Yes, you read that right! I’ve been offered a position at Microsoft three different times in my career, each at a unique stage: as an intern, as a fresh graduate, and after gaining a few years of industry experience.
In this post, I’ll share my journey and show you how my resume evolved to meet the expectations of one of the world’s biggest tech companies. Whether you’re a student, a recent graduate, or a seasoned professional, I’m sure you’ll find something here that resonates with your own career path.
Before diving in, it's important to clarify a few things.
- The resumes shared here are not exact copies of the ones I sent at that time. For this blog, I decided to rewrite all the resumes in a more classic format, focusing on content rather than design (some of the original designs haven't aged well, to be honest).
- Regarding the content, I couldn't always locate the exact resume I sent to Microsoft, as it was over 10 years ago. However, I did find similar resumes sent to other companies around the same period, so the information is quite accurate.
- Please keep in mind that these resumes are not intended to be seen as "perfect examples of what to send to Microsoft." Especially with the older ones, there are many things I would now change or recommend against including in a resume.
By the way I recommend you to be vigilant with the people that promise you a resume that could get you hire in specific company like Microsoft. To know really well the HR world of Microsoft, the "Right resume" didn't exist. Didn't make sens!
First Time: The Internship
In 2013, I was thrilled to be offered a junior software development internship at Microsoft. This role involved working with technologies like C#, WPF, WinForms, PowerShell, ASP.NET, Visual Studio Team Services, and Azure. It felt like the perfect opportunity to dive deep into the Microsoft ecosystem.
The Resume
What made my resume stand out? Two key things:
- Relevant Experience: I had hands-on experience with Microsoft technologies like C#, Visual Studio, and SQL Server. This wasn’t just academic knowledge; I had used these technologies in previous internships, which gave my resume real-world credibility.
- Alignment with Microsoft’s Ecosystem: Microsoft is more than just a company—it’s an ecosystem. My familiarity with their tools and platforms signaled that I could hit the ground running.
A resume that matches the technologies required for the role already has a good chance of getting you to the interview stage. Remember, Microsoft is an ecosystem; you don’t need to be part of the company to use their technology, so keep that in mind for the next section.
Interestingly, even though I was selected for the position, I decided to turn down the offer. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right one for me at that time. And yes, from an HR perspective, it still counts as an offer! If you’re curious about why I made that choice, let me know in the comments—I might just dedicate a future blog post to that story.
Second Time: The First Job
After graduation, I was offered a consulting position at Microsoft, focusing on Office 365. The role was diverse and challenging, involving technical missions related to products like SharePoint, Yammer, Teams, and the Office Suite. It was my first full-time job in the industry, and I was eager to prove myself.
The graduate program at Microsoft is quite unique and could also have its own blog post. If you’re interested in that, don’t hesitate to mention it in the comments!
The Resume
The most difficult thing when you’ve just graduated is that your resume will look a lot like those of many other people who’ve also just graduated (starting with your classroom colleagues). So, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd.
In my experience, it’s rarely a technical competence that makes the difference. A lot of students have C# or Java knowledge, and the difference between two students is rarely striking. More than that, no matter how hard you try to be the best technically, you’ll always find someone else better than you.
So, forget about differentiating yourself based on deep technical knowledge if you want to join a company like Microsoft.
The difference will be in your experience. Unlike school, your experience is unique, and that means it’s a strength you need to capitalize on. Here’s how I differentiated myself:
- Unique Experience: My resume showcased project management experience, which was rare among fresh graduates. I had spent three years interning as an Enterprise Architect, where I gained high-level insights into frameworks like TOGAF and ITIL. This experience made me stand out, particularly for a consulting role.
- Relevant Projects: My annual project during my studies involved real-world use of Azure and SharePoint. These technologies are less common on student resumes, making mine more attractive to Microsoft.
Pro Tip: Even small details matter. For example, I used an Outlook email address on my resume, which subtly aligned with Microsoft’s branding. A hiring manager later mentioned that this detail stood out because the other candidates had Gmail addresses. It’s a minor touch, but attention to detail can make a big difference.
Third Time: Returning to Microsoft
After spending three and a half years at Microsoft and then three more years at another software company, I found myself back at Microsoft—this time as a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) for PostgreSQL on Azure. Returning to Microsoft felt like coming home, but this time, I had a new set of skills and experiences under my belt.
This role required software development experience, support skills, and service management knowledge.
The Resume
My resume showed a clear trajectory from software development and consulting to system and network engineering. It highlighted my transition from .NET and Azure to Java and AWS, demonstrating my adaptability and growth.
At this stage of my career, the specific technologies I had used were less important than my overall experience and ability to take on an SRE role. It’s the opposite of what we talked about in the previous section related to junior roles, but that’s because expectations differ for juniors versus seniors.
My previous experience at Microsoft was also a bonus, showing that I was already familiar with the company’s culture and expectations.
Final Thoughts
Landing a job at Microsoft isn’t just about having the right technical skills. It’s about how you present your experiences, how well you align with the company’s ecosystem, and how you differentiate yourself from other candidates. I hope my journey provides you with valuable insights into crafting a resume that stands out at any stage of your career.
Of course, we’ve only covered the resume part here. Getting an interview is just the first step—acing it is another challenge altogether. If you’re interested in learning more about how to prepare for Microsoft interviews, drop a comment below! I’d love to share more tips and stories in a future post.
Thank you for joining me on this journey through my experience of getting hired at Microsoft! Your thoughts and support mean a lot as I continue to share insights and stories from my career. 🌟
Feel free to share your own experiences or questions in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!
For more updates and stories from my professional journey, follow me on Twitter @pykpyky.
You can also connect with me on GitHub to explore my projects, or join me on Twitch for live discussions and Q&A sessions. Looking forward to connecting with you soon!
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