Microsoft's Personnel Puzzle

theodp writes "CNET reports on Microsoft's reputation for arrogance in its personnel practices, citing the experience of Arthur Sorkin, who responded to an unsolicited invitation to interview with MS back in 2000. But instead of trying to sell him on the company or the job, interviewers challenged him with a technical 'pop quiz.' Sorkin, who holds a PhD in CS, withdrew his application. During the past year, Microsoft called Sorkin to say it had scheduled a phone interview with him for another job, although Sorkin hadn't applied for it and no one had asked if he was interested."

Comments

Microsoft Interview

[bziman]

Last summer, I had the opportunity to interview at Microsoft after they found my resume online and called me. I must say truthfully that of all of the companies that have called me, Microsoft was the very first one who read my resume and understand what I actually DO and wanted me to interview for a job that actually makes sense for my skill set.

Their phone interview process was a good mix of explaining what it is they were doing and how I could help, and making sure that I was the right mix of skills and cleverness to fit in with the group.

I passed that round, and was invited to Redmond to interview in person. I found the whole on-site interview process to be a lot of fun -- I'd heard that the interview process was gruelling, painful, challenging, etc... but I thought it was fun. And shortly thereafter, they offered me the position.

Fully half the time I've spent talking to Microsoft has been on the topic of what they have to offer me, and it was considerable.

In the end, I decided not to relocate to Redmond, mainly because I wanted to finish up my BS (three semesters to go at the time, now one more), which I'd been working on part time for eight years, while working as a software engineer.

So I guess in the end, if you don't enjoy that kind of interview, maybe you're not really qualified, despite your education. There are plenty of places where all the cleverness in the world is worthless, but the skills required to earn that PhD are essential (I can't imagine working in an evironment like that... but hey, each unto their own).

Personally, I found the whole experience to be very positive, and if after I finish my BS, the PhD doesn't work out, I might be taking that permanent trip to Redmond after all.

-brian

Re: PhD in CS is WAY overrated

[Anonymous Coward]

More to the point: given that the vast majority of PhDs must go into industry (since the universe conserves tenure) what, praytell, are you suggesting a CS PhD do out there in the real world?

Given that your first statement is objectively false, why, pray tell, have you been modified as 2:Insightful? As of the last Taulbee survey, 29% of 2002/2003 PhD recipients went to industry, and 63% went into academia.