The JobsBlog

Meet 5 women leaders

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Microsoft 4Afrika initiative celebrates change

By: Whitney Cubbison

The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative is a new effort through which Microsoft is actively engaging in Africa's economic development to improve its global competitiveness. It focuses on three pillars: innovation, skills and access. In honor of Africa Day (May 25), we are delighted to introduce you to the women helping to lead this important effort.

Amrote Abdella recently joined Microsoft from the World Economic Forum and is responsible for VC and start-up projects. Originally from Ethiopia, Amrote has worked in the US, Europe and various African countries before joining the Nairobi office.

Q: Amrote, what made you decide to join Microsoft and the 4Afrika team?

A: There is no better time to be involved in Africa than now. As I assessed my opportunities to work in Africa, the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative presented the biggest opportunity to have an impact on the continent. There is growing optimism around Africa's ability to become innovative and competitive, but no other company has developed a holistic strategy around ways to harness technology with a long-term investment view in Africa. And it's this technological readiness and innovation that the 4Afrika Initiative is addressing today. It's a great opportunity, as an African and as a professional working in Africa, and I'm very excited about the impact we will have as a team!

Mariam Abdullahi is responsible for 4Afrika business development in the telecom sector. Somali by heritage, Kenyan by birth and British by education, Mariam has had the good fortune of living and working across Africa, Europe, India, Middle East and the United states.

Q: Mariam, what advice do you have for other women who are considering a career in technology?

A: I have a confession to make. Even as a Computer Science and Business graduate, I am not the most technically advanced person in the world. I very occasionally worry that I will be called out as a fraud when in a room full of my counterparts and colleagues discussing how many megabytes are in a gigabyte.

What I do know and would say to anyone looking toward a career into the technology sector is that what you are creating, developing, marketing or selling is not a few wires in a metal container, bits and bytes flying up in clouds. Products and services created in our sector are tools of empowerment. At Microsoft, we change the way people interact to bring the world closer together. I get excited every day knowing that what we do will shape how people learn, communicate, integrate and work.

Technology is bridging gaps in the social, political and economic spheres. Being part of an industry that allows my mother in Nairobi to email, Skype IM, voice and video-conference her eight children spread across Europe, the Middle East and Africa at no or little cost is the thrill of why I am in this industry. My advice to anyone looking to join the world of technology is to look beyond the mere mechanics but rather to the effect that our work has on real people’s lives. This sector continues to be the biggest revolution since the industrial revolution and will continue to shape the world.

Leila Charfi is managing the partnerships with incubation centers and community hubs for Microsoft 4Afrika to support the growth of African startups. She is a proud Tunisian, and she is engaged in a political party, various NGOs and artistic projects.

Q: Leila, what was your best-ever day at Microsoft, and why?

A:It was during the closing ceremony of an annual program for startups, when I was running the Microsoft Innovation Center in Tunisia, where startups that benefited from the program presented their projects and gave testimonials on how the program changed their lives, boosted their companies and helped them grow their businesses and create jobs. At the end of the event, some of them came to me thanking me for believing in them and for allowing them to have such great support that made them successful entrepreneurs. It made me feel so proud of the impact of the job I’m doing for employment and SME development (small and medium-sized enterprises). I felt and still feel that I have the best job in the company!

Perry Kamel is an Egyptian national and as part of the 4Afrika team, she is responsible for helping small and medium enterprises across Africa get online.

Q: Perry, what is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

A:It was about following your gut feeling when choosing your next job rather going for the best “logical” move in your career path. Sometimes it’s important to take a leap of faith for an opportunity that you feel is going to make you passionate and energized in coming to work every day. I believe in giving my job my all, every day, so that passion is what enables me to constructively deal with the ups and downs of the job over the long term. And isn’t it just more fun to do what you are passionate about on a daily basis?!

Tonia Kariuki is the Marketing Director for the 4Afrika team. She is a Kenyan national and a long-time Microsoftie.

Q: Tonia, what is it that keeps you engaged and passionate about your role here?

A:I am on a constant journey to reinvent myself, create new experiences and build new competencies. I look at each challenge and ask myself, what is the craziest solution, and then I work backwards to reality from there. The amount of learning you pick up that way is simply amazing, plus, you force yourself to think differently each time and you end up surprising yourself.

I also like to surround myself with smart people, which here I get to do every day. You know that moment when it feels like you're the dumbest person in the room? Those are the best times. I take those opportunities and soak in everything, learn, absorb, I'm like a sponge. Later on, I will have time to filter and pick my learnings.

Never underestimate what you can learn from other people and how far that goes towards keeping you on the constant journey to be better at what you do. The day I'm the smartest person in the room, is the day I'm done. On a recent trip home, I saw this quote at an airport: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." There is no better feeling for me than when the people I am with are part of my success and I am a part of theirs.

Women all over the world are making a difference at Microsoft.

Meet Juliana Gomez, a native of Brazil who now leads Microsoft’s Extended Quality and Business Excellence organization in Europe.

Jessie Gertzin San Francisco considers Microsoft’s commitment to health and community especially fulfilling.

Kara Fong came to Microsoft after participating in DigiGirlz, a program that gives high school girls the opportunity to learn about careers in technology.

How to use your internship to prepare for a full-time career

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

4 ways to get the job you really want

By: Anthony Rotoli

With summer right around the corner, many of you are preparing for an exciting internship. While you’re doing everything to make the most of it, here are some tips that will also help you leverage your summer experience to prepare for your full-time career:

Learn from industry experts

During your internship you’ll be working side-by-side with industry professionals who have various areas of expertise. Just as you look to your college professors for guidance, you’ll want to take advantage of the career knowledge these experts can offer. Find the full-time employees working on the technologies that excite you most. Ask them to lunch: Find out more about their career path, what they might have done differently, and the true pros and cons of the work they do now. In your day-to-day responsibilities, with your full-time colleagues, always be inquisitive: Ask for advice, and listen.

Recognize what you don’t like–but keep things in perspective

During college we get used to our areas of focus re-shifting every few months as semesters change and those less-enjoyable classes get swapped out for new ones. When you enter the work force it can be intimidating to think about focusing on one area for several years. Because of this, new grads may become ultra-sensitive to the less desirable areas of a particular job.

During your internship it makes sense to identify the areas of your current work that you don’t particularly enjoy, but at the same time it’s important to be thoughtful about the big picture. Even for those of us who truly love coming to work every day, there will always be a few aspects of the job that excite us less than others. At the end of the day, if you’re passionate about the larger goal of the work you’re doing, make sure you don’t let slight undesirables scare you away.

Even if you are less than thrilled about your initial assignment, let your work ethic, determination and intellectual horsepower shine for those around you. You’ll build a strong reputation that will follow you as you pursue other opportunities.

Explore different products and business groups

Most likely, you’ll spend your internship working within one specific division. Get to know everything about that department, and explore your interest within the area you’re assigned. Beyond your assignment, learn more about other groups across the company. Get a broad view, and then dive deeper in an area or two that might really interest you. Understand how different technologies function and evolve. Think about what you’d be passionate about working on with your current company or another employer.

Do really well at the work you’re doing now

One of the most valuable pieces of career advice I’ve ever received is: The easiest way to get to the job you want next is to do exceptionally well at the job you have now. You might think this is a no-brainer, but it’s important to highlight how valuable it is to build the strongest-possible track record for yourself in the work you’re currently doing.

Enjoy the sunshine—and think about the resume you’ll be writing at the end of the summer.

Get ready to tell your internship story by using strong words.

Explain the specific technologies you worked on, and areas where you showed the ability to turn your own great ideas into a tangible result.

Then start looking at New Grad Jobs.

How to land a sales, marketing and services job at Microsoft

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Master personal branding and the secrets of Search

By: Kevin Lamsback, Staffing Consultant

Personal branding and Search: How does this help you land a job at Microsoft, you ask? Good question.

In this post, I will map out a three-step formula for you that will increase your chances tenfold. However, it comes with a disclaimer: “This formula requires work.” So if you are not really, really, serious about Microsoft, no need to read any further.

1. You have to be proactive in using social media to your advantage.

When it comes to personal branding via your social network, as the saying goes, “content is king.” You’ve got to know your audience. People on LinkedIn, for example, don’t really care whether you just grabbed the world’s best caramel macchiato at the corner coffee shop (then again, I’m not sure if anyone really cares…but to each his own, I digress).

Start by paying attention to the days of the week your social network is most active and make a note of it. Next, find an interesting article that isn’t getting much airtime, then post it during peak social-networking times. This simple technique will increase your reach, bolster your brand and attract attention to yourself.

Remember, be sure your information is current, descriptive and readily available. Don’t just wait for a recruiter to call you about the perfect role, be proactive and get out there and network.

2. Do your research.

Here at Microsoft we see resumes from a lot of applicants … so prepare yourself for a social introduction by doing your homework. Research our openings by accessing our Careers site online, then thoroughly vet the openings that look like a fit. Hint: Pay particular attention to the “requirements” section.

Once you’ve identified those ideal roles, research the groups or organizations that they are a part of. For instance: CSS (Customer Service and Support), PFE (Premier Field Engineering), corporate headquarters, Bing, Xbox, and so on.

3. Use the Search feature.

Run a variety of simple searches using the search function on LinkedIn to look for recruiting contacts within the organization you’ve identified. Example: “Microsoft” and “recruiter” are two good keywords to get you started. Drill down based on the organization research you conducted in the last step.

Note: If you can’t find the exact recruiter who supports the group in question, the next best option is to start connecting with any of our recruiters/staffing consultants. Be sure to keep your message short and concise while including the position number(s) you’re interested in. This shows you’ve done your homework and you’re not just throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks.

If you are in the introduction phase, do NOT just send a resume with a one-liner saying, “Let me know if you have anything.” This = ‘Delete button’ in the recruiting world.

So, if you want to take ownership of your career and get proactive about Microsoft, give this approach a shot and see how it works! Start searching for your next exciting role. If you never envisioned yourself at Microsoft, you’re not alone… Check out Jack’s surprising story about taking a leap of faith here.

If you want more ‘how-to’ build-your-skills advice, here’s why personal branding matters. And learn more about how to represent yourself.

Resume Power Words Part II: 5 ways to strengthen a weak CV

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

1. DON’T speak in the passive language. DO use words that show impact.

Rewrite statements that convey any trace of back-seat driving. Instead: Amplify your leadership experience. “When I’m reviewing a resume I’ll sometimes take caution when someone suggests that they played the role of an almost passive observer, less involved in leading solutions to challenges,” says Anthony, a university recruiter.

“Words such as maintained, contributed, helped, and participated make it difficult to understand your unique contribution,” Anthony says. “Even when you’re a team member of many, there’s always something that you’re likely tasked with leading. It’s easier for me to imagine the impact you’ll be able to make when you share what you personally delivered.”

2. DON’T be vague. DO provide specifics.

When you’re talking to recruiters (remember, your resume is your big sales pitch), don’t leave ‘em guessing. Eugenia, who finds talent for Bing, gives some examples of how developers should hone in on their portfolio of skills: For instance, rather than saying you’re “familiar with”a particular technology, show expertise. “We don’t want to know what you’ve used once, we want to know what you’re known for knocking it out of the park with in terms of skills, ability and experience.”

As Eugenia says, these words need more information:

Used (Existing tools or did you develop your own?)

Attended (What did you do besides attending?)

Corresponded with (You talked to this person? What did you deliver?)

To sum it up, Eugenia says: “Any of those words or phrases undermine your efforts to emphasize your background, experience and skills.”

3. DON’T sabotage your interview with too-high expectations. But DO highlight how you got results.

Some insight from Paul, a university recruiter: “I encourage students to avoid claiming ‘expert’ at any coding language. There are other methods I recommend to write resumes more effectively. For example, avoid the words work experience and replace with ‘professional accomplishments.’ Rather than listing job duties, this forces the writer and reader to communicate in terms of outcomes and measurable impact.” Paul adds an important point: Besides thinking of keywords, he says, “I recommend using the resume to get noticed and to control parts of the interview.”

4. DON’T over-acronym your language. DO spell things out.

Heather, who recruits for SMSG (Sales and Marketing Services Group) says, “Think about when you are using industry acronyms vs. company acronyms. For example, you would put C# on your resume as that is a standard coding language, but you would NOT put ‘my work in CTS consists of…’ Instead, you would write ‘my work in Commercial Technical Support (CTS) consists of…’”

5. DON’T say: “References available on request.” DO assume we’ll ask.

Be savvy, says SMSG recruiter Steve. Eliminate this cliché from your resume, but be prepared to share the contact information of people from your professional network who can put in a good word for you.

Be a contender. Choose words that tell your professional story to your best advantage. Then put these guidelines to work when you apply for the role that will take your career to the next level.

Three reasons why we need more women in technology - How Microsoft empowers women

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

By Sandeep Sood

When it comes to balancing work and life, including a rewarding, impactful professional role, can women have it all? YES, says recruiter Sandeep Sood, who has hired hundreds of women in tech over 14 years, after his own five-year career in engineering. In Sandeep’s own words, as we get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day, here’s why we need more women at Microsoft:

In the U.S., Microsoft currently has more than 3,500 openings for engineers. And we are focused on finding more women to fill these roles. Why? Is it just for diversity?

According to John Gerzema, author of The Athena Doctrine, “Feminine traits are a strategic advantage in today's economy.”

The author’s research, in which he surveyed 64,000 people around the world, indicates that so-called “feminine” traits (intuitive, flexible, nurturing and collaborative) have an important business impact. These findings have major implications for the workplace. From their Athena research, here are a few telling statistics:

81 percent of people said that, man or woman, you need both masculine and feminine traits to thrive in today’s world.

And 63 percent of the men polled agree with this statement: “The world would be a better place if men thought more like women.”

Clearly, for all of us to succeed, we need to attract and retain more female employees. However, as a recruiter, I see how many women in technical disciplines hold themselves back from advancement. It’s time to buck that trend.

Here are three things women need to know about life at Microsoft:

1. It IS possible to climb the corporate ladder and have a life outside of work.

Many women have grown their career and taken leadership roles at Microsoft: A great example is Julia Liuson, a Microsoft corporate vice president. In her Seattle Timesarticle, she advises other women to “ask for what you need personally in order to do a great job professionally.”

In Julia’s interview on the JobsBlog, she addresses the importance of strong role models and how they are accessible to everyone today. And she emphasizes being “clear about your priorities,” including the tough juggles of work-life balance.

There are many ways Microsoft anticipates employee needs. To name a few: flexible work options, paid time off for life events, assistance with backup childcare, and employee communities of women and parents who share insider tips for positive family life. Learn more here.

2. We value career development.

At Microsoft we encourage you to grow your career, whether in management or as a senior individual contributor. And just as Julia mentions, we offer mentoring programs. We also offer management support and myriad opportunities across our business groups to follow one’s passions. We provide resources through employee networks and various workshops, such as our bi-yearly Global Women’s Conference. Learn more here.

3. Diversity is important.

Research shows that diversity is a boon to business outcomes. The National Center for Women and Informational Technology (NCWIT)found that while 60 percent of men at startups believed that diverse teams innovate and troubleshoot more efficiently, only 41 percent would support company-wide hiring practices to increase diversity. But consider this: If 60 percent believed that knowledgeable coders would make better hires, would only 41 percent be in favor of hiring people who know how to code?

It’s so important that we talk with our kids early about their own goals—maybe even by age six. That’s when their interests in technology and their sense of equality can begin.

Read more about building skills such as self-assessment and salary negotiations in our series about take-aways from the Grace Hopper conference.

Geek Grads: How to power your resume - The insider’s guide to words that work

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:15:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

Your resume allows you to make the best first impression. It’s your sales pitch. Every word needs to convince us that you’re a good fit for a role you’ll love.

With insights from our recruiters, here are some ways to deliver big impact:

Choose active words that show leadership.

“At Microsoft we’re always looking for people who are going to be ready to come in and make major impact,” says Anthony, a university recruiter. “We embrace a culture of constant progress, and to make sure we never lose sight of this, we need people who will bring their ideas to the table and champion creative solutions.”

“On my search for people like this I’m always excited to see signs of someone with a track record of making their ideas reality.”

Anthony highlights some persuasive picks: “Implemented…Created…Innovated…Founded…Lead a team.”

WHAT did you create? Express yourself.

Eugenia, who recruits talent for Bing, offers some pointers for software developers: “As a recruiter, I want to see what you have completed as a developer, the things you have shipped, changed, built and overall what you consider your expertise to be.”

Here’s Eugenia’s leadership lexicon:

Developed…Coded… Designed…Architected…Tested…Optimized…Performance…Scaled… Managed…Drove…Shipped.

Steve, who seeks pros for sales and marketing roles in SMSG (Sales, Marketing and Services Group), offers his power-vocabulary list:

Achieved….Accomplished….Drove….Enabled….Mobilized….Coordinated….Engineered….

Mirror the job description.

Heather, another SMSG staffing expert, who finds pros such as Premier Field Engineers who love their jobs, says you should use language that matches the job description. “If the job is a Program Manager,” Heather says, “but your title is Project Manager or Process Manager, make sure to include Program Managementdetails in your resume. Likely you have done ‘program management’ but it won’t pull up in our searches if those exact words are not in your resume.”

What are your career goals? Pinpoint the job you know you want. Then get in the game.

An often-asked question we hear is: What should I title my resume? We want to get to know you. Grab our attention.

The Power of Team Spirit

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

A surprise “get well” video cheers an injured employee

By Pang Ngernsupaluck

Senior Marketing Manager Pang Ngernsupaluck broke her ankle in a freak ski accident. A get-well video produced by her colleagues on the Microsoft Dynamics team speaks volumes about the warm and cohesive team culture at Microsoft.

In her own words, Pang shares her experience:

My family is Thai. A few weeks ago, we were ready to celebrate Songkran holidays, a time when Thai people take time off and visit their family. My brother flew in from Thailand and I took him skiing at Crystal Mountain.

My ski boots were not properly fitted, and so when I fell, I twisted my right ankle and it broke inside of the boots. I was transported down in a state of trauma. The accident turned our vacation plan upside down; the rest of my family living in different parts of the world cancelled their flights.

Immobilized, working from home, and frustrated, I started to feel a bit depressed. To receive a get-well video and beautiful flowers from my team was really refreshing and motivating. I feel so fortunate and grateful to be part of the Microsoft "family"—to work with people who are fun, smart, and caring—and to foster lasting friendships with them.

In the video, you will see my team plus their kids and dogs.

I enjoy going to work and spending time with the team. Can’t wait to get better and see everyone again!

Meet another employee who is inspired by close-knit colleagues, and four things that surprised him about Microsoft.

University students and graduates, if you missed us in the fall…

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

It's not too late to get a fun job

By: Michelle Feder

Spring means graduation is just around the corner. We visited campuses last fall, and we’ve hired great candidates to join us.

But some students are approaching graduation without a job. We understand that you’ve had your head down studying hard. We’re sorry we missed you on campus, but we still want to meet you.

You may be wondering: Is there still a role for me? The answer: YES!

You can still apply for a job at Microsoft. We care about matching good-fit university candidates with satisfying roles at Microsoft, and we welcome applicants year-round. You still have time, and you still have options.

Because: In addition to campus visits, we provide multiple avenues for university candidates to apply. There are two online paths a university student can follow to pursue roles with Microsoft:

Scenario 1: Apply directly

microsoft.com/university Meet Microsoft New Grad Jobs

In this scenario, you create a profile for yourself in our system. You’ll see descriptions of our three core-tech roles, which are common matches for new grads who are pursuing roles in software development:

Software Development Engineer

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Program Manager (PM)

You’ll also see information for MBA graduates. We have technical and non-technical roles in every business group.

Scenario 2: Find your recruiter

microsoft.com/university -> Find Recruiters & Events -> Select the type of recruiter -> Read your recruiter’s bio -> Send your recruiter a direct email

One thing that’s amazing about this process: As a university candidate, you will be corresponding with a specific person. So you want to make your best impression, right from the start. Note: If your school is not listed, find a recruiter for your state.

The good news:

A late start doesn’t mean you’re a late bloomer. In fact, we consider new grads as university candidates for a full calendar year after graduation. And of course, we’re happy to consider great candidates any time of the year.

What are you waiting for?

Everything you need to know is right here.

We’ve got resume tips, personal branding pointers, and an inside look at what it’s like to interview in Redmond. What’s more, here are some suggestions for how to consider an offer. Last but not least: Don’t miss our post on Microsoft’s three key software development roles. Good luck!

Seattle vs. Silicon Valley start-ups

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Why build a tech career in Seattle?

By: Paul Sledd, University Staffing Consultant

Entrepreneurs and innovators widely recognize Silicon Valley as the most important location worldwide for technology product development. Because Microsoft also recognizes the importance of Silicon Valley, more than 3,000 employees work on several teams located there. With so many opportunities, why would new tech grads choose to start a career at Microsoft – especially when the job is outside of the Silicon Valley?

Some students ponder and approach Microsoft opportunities with real doubts. As a Microsoft recruiter and HR professional, I observe how career decisions unfold over time. Here are some issues to consider:

Impact: Because our products ship to billions of users, each improvement makes a big impact, but some students fear that newly-minted engineers won’t have opportunities to create something original. The truth is, Microsoft places students and fresh graduates quickly onto innovative teams. For example, Microsoft Fresh Paint, Photosynth, Surface, Health Vault, and Perceptive Pixel are a just a few projects in which new hires have made fast impact in applied science and product development.

Connections: Wherever you choose to live, everybody needs a network: No successful person can make an impact alone. Contacts in both regions can make your career ever-stronger: The distance and travel options between the Puget Sound and the Bay Area allow technology professionals to grow a huge network and cultivate contacts, even while based in the Pacific Northwest.

Money: California and Washington are both beautiful states. But when students are evaluating offers, it’s important to factor in not just salary, benefits, and bonuses but also the cost of living. There are lots of resources available to help you compare the cities.

Also, if you are an entrepreneur with an awesome idea, you’ll need venture capital. The Bing Fund and others are more interested in your idea than your address. If you are a freelancer, you might want to learn about The Microsoft Garage, Marketplaces for Moonlighting, and the fact that some Microsoft benefits are portable upon leaving the company.

No one becomes an “outsider” after leaving the Bay, and with a great education as your springboard, tech careers have legs. There are many opinions on how to begin a STEM career, but I would question those who say the wonder of Silicon Valley only exists during a small window of time in your career.

I enjoy seeing university grads kick-off their careers because I feel that STEM students readily demonstrate the energy, empathy, and problem-solving that makes life fun. And I enjoy watching careers and ideas unfold. Maybe I will see you at Microsoft!

Learn more about our university-recruiting process and our three core tech roles. Consider which discipline might be the best fit for you. Go for it!

Why personal branding matters

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Show us your passion

By: Eugenia Sawa

As a job seeker or someone who is seeking industry notoriety, you need to build an established, tactful, and wholesome brand. The tactful part is up to you–as you know, there are always folks who love to push the envelope.

Bing recruits and hires a wide variety of talent. For any role, a dream candidate will provide me with a universal, well-rounded, and informative picture of themselves professionally (hence I’m leaving Facebook out of this conversation). Everything content-wise that appears on each channel should match up in terms of expertise, accomplishments, and personality (cheeky/out there), and fit with how you present yourself in person.

Here’s how you can target each channel:

LinkedIn

A place to describe your career to date: I should know who you have worked for, where you went to school, and what your expertise is in a few sentences. Then I might check to see who you’re connected to and check out your publications and groups.

Twitter/Quora

Recruiters don’t want to see a copy-and-paste dump for each channel. On Twitter and Quora, I am going to look at who you are connected to, what you have been tweeting about in your area of domain expertise, what conferences you attend, and what kind of questions/answers you post to Quora.

Conferences

We love meeting candidates at conferences, so let us know you’re attending the same conferences we are through our various social media channels. How else will we get the chance to meet you there? Help us get a good idea of who you are and what you’re looking for so we can set up a meeting with someone from our team.

If you’re interviewing with our Bing Social team, for example, come with your own ideas on how to integrate new ideas through your own personal experiences and preferences – We would love to see you whiteboard an idea, and who knows -you may see it implemented! And on a more fun note: Let us know which Bing homepage image was your favorite? Who could forget those monkeys relaxing in a hot spring…

Personal Websites

I love these. There aren’t too many anymore, but when I find one that has a link to your CV, publications, patents, and contact information, I’m almost always going to give you a call directly.

All of these things give me data points on who you are professionally, what your drive is in your industry (wallflower/contributor), and allow me to peek into who your peers are and how you might represent yourself on behalf of Microsoft. ; )

Personal branding is so important, we decided to double up on the data. See what Travis Scott, a talent sourcer for Windows Services, also had to say about it.

The importance of personal branding - How to represent yourself

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:00:00 GMT

By Travis Scott, Talent Sourcer, Windows Services Staffing

On the Windows Services team, we hire a lot of SDETs (Software Development Engineers in Test). Since SDETs at Microsoft are software engineers who love to break things and solve big problems, it is important that they can demonstrate their ability to code, as well as their passion for problem-solving and technology. If even one of those things doesn’t come across during the interview, they likely won’t be hired.

All of those elements contribute to the issue of personal branding. When you apply for jobs, it’s important to ask yourself: “What is my brand?” If you think about marketing yourself in the same way that companies think of marketing their products, you’ll realize that it’s not a good idea to try to be everything to everyone. You’ll never succeed.

Instead, if you narrow things down to specifics, you’ll be successful. Consider:

Who…is your target audience? If you’re a recruiter, will your audience be potential candidates or other recruiters? Two totally different audiences will be interested in very different topics. So if you’re a software engineer, keep in mind which audience you want to receive which message.

What…is your specialty or niche? You cannot be everything to everyone. Figure out what you know best and go with that.

When…will you interact with your audience? What is the optimal time? This may take some A/B testing to really get a feel for the time that’s most effective.

Where…does your target audience live? Facebook? LinkedIn? Twitter? Meetup groups?

Why and How….will you reach them? What is your strategy? I think the cornerstone of personal branding is to have a consistent theme across every channel you use. Having a blog is also a critical piece of self-branding as it provides a platform to share your knowledge at a deeper level. The other social channels can be seen as the distribution system for promoting your blog and any high-level ideas, article shares, and so on.

Your passion and skills should come across at every level—resume and online profiles (with links to side projects) and during interviews (genuine energy when talking about technology). When I see that someone has links to side projects, for instance, it is a pretty good indicator that they are passionate about what they do and they have an insatiable desire to learn and build things outside of their 9-to-5 role.

As with any type of branding, it is important to do research and develop a strategy before jumping into it. You have to know what you want to be and who you want to be it to.

Which of Microsoft’s top three software development roles is right for you? Find out, and meet Kory Gill, who left Microsoft for a startup and came back to Windows happier than ever.

7 Reasons to Hack - Hackathons help you build your network

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:10:00 GMT

By Anthony Rotoli

“Hackathons are the perfect environment for improving your programming skills, developing that idea you've been wanting to work on, and meeting like-minded people who may become your co-founders,”says Kathleen Warner, president of Innoblue, a student-run idea incubator at Penn State University and frequent hackathon host. “With just 24 hours, students are forcing creativity and collaboration to happen.”

Hackathons have been growing in recent years as a great way to learn and get more deeply involved in technology you’re passionate about.

Many of these modern “hacking” marathons are actually less focused on hacking in a traditional sense, which has been often associated with security exploits. Today’s hackathons typically take place over the course of a day or two, and open the doors to anyone who wants to work on turning an idea into reality.

Here are seven key reasons to get hacking:

1. Learn from and collaborate with others. It could be the concentration of focused brainwaves, or maybe just the scent of pizza and Red Bull, but there’s a unique culture you can really feel at a hackathon. Everyone is there to think big and try new ideas, and with this comes great opportunity to collaborate and support each other. You’ll meet new people who are not only interested in what you’re working on, but will be excited to share their thoughts on how you could make it even better.

2. Work on that idea you’ve been eager to pursue. Life is busy! Whether with classes and tests, or the hectic demands of job and a family, it can be difficult to set aside time to get momentum. A hackathon provides a block of 24/48/72 hours dedicated to fleshing out your ideas and working on turning them into reality.

3. Show off your skills. When I’m speaking with an interview candidate it’s always great if they have a tangible example to show me the type of work they like to do. A hackathon is the perfect time to build something, whether simple or complex, like a mobile app you can use to show your work.

4. Learn a new platform. Often hackathons will include workshops to help people learn how to develop for a new or updated platform. It’s a great way to get in-person training and then put it directly to use. Once the event is over you can use this new knowledge on future projects.

5. Learn to present your ideas. An important part of the experience comes at the end of the event. With your last bit of energy after your hacking marathon, you can present your idea to the community. The skills you build by being able to effectively and succinctly
demonstrate your idea’s potential are invaluable.

6. Get noticed. You never know who’s in the room listening to your pitch. In 2010, two partners at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon used the event to develop GroupMe, a mobile group-messaging service. During their 97-second pitch they caught the attention of some venture capitalists. Within 18 months, GroupMe was acquired by Skype. What’s more, recruiters often attend these events to find people with the right talent and passion to join their team.

7. Have fun! Most hackathons have mini-games or competitions to keep everyone awake and excited. During presentations, even if you’re competing for a big prize, you get the feeling that everyone is on the same team, supporting all the ideas.

Read Anthony’s real-life guide to the university recruiting process—and get the inside take on what gets you an interview—and might get you hired.

Follow him on Twitter @anthonyrotoli.

What Microsoft technologies are you excited about right now?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

We asked and you answered!

by Michelle Feder

We invited you to a community chat on Facebook. We put forth the question you see above. WHY? Because there’s a lot of great stuff going on around here, hot technology that’s going to change lives and make a huge impact. And you can be a part of it.

Responses to this conversation came from all over the world: Microsoft Careers is, literally, a global community. We heard from hundreds of you who learn and work in tech environments around the world—and not just for Microsoft. Developers, geeks, students, everyone who uses Microsoft technology for work and play: You dropped some comments about how you’re fired up about tech that’s current—and tech that’s coming.

Here’s what you had to say about the technologies you’re excited about right now:

The Cloud

People responded from all over the world to share their enthusiasm about the Cloud. For instance, we heard from Jobb in Tanzania, who says he likes “Cloud service.”

Jobb’s interest is fitting, because hiring managers all over the world are looking for candidates with IT cloud skills. A recent IDC report revealed that one in four IT positions worldwide is currently unfilled— and 28% of those are cloud-computing related. This niche is where the jobs are! Training and certification can help bridge the skills gap. Check out how Microsoft Certification changed the life of one employee—and could change yours too.

Interactive environments, Kinect, and the future of Surface

With your Facebook posts, you showed us you’re especially excited about Kinect and Surface and their potential. You also gave us some constructive criticism. For instance, Michael is excited to see “what direction you go with hardware. The Surface Pro is a fantastic tool for artists due to the top-notch pressure sensitivity, but no one knows about that since it's only being marketed with choreographed dancing.” And on his features-and-benefits checklist, Marvell would love to see a Microsoft tablet with WiFi printing: “That would be beyond awesome.”

If you’re interested in NUI (natural user interface) and the future of touch-screen functionality, you won’t want to miss these stories:

Kinect optical engineer Johnson Liu is using light to make an impact on not just our living rooms but our lives. And Surface marketer Jack Cowett found his “dream job” when he came to Microsoft.

Office and SharePoint

More and more, our work and personal lives are converging, and technology is responding. Marcel and Satya are excited about using Office 365 and SharePoint. For his work, Simon tells us: “After years of WinForms (Windows Forms) and ASP.Net, I'm finally getting into WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation), and loving it!” And Keerthi calls out Dynamics CRM (customer relationship management) for hitting sales and marketing goals.

To learn more about how these technologies make an impact and what it means for ‘Softies, read Zach’s story, The Truth about the Office.

Windows Phone, Windows 8 and what’s on the way…

As you know, in the last year, Microsoft has launched hot products, and some of your Facebook comments reflect that you’re as fired up as we are. For instance, Andrew says, “I love my Win RT tablet and Win 8 laptop; I just need a Windows Phone to complete the trifecta.” Corey says, “The Nokia Lumia 928...when the official announcement comes out I will be even more excited!” And Mathew adds, “Developing in Windows 8 with Visual Studio '12 using C# has been a dream. It just keeps getting better.”

If you spend time with Albert Shum, director of design for Windows Phone, it’s pretty hard not to get excited about what’s coming. He’s passionate about using technology to make things that will delight people by responding to what we need.

Xbox excitement

Many, many of you in the community are looking forward to, as Filipe cleverly put it: Xbox.next (and so are we!) Paolo adds: “I'm looking forward to new Direct X technology.”

Don’t miss our interview with McKenzie Eakin, a program manager for Xbox, who talks about how when it comes to the console you love, expect the unexpected.

Famous last words on tech you love:

Tailton says: Everything.

The French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss once said, "The scientific mind does not so much provide the right answer as ask the right question."

Here’s a question for you: It’s happening right now. You in?

Nothing beats working on Windows - WinSE ships code every month!

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By Kory Gill, Principal Test Manager US-Win SDET

We were recently introduced to Kory. Fascinated by his journey from Microsoft to startup, back to Microsoft – we asked him to share what he learned and why he came back. His answer: “I looked at opportunities at several companies around the area, and they all had something in common: None of them provided the impact and opportunity that Microsoft had to offer.”

Kory values work-life balance, and when he is not managing a team of 25 in his Building 28 office on main campus, he enjoys spending time with his family and staying active. “Washington offers an abundance of destinations and outdoor activities,” he says. “This is one of the reasons I was drawn to Seattle.”

A snapshot: “After learning to rock-climb at Marymoor Park just minutes from Microsoft, my son Jace and I climbed this peak, South Early Winters Spire, near Winthrop, WA.”

Today, Kory shares his Microsoft story, in his own words:

Working on the Windows operating system may not be for everyone. For me, there are many reasons why Windows is a great product and working on it is a great privilege. Windows is complex, and understanding the internals of Windows is something that takes time, requires technical depth, and a passion for digging into details.

My father was a mechanic. He taught me the value of understanding how things work, how to take things apart and put them back together again, and maintaining things to keep them running smoothly. And he taught me to be creative when things don’t go as planned. Just like working on a semi-truck, working on Windows has these same qualities.

I enjoy applying what I have learned to solve real problems. Windows is core to many technologies and products, and working on Windows requires extreme care to ensure the people who depend on it can go about their day and perhaps just take all our hard work for granted. Working in WinSE (Windows Sustained Engineering) provides an opportunity to learn the internals of Windows, to develop new code for Windows, respond to feedback from customers, and update Windows via updates, hot fixes, and service packs.

I started at Microsoft in October 1990, in product support for LAN Manager. Understanding customer pain got me interested in software quality, and I moved to the Windows 95 team testing networking. In 1999, I took a development job in WinSE and worked on many areas of Windows. For the next five years, I developed code for networking, active directory, security, user interface, kernel and driver code, user mode code for task scheduler, and developed patented technology for how to service software. In 2008, I was recruited to lead the team that ensured the Windows logo meant “devices just worked.”

In 2008, I left Microsoft to start my own company. Over the next four years, I learned how startups worked, how to build a product from the ground up, and ultimately how hard it is to grow a customer base and revenues. It was a difficult decision to stop working on something I started, however I knew there was more I could do elsewhere.

What to do next? I looked back on my career and what I enjoyed most and one group came to mind: WinSE. After a few meetings and some challenging interviews, I accepted a Test Manager position in the WinSE User Experience (UEX) team. The UEX team is responsible for the user interface in Windows. Chances are if you can see it, swipe it, click it, type input into it, change settings to switch languages, or type on a soft keyboard…then the UEX team probably designed, developed, tested and maintains that code. This is not a small or trivial area.

Each day I come to work, I am excited about the opportunities in front of me. Working with a talented team of people makes each day at the office a place where innovation happens.

Do you share the same passion? Curiosity? Drive to challenge yourself while impacting the lives of millions of customers? If so, get in touch. We would enjoy learning more about you. You might be surprised how you too can apply your skills to deliver the best possible experience to Microsoft customers.

When he’s not at home in Woodinville, WA, or on campus, you can find Kory camping, hiking, riding motorcycles, mountain biking, or enjoying a great meal with family and friends.

Are you inspired by Kory’s story? Meet more employees working in NUI, Xbox and the Cloud who are also changing the world.

Here’s how to advance your career path.

The truth about the Office

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:45:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

“The work I do impacts more than a million people.”

Zach Rosenfield, a senior PM lead on SharePoint, says recent grads often believe that startups are where they can make a big impact. The truth of the matter, Zach says, is that employees in Office have an opportunity to impact more people than they ever would in a startup, by helping people do their work better, faster, and more efficiently.

Zach is a lead on an infrastructure platform team for SharePoint Online, part of the Office 365 suite. He tells it like it is:

Microsoft is unlike anywhere else in the world. When I release a new feature, I know that a million people will use it. If I’m lucky, maybe 10 million, or even 100 million people.

Microsoft is not what you would picture for a company of this size. You would think it’s stodgy, with a guy at the top who is going to tell you how it is and how everybody has to make that vision happen. I have been here for seven years. And throughout my career, I have set the direction for a strategic piece of the company. If there’s something I feel needs to change, I have the resources and ability to make that change and steer my product in the right direction. I find it amazing that I can have such a big impact on the outcome and success of such an established product.

Someone once told me that from a distance, the Office organization looks like a battleship: Large, established, and immovable. But when you get closer, it’s not this big monolithic thing that’s hard to turn, but actually thousands of people in their own boats, all propelling together down the same path. It’s a team effort that empowers every individual to have an impact in a big way.

What I find incredible here is the reach. At Microsoft, I can walk down my hallway and find real people (often the inventor), who are experts in every piece of technology, architecture, and research concept but who are also very willing to take the time to sit down with me and explain it. With all of these accessible experts, I have an unbelievable learning opportunity. I love that my job is a daily continuation of my education.

I work with name-brand companies who are changing the world, and I help them improve their business. I’m just some random guy in Redmond, but I have an impact on some of the largest companies on earth. It’s pretty incredible, and in an exciting way, a huge undertaking. Any decision I make can impact how the biggest names in business do their work.

Related stories:

What’s trending? Loving your work, like Zach. Meet Albert, McKenzie, and other Microsofties who are passionate about what they do.

And if you couldn’t get to Austin, give this SXSW recap a spin: It’ll feel like you’re there—without the crowds—and if you did hit the dance floor, think of this as a memento.

Technology has no limits - At Microsoft, you have the space to imagine

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

Johnson Liu’s job title for his work at Microsoft Kinect is very cool: “Optical engineer.” He says, “Optical engineers use light to create products that deliver an exciting user experience.”

It’s only fitting that light is Johnson’s muse for developing products that in the near future will make our surroundings responsive to our lifestyles. Johnson shares with JobsBlog some thoughts on what’s coming:

Kinect offers a natural way to interact with the digital world.

Kinect works with motion, with gesture, with voice. My kids are seven and three. When I see them playing Kinect games, I am amazed to see how well they can manipulate the subjects in the game. So I see Kinect as a big part of the NUI evolution.

I told my son that when I was young, the world was very different. We didn’t have touch devices—we didn’t even have a PC. For people who were born after the 2000s, their life is very different. They are using new technologies which didn’t exist 10 or 15 years ago. They are growing up in this new environment and it is very different from their parents’ experience.

We can create now with technology, but our kids will invent even more.

Young kids have had so many good opportunities to use the most advanced technologies in the world. They will be able to innovate on a much higher level. With their starting point they’ll be able to create things we can’t even imagine now.

On the downside, I can picture a disconnect between young kids and the elderly. Very soon there may be a generation gap. Between young and old, there won’t be a common language. So I think technology represents an opportunity for the younger generation, but it also presents a challenge.

Microsoft is about empowering people.

Kinect provides a platform that allows developers to build core applications on top. We are doing everything we can to empower them and give them what they need to come up with cool software. And we want the businesses and individuals who use the products to realize their full potential.

Because we work on the most cutting-edge technologies, we have the toughest problems to solve. But if we are innovative enough, we’ll be able to create products that inspire people.

The technology right now is becoming more and more mature.

Wherever there is a plain surface, you can make it touch-responsive to bridge the physical world with the digital world. From a user perspective, people always want to be connected. So if you give plain surfaces touch-screen functionality, I think users will be delighted. Technology advancement is only limited by people’s imagination. Surface gives you the space to imagine.

What do you get when you add people + passion + tech? Employees who want to change the world. Be one.

Spring in the Pacific Northwest - A happiness guide for indoor and outdoor geeks

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

It’s official – we’ve seen the sun. We know you’re already heading out to enjoy some fresh air. To make things easy, we’ve put together this spring happiness guide. Take a ski or boat break during the work day, get away for some spontaneous weekend fun or get your sports on:

Spring skiing: Crystal Mountain is celebrating spring with demo days, deals, and even just the beauty of the view from the Mt. Rainier Gondola (even if you don’t ski). Crystal stays open weekends till June 16, so get your spring pass—or buy your pass for next season at a discount and ski right now. Or if you want an excuse to pull out your passport, take a trip up to Whistler, where you can take advantage of great deals, and enjoy some of the best spring skiing in North America.

Cycling: Take a lap around Lake Washington or Lake Sammamish. Or health up your commute: Torch some calories while you ride to work. Some ‘Softies cycle part of the way to work and then hop on the Connector. Showers, lockers and towel service on campus make it easy.

Baseball: For Seattle Mariners fans, Opening Day, Monday, April 8^th, can’t come soon enough. A free-admission, free-parking Safeco Field Open House on April 1 introduces the new videoboard and gets the party started.

Major League Soccer: Sounders FC games are at the Xbox Pitch at Century Link Field. You’ll want to see at least one match to experience the full 90 with thousands of passionate fans. The Sounders FC has a 53-piece marching band—the Sound Wave—the only one of its kind in MLS.

Kids: Every busy parent appreciates easy options and ideas for last-minute getaways, and if you’re working during a school vacation, spring-break camps. Parents will appreciate these tips for quick, drivable trips: Suncadia has a mid-week special starting at $99. Portland has tons of stuff kids and parents love: zoo, food, books. This deal is promising a passport for freebies if you book a trip by March 31.

Arts and culture: Passes and ticket packages are on sale for the Seattle International Film Festival (May 16 to June 9). What’s playing now: Epic De Niro: | A week-long retrospective of dramas featuring cinema icon Robert De Niro (March 29–April 4).

Boating and beauty: In the Puget Sound, there’s water everywhere. Opening Day kicks off the official start of Seattle's boating season. And the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival makes spring a Technicolor celebration in bloom.

Whatever floats your boat, you are sure to find it in the Pacific Northwest. Each season brings fun for geeks, and every neighborhood has a different flavor.

Why attend SXSW? Network, Learn, and Discover

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By: Michelle Feder

South by Southwest (SXSW) is a future-thinking conference that draws an incredible density of people working in tech.

The networking opportunities can’t be beat. You get to learn where the jobs are and meet people who might help you land them. You learn about technology that’s coming. And you might hit the dance floor.

Microsoft hosted a panel and social event celebrating U/X and design, with leaders in the field. Our SXSW hashtag, #RightNowATX, was the @MicrosoftJobs way to generate conversation.

JobsBlog asked Anthony, one of our university recruiters, for his take on the SXSW experience and why people in tech should attend. In his words, SXSW is a great opportunity to:

Understand what’s next. SXSW is the convergence of thoughts from a subset of the tech industry that has massive input on what the next big thing is going to be, and how we’ll get there. It’s a great opportunity to get a pulse on the cutting edge. I made sure to attend plenty of sessions on topics I’d heard about briefly, but wanted deeper understanding of, and I never walked away disappointed.

Share ideas and think differently. The culture at SXSW is one that encourages open conversation. I arrived in Austin the night before the conference, and in a matter of hours met four new people, all with unique backgrounds and perspective. Everyone comes ready to extend a handshake to a stranger, and share their story. While this happened in several informal settings, people were also eager in formal sessions to share the things about their organizations that went well, thereby giving others something to learn from, as well as areas of challenge.

With these tweets, see what others said too:

Greg Nudelman ‏@designcaffeine 10 Mar Great UX panel speaking about Windows 8 design challenges #SXSW #rightNowATX best thing to happen all day! pic.twitter.com/uKGIIFYPWP

Lee Birdsong ‏@lmbirdso 10 Mar #rightnowatx. Lovin the scene and learning new microsoft stuff! http://twitpic.com/cacjan

Greg Schwartz‏@uxgreg 10 Mar How I enjoyed the UI/UX Happy Hour by microsoft :P #rightnowatx @ Cedar Street Courtyard http://instagr.am/p/Ws0w9VgDur/

At an event like @MicrosoftJobs’ UX/design party, it was great if a guest made a friend in the industry, met an employee, or got inspired about design.

Get-to-know you messages sum up why you might consider SXSW next year: “Great running into you at SXSW. Send me your updated contact info.”

Hey, you never know. You just might tweet your way to a new job.

SXSW sparks dialogue. Be part of the conversation. And see what else is new.

Working Abroad at Microsoft - Opportunities for Women

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By: Carrie Martin Vance

March is Women’s History Month. It’s a time to celebrate the international achievements of women—past, present and future.

JobsBlog is shining a spotlight on one female employee who has worked in the U.S. and internationally. Carrie Martin Vance, a support practice manager now based in Tennessee (United States), lived abroad—in Dublin and London—for nine years, during which she managed a team of 24 program managers across nine countries.

JobsBlogger Heather asked Carrie to share some insights from her international experience.

JobsBlog: Why was it a positive experience to work for Microsoft overseas?

Carrie: I was constantly learning, not just about our business and how things are different in the subsidiaries than at corporate, but also in my day-to-day life: the appliances, driving on the other side of the road, even language. For instance, the same word can have completely different meanings in England and the U.S.

I learned history from a local perspective, from the French, the Germans, the Dutch. It’s a different point of view than my 8th grade class history class. In the office, it was a positive experience for me to facilitate solutions using language that was clear to people from both sides of the ocean.

JobsBlog: How did the experience help grow your career?

Carrie: I went overseas with the intention to stay for two to three years. I stayed for nine. I gained exposure and opportunities to work with leaders who were making strategic decisions. I grew my strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, while strengthening my drive for results and impact. I gained confidence in speaking to VP’s, GMs, and directors because I spoke to them regularly and learned what was important to them and the business.

JobsBlog: What did you learn about yourself?

Carrie: I wasn’t as broad-minded as I thought. I didn’t know geography or history as well as I thought. I learned what I didn’t know; I learned about my own assumptions.

It’s very hard to learn a new language and to speak and work effectively in that language. I came back to the U.S. with a complete respect for those who have learned to speak English, and a high regard for people who have a different opinion and a different way of processing information.

I learned to communicate ideas without using American slang or analogies that meant nothing to someone who conducted their career in a different culture. I learned that I like change and enable it effectively, and that I have a knack for building bridges of understanding to facilitate solutions where both sides can benefit.

JobsBlog: Now that you have returned to the U.S., what’s made the biggest impact on your career?

Carrie: Flexible and adaptive communication. I worked with people from diverse cultures, with various individual styles and approaches. I developed my skills in strategic leadership and organizational change by understanding how to communicate a vision. People are willing to adapt, learn and execute if they clearly understand “why” they are asked to change.

Meet more people who love the work they do at Microsoft.

Think you know Xbox?

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

By: McKenzie Eakin

Think you know Xbox?

Times have changed. Join us and step outside the box for a moment. The soul of Xbox soars as high as ever, but the iconic console has a new role. McKenzie Eakin, a program manager for Xbox, talks about how Xbox has evolved way outside the box to become the hub of home entertainment. In her own words, McKenzie addresses evolution and revolution at Microsoft.

We think of ourselves as a scrappy little startup inside the giant.

But Xbox is a real business now. We’ve brought in a lot of great minds from other places in the company who offer a fresh perspective about the broader audience that Xbox is seeking to pull in as we go after the living room. At the same time, how do you broaden your scope without losing that startup-y, deeply passionate core gamer experience?

You’ve got to maintain your core.

Xbox built its business off our core gaming audience. These people are loyal, they were our first customers, and we love them. The Xbox support team, the @XboxSupport Elite Tweet Fleet, is the first handle to push out more than a million tweets.

Our success balances an evolution and a revolution.

For us to grow, it’s a process of balancing the daily, weekly, monthly, yearly evolution that comes from listening to customers through systems like Tweet Fleet, and incorporating that customer feedback into an unforgiving rhythm of improvement. The revolution comes from phenomenal technical innovations like Kinect and whatever else we have in store for you.

There are a lot of cool people at Microsoft whose brains never turn off.

Microsofties don’t want to build the same thing twice. Because of the minds here, when you hear about some cool new thing, usually people think about how to apply it. People naturally explore things that way, and that’s where you wind up with the cross-pollination of ideas.

If you look at a lot of consumer technology companies right now, everybody’s trying to tell a united cross-branded story. At the end of the day, Microsoft has the depth of experience. And there may be a slight benefit of being a recent underdog in some cases, because there’s a fire in the belly. It ties into a passion around providing a consistent consumer experience.

We really are marching toward one company.

As I was just mentioning, with things like Xbox Video, Xbox Music, SmartGlass on your Windows PC, and Windows Phone, we are absolutely in a new era.

JobsBlog Bonus: Meet more employees who are rocking the living room.