Blogland: McJob The (Potential) Professional

[carolcat]

damn, congrats on the education day going so well. hopefully you can land one of those two jobs

[Ad Bot]

[JitankIsFag]

Looks like your gonna be getting some McMoney at your new McJob as a recent McGraduate

[Maxwell.]

Looks like your gonna be getting some McMoney at your new McJob as a recent McGraduate

what the Mcforget

[SimpleFish]

what the Mcforget

Go mcforget urself

[McJob]

I'm in a bit of a predicament right now.

A month or so ago, I put in about 3 resumes to Microsoft. After all of this graduate-employment stuff has gone through, Microsoft called back, done a phone interview and told me I'll likely be offered their own Education Day, followed by their final interview to work as PR/Sales at the big Microsoft store in Sydney. The thing about that is that the education day won't be until the end of August, and then there's a background check which can take up to two weeks, which means I'd have to wait a fair while.

Because I REALLY want a job at Microsoft, this has put me in a bit of a pickle since I'm already vying (and currently doing well) for another job as I mentioned in a previous post.

As I see it, I have three options (assuming I succeed at Tuesday's interview with the IT company):

• I can take the IT job and just stick with that. My reputation won't potentially be faulted for jumping ship early and I'll keep the relationship with the education company stable.
• I can take the IT job and then jump ship to Microsoft by the point in September/October that I can finally start work. If the IT company has contacts, my reputation might take a hit for jumping ship (I don't have to put them on my resume though), but Microsoft will offer a competitive rate and in this scenario, I only change if they actually make the offer.
• I bank everything I've got into the Microsoft job and turn down any offers from the IT Company (note that I have no solid guarantee of employment at Microsoft until I get asked to go to the Education Day) and potentially piss off a couple people from the graduate place, but not damage any relationships with the IT place (because they don't exist yet). If I don't get the job with Microsoft, then I'm completely loving hosed.

Personally, I think #2 is the way to go. If I'm respectful about it, play my cards right and be organised, I can probably move into Microsoft unscathed. The most difficult thing would be to find the time off to do the Education Day and Interview if the IT Company wants me full-time.

Thoughts?

[sir dooble]

Honestly, I think #1 is best. Just get your feet under the table, settle in, learn the trade and earn some money.
Do the work for a year and have some good experience and a reference on your CV.

Microsoft isn't going anywhere and will probably be hosting education days and job seeking this time next year.
If you decide to apply at that time you'll have an advantage in your experience and references.

Working this year and getting experience may even get you a chance to jump into Microsoft in a non entry-level position, especially if you do well this year and take on extra responsibilities.


Whatever you do, do not jeopardise your current job prospects believing Microsoft will definitely take you. That would be extreme hubris.

[Aces]

I mean if you think you can pull off #2 it would be more beneficial than #1 then you can go for it, but what dooble said seems like a more practical option.

[McJob]

Some additional arguments I've come up with.

Microsoft's job is what I do at Ubisoft, except it's day-to-day rather than whenever there's an event on, and I'll be getting commissions for making sales. That's stuff I love doing, and it'd be for a company I want on my resume. The job is only open because they don't have enough staff to man their brand spanking new flagship store, and there's precious few other Microsoft jobs here in Australia (most of which expect over 5+ years of experience in various areas).

With the IT company, my responsibilities for the first few months (maybe even years) are to "build rapport and learn". Essentially, I'll be stalking LinkedIn profiles, downloading a stack of information and passing it to real sales people, I'll be making a bunch of phone calls to arrange meetings and then I'll have to sit at other meetings and stay quiet and watch more experienced people make big deals. Maybe that would potentially help me learn, but on the flipside, I'm not sure it's actually going to get me anywhere towards my end goals.

The pay-rate Microsoft is offering is higher than the IT company, and only Microsoft is offering commissions. Money is fairly important to me, as I have to pay off my HECS/Student Loan debt as well as a number of other loans I've made, and I'd like to be saving up for emergency rent money.

Dooble makes excellent arguments, but at the same time I'm not convinced that a year is all I'd need with this IT company in order to get anywhere, nor that I'd be entirely happy working there. It feels like it's supposed to be a much longer term proposition based on what I've heard over the phone from my contact, and I much prefer the face-to-face side of things rather than shying away in some office. I'm pathetic at phone calls.

I'm gonna wait on more people to ship their advice; I've contacted the people from the education company to see what they think, as well as some Ubisoft people who'd know the industry better than me. I am still leaning towards #2 since it gives me the most options, and I could pull out of the Microsoft offer if I like the work at the IT company.

[McJob]

I'm going to shorten what happened right down; within 60 seconds the interviewer declined me, but he did so because he felt he was putting me on the wrong track. Turns out he has friends at SEGA and Cirtrix, and he's sent my name and contact details to hopefully put me on a more games-focused path.

So I guess it's now a showdown between SEGA and Microsoft...I can live with that 

[McJob]

The interview with CEB was intense. It started with me having to find my way to this massive business tower in the middle of Sydney; they were located towards the top. Their office was something else...never quite experienced anything like it. I was sat down and waited for about 10 minutes before I was finally brought into a room with three interviewers.

One was an American, and had the strongest influence in the entire room; he was the main interviewer and sat right across from me. In the right corner was an Australia; he was a bit quieter, but his questions were always tougher and more inquisitive. In the left corner was a relatively quiet newcomer (a guy going for a management job at the company); he mostly just sat and took notes.

I fought hard and gave them everything I had; I messed up a few things (I didn't know what a CIO was and I didn't bring an "Interview Package" with me), but they were loving blown away when I had the balls to leave the final question of "Do you have any reservations about me?"

Overall, I felt it went positively, but I've heard no response thus far. I'm assuming that I nailed the "Perfect Average" I wanted; not terribly stuff that my supervisor will kill me, but not good enough to land the job no questions asked.


Microsoft finally has called up; I had another brief phone interview with them, and today I was given an email confirming that I'm into the final two phases of the interview process. I managed to reply to the email and fill out the required paperwork before the recruiter went home for the day, so I hope that's a little positive point for me.

Phase 1 requires me to visit their Presentation/Q&A session next week. Having been to one of these before, the basic rule is to be attentive, answer every question you get (they try to quiz the audience to see who stands out) and in return ask lots of question back. There's also periods where you have to meet and chat with the hiring/management personnel, so that'll be my chance to really get in with them.

Phase 2, the final interview, assumes I succeed at the Presentation day. My plan is this; arrive 10 minutes early, bring an Interview Package with me that's loaded with lots of clear research about Microsoft (and bind it with a little Paperclip with eyes that asks if they want to know more about Microsoft), make sure I build strong rapport in the first stages of the interview, memorise as much as I can about Microsoft that I don't already feel confident about, make mention of their brand values and competitors and finish the interview strong with my "Reservations" question.

I want this job. I need this job. I will have this job.

[cooolguy32]

Good Luck.

[McJob]

Hello Ben,

Thank you for your interest in the Sydney Microsoft Retail Store and attending our presentation and discussion last night.  Your qualifications are impressive.  However, at this time we have made the decision to pursue other candidates who more closely match our specific hiring needs.  We will keep your resume on file should a position become available that is appropriate for your background and experience.

It was a pleasure to meet you during the event last night and we wish you the best of luck in your job search.

Thank you, the Microsoft Sydney Recruiting Team

Basically, after multiple interviews, I have literally achieved nothing. I might as well have spent these months constantly wanking because at least then I would have walked away with stronger arm muscles. I have no interviews left and nothing to show for any of the effort put in.

forget.

[Electrk.]

D:

[SimpleFish]

NO

[cooolguy32]

Aw.