. And there are incredibly fascinating people here that create our innovative and dynamic workplace.Take the folks over on Platform Biased. A group of Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) that produce a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to sharing their love of gaming, what it’s like to do what they do and the everyday details that - though could seem mundane – are actually fodder for making a job more than just a place to show up every day.Don’t take our word for it. Just listen and laugh along to this podcast with Director of Test, Greg B. Jones. He reveals what got him started, what his goals are as a boss and what he hopes to achieve not only in the work that he does, but for the people that work in his group.
Campus Jam
Our Benefits group hosted the first ever Campus Jam at our Redmond headquarters this past Saturday. Aside from an opportunity to enjoy an incredible warm sunny day in Washington, it was a perfect chance for employees and their husbands, wives, partners, and children to experience a little bit of life on campus.The morning started out with a 5k fun run/walk, followed by cooking demonstrations, some incredible food, live music, sports clinics for kids led by professional athletes and trainers, a climbing wall, inflatable bounce houses, and a fun obstacle course. Throughout the day employees and their families also took part in expert led seminars on topics ranging from running your first marathon to financial prosperity to maintaining a healthy weight for life.
Winners named for Microsoft Next global video competition
Whether utilizing Azure to ease the devastation caused by floods or collaborating across international borders to make music with Windows Live, people are
doing amazing things with Microsoft technology.
Launched in February 2011, Microsoft Next is a competition for our global employees to submit 3-minute videos showing how Microsoft people and technology are helping individuals and communities around the world.
Today, we have the honor of announcing the Top 30 winners of Microsoft Next submissions. See the amazing videos and an introduction from Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, here.
