Many many years ago when I lived outside of Seattle I wanted to work for Microsoft. That was 1997. I was about to get out of the Navy. The internet had just taken off as a thing and I wanted to exit the Navy and find my next opportunity.
Things are not like they are today. Getting a job back in the late 90s was still very much a manual process that required you to know someone or catch someone’s eye inside a company.
At the Seattle Public Library, I applied for just about every job I could at the two biggest Seattle companies, Microsoft and Nintendo. Both at the time ran an IBM AS/400 as a major system inside the company and I knew enough about that system thanks to a few wonderful people before I went in the Navy to think I should be able to land a job. I was wrong. Both had me in for interviews and both passed on the then 26-year-old me.
I was not sad, well, maybe a little.
Fast forward to 2018 and I saw an opening at Microsoft in Charlotte that looked perfect. I have moved from the IBM AS/400 to becoming a Lotus Domino administrator, and then after about 16 years was asked to be an O365 Exchange Admin and really enjoyed it. Again with a little knowledge and some moxie, I submitted a few applications to Microsft and they called me again. The process was pretty standard and I met with some really wonderful people, but I didn’t want to be a contractor, I wanted to be an FTE. So for the next year and a half, I would interview 2 more times until finally in January of 2020 I became a full-time Microsoft employee.
I had worked for 2 horrible companies over the last 9 years. Both with horrible management and really horrible people doing all the things HR was telling you were off-limits. But I survived them and landed myself in a wonderful place.
Microsoft is an absolute dream. It’s hard work and some days I feel like my head is going to explode but I can tell you without a doubt this is the best I have ever been treated in my 30-year career. They value you as an employee and they know you want to learn and grow.
If you make a mistake the conversation never ends up being that of scorn, it’s how can you improve and avoid that next time. Things are positive and enjoyable. I have a wonderful team of people from all over who are all very unique and intriguing. I look forward to working each day and look forward to learning.
Microsoft may not be for everyone and clearly, people have left for other positions, but this is my happy place. I will not be leaving anytime soon. I love it here.
Dad, Cyclist, Photographer, IT Engineer & Half Japanese by Choice