Purchase Office 2010 blog how-i-got-to-microsoft-p

Finally, my follow-up to Parts one, 2, and three!
It was ten:00 am on Friday, April 14, 2000, and I used to be nervously sitting within the lobby of Building 19 … waiting for my initial interviewer to descend the stairs. Soon, she arrived, and we went upstairs to her office.
My initial interviewer worked on the International Recruiting team. She wore jeans and a huge, baggy grey sweatshirt. Her hair was still wet. This must be what they mean my “Causal Friday,” I thought. (But I later found out that Casual Friday is pretty much any day of the week around Microsoft. Not to say we all “dress down” everyday … because, at least in my building, we certainly don’t … but we do have our “comfy days” every now and then.)
As for interviewer #1, I haven’t a clue now what she asked me. Everything was a blur, and I used to be off to interviewer #2.
Interviewer #2 worked on the College Recruiting Team. It had been near lunchtime so we headed over to the Building 25 cafeteria. I had a taco salad, and I think I ate two bites. I remember during lunch,Office Standard 2007, he asked me why I wanted to be a recruiter,Purchase Office 2010, and I gave him this fairy godmother line (which is not really a line … I still believe it), and he smiled. I knew I had hit on something good.
After lunch we headed back to his office. He had a nice window office with a view of the candidate rental cars. And in that interview, he asked me just 1 question. And this is why I love Microsoft interviews. He said, “I see on your resume that you interned at Billboard Magazine. I want you to pretend you are hired on to work at Billboard after college, and you are in charge of redesigning Billboard.com. Tell me how you would do this.”
Ohmigosh, I thought. What a silly question! Not only do I know I know nothing about web design, but this question has absolutely nothing to do with my qualifications as a recruiter. (Funnily enough, I am actually working with a group right now to design a new website for Microsoft. Who knew that interview would be applicable??)
But the design a website question was awesome. I jumped to the whiteboard, and my interviewer played the role of the Billboard editor. For the next hour, we role played and brainstormed together. I faced tough criticism but came out feeling quite successful. I had such a high, energetic buzz when I left his office.
My third and fourth interviews are pretty much a blur now, too. I remember asking my third interviewer what Talking Rain was (because, you know, all Microsofties drink Talking Rain) , and I recall discussing communist thought as it relates to current events with my fourth interviewer (I used to be a political theory minor … what can I say?)
With that, I thought I used to be done for the day, but my fourth interviewer told me he wanted me to chat with one more person. Ok, sure.
My last interviewer came out to the lobby to meet me. She was so relaxed and friendly. (Turns out she was the director of our college recruiting team and could be pretty intense when she wanted to become … but I didn’t see that side of her that day.) I have to admit … I could tell that last interview was mostly a sell interview. I didn’t know how MS interviews worked on the back-end, but making it to this interviewer was a fairly good sign.
And I lastly got my puzzle question … the 9 balls and weight question. And I’m happy to report that I got it right (with hints, of course.)
After that, I called a cab from the lobby of Developing 19 and returned to my hotel. My cab driver got lost taking me back to the Redmond Town Center, and knowing the area like I do now, I have no idea how this occurred,Microsoft Office Pro 2007, but it did.
Once back in my hotel, I barely had time to kick off my shoes when the phone rang. It absolutely was my recruiter. She asked how my day went, and I told her I was tired, but I thought it went well. And then it happened … she said, “Well, I’d like to let you know we are extending you an offer!” And she proceeded to tell me all the details.
My interviews had just concluded an hour prior to this conversation, and I can tell you right now… it’s not normal to receive a decision so quickly. Sometimes recruiters know whether or not a candidate is getting an offer at the end of the day (most times we don’t though),Windows 7 X64, but I’ve rarely seen occasions where at actual offer with details was presented at the end of the day. It’s not to say I used to be just that cool that they wanted to act quickly. I just think I had a good recruiter and good hiring manager who had their act together. I used to be lucky to be interviewing with a particularly well-oiled machine.
So did I take the offer? Not right away. Even though I had no back-up plan, I didn’t think it had been prudent to just accept on the spot. So I waited 3 days and then called Michelle back and accepted.
What did I learn from this experience? I think most importantly, be confident. Throughout my entire process, I never once doubted I was getting the job. I wouldn’t call it cockiness on my part as much as I would call it naivety. At the time, I thought if Microsoft flew you out to Redmond for interviews, an offer was imminent. That is obviously not the case (I know now), but I didn’t then, and I really think the fact I was so blind to the process helped me. So even if you know all the in-and-outs of the MS interview process, forget it … just be confident and walk in ready to show why you are the best person fro the job.
You’ve heard all the other tips before but I’d also say:
o Have fun – That website design question was annoying and impossible for me at the time, but instead of freaking out, I just rolled with it. I was eager and animated, and I partnered with my interviewer to devise the best the solution.
o Show your enthusiasm – Most people want to work with an enthusiastic, driven person so coming in with a good attitude will help you build instant rapport with your interviewer. Don’t be over the top – but just put on a smile and jump right in.
Anyway, there’s my story. What I haven’t told you is that I have also gone through some internal interviews since I’ve been at Microsoft, too. (Internal interviews comply with the same process and format as external interviews). And I have to say my experience wasn’t quite as favorable or successful as with this preliminary round. (Someday, I promise to blog about that.) But when I look back on those interviews, I had totally psyched myself out. I used to be not confident; I didn’t have a lick of fun; and I think I overcompensated for the missing 1st two components by coming across too enthusiastic and needy. I don’t put all the blame on myself though. I didn’t gel with the interviewers, and in hindsight, I am eternally grateful I didn’t get those jobs (you couldn’t tell me that then though …). So I think everything works out for a reason. If it doesn’t feel right for whatever reason, it probably isn’t right for you, and you are better off. That’s my parting advice.
gretchen
P.S. I wrote this while on the plane, and afterwards, I finally read Adam Barr’s Proudly Serving My Corporate Masters. Great book, but I will write about that later. In it,Microsoft Office Home And Business 2010, Adam touches on those above factors (be confident, have fun, show your enthusiasm) but takes a deeper look at the culture behind this advice. Definitely worth the read!!