Anyone who knows me will understand what it means to me to say “I work at Microsoft”; it’s been the company its technology I have been obsessed with since first being able to type right back with a home PC from Evesham Vale computer, dial up Internet, Windows installation from floppy disk and Windows 95. At school I used to stay late for after school Age of Empires club (and yes, I’m still obsessed with Age of Empires 1 these days thankfully it’s in HD!)
It’s safe to say I have always been surrounded my Microsoft and its technology over the years having left school to do my apprenticeship (in IT of course) and then working for many different Microsoft partners over the years. My go to tech prior to Azure was in the System Centre space and specifically System Centre Service Manager (SCSM), System Centre Operations Manager (SCOM) and System Centre Orchestrator (SCORCH) all great products for their time.
I have started in the CSU (Customer Success Unit - Microsoft really is customer obsessed, even in the short amount of time I have been here I can see the customer centric approach that is within everything) as a Cloud Solution Architect (CSA). If you’ve ever worked even mildly with Microsoft technology, you’ll appreciate there are a LOT of acronyms, well if you ever work here, you’ll seen need to double it and add some on, there are acronyms for acronyms and even a website dedicated to helping you make sense of them all.
The hiring process was very well organised with the application and interview process tough but very fair. The on-boarding process has been incredible and the people fantastically welcoming. Coming from a very partner centric background I have been very surprised at the gentle and comprehensive on-boarding, lots, and lots of opportunity to learn (and there’s a LOT to learn) and meet people from within your team, with in the CSU, the UK and overseas. I’m used to a quick 2-hour onboarding, collecting your laptop, and then being thrown in front of customers on day 2 to start your utilisation. It’s safe to say I have sat feeling more than a little guilty for not jumping straight in and earning my keep while watching the many onboarding videos (of which there are MAN) and having coffee with new friends and colleagues, but the approach has been incredibly inclusive and welcoming.
Talking about inclusivity, having always been around Microsoft people and company for so long I always knew inclusion & diversity (I&D) within Microsoft, especially over the last 7ish years has been great, I didn’t realise until starting just how great. I&D isn’t just that corporate tick box exercise it really is built into the company and everything and everyone is aware, acts to implement and is constantly learning from the excellent diverse people within the company.
In summary I’m so, so, so glad I have made the move and I cannot wait for a long and successful, inspiring, and exciting career here.
If. Like me, you have hovered over that ‘apply button’ with self-doubt and apprehension then all I can say is DO IT, you won’t regret it. If I can help in any way at all then please just let me know or if you just want to chat about any opportunities you have seen on the careers portal, I’m always happy to chat.