Job Search Tips – Who do you know? July 12, 2009
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Now’s a good time to think about your social network. And by this I mean not only your online social network, but the old fashioned kind — your friends and family, fellow employees, people you’ve encountered in the doctor’s office or at the local bar. These can be a great resource for you if you tap into them correctly. You never know who’s brother works in your industry, or who has a sister in the HR department at that company you’ve had your eye on.
Here’s what you do -
Make a list of everyone you can think of – go back 3 or 4 years. I put everyone in an Outlook Address Book so it was easy to print that out.
Review the list and make a plan to contact each person regarding your job search. Don’t discount someone because you don’t think they can help you. As my dad says, “Everyone knows SOMEONE.” He was actually referring to dating, but it works for job hunting as well. 
In going through this exercise I found that one of my dog show friends was also a recruiter at a large agency. You just never know…
Leaving Microsoft May 29, 2009
Posted by techcyn in Microsoft Careers, job search.add a comment
I never in a million years considered leaving Microsoft. As employers go, they are hard to beat. Unfortunately the economic downturn is affecting them as much as the next company, and so, to date, about 4500 employees were laid off. Including me. In an economic downturn it makes sense that recruiters would be the first ones to go. Here’s me being logical. Mostly I’m sad. Sad that I planned to spend my career with the company, and sad that phase of my life has come to an end.
And sad that I now have to find an equally wonderful employer for the next phase of my career. Some days I embrace the search, the limitless possibilities…and other days I can’t turn the computer on. My friends tell me this is a natural reaction to a loss, and things will get better. And one lucky employer is going to be jumping up and down with excitement because they chose ME. I’m very talented, you know.
What not to say in an interview March 11, 2009
Posted by techcyn in Interview Tips.Tags: Careers at Microsoft, interviews
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Seriously. These are real. Only the names have been omitted to protect the guilty.
“Do you think I could leave early every day? I have to feed my cats at 5 pm.”
What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve heard in an interview???
Interview Horror Story – Don’t bring your mom to your interview March 11, 2009
Posted by techcyn in Interview Tips.Tags: Careers at Microsoft, interviews, mothers, recruiter
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Poor Trish was a new manager. One of her first interviews was with “Alan”, who brought his mother into the room with him. Trish proceeded through the intervew, and Mom was good and sat quietly next to her son, occassionally giving him a pat on the knee for support. Word spreads quickly at the small company where I work, and I was summoned to try to distract mom.
As I arrived at Trish’ office, they were just wrapping up (it was a VERY short interview). I did call him to come back and interview sans madre, which he did, and did get the job. I don’t know how he lived that one down though, bringing his mom to the interview?
Interview Horror Story – The Banana March 11, 2009
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Several years ago when I was working for another employer, I had a candidate interview who took casual to a whole new level. Unshaven, shirt untucked, he came in with a backpack slung over his arm. Once in the room he proceeded to unpack a few things – laptop, which he opened and turned on, cell phone, granola bar, banana and a bottle of water. He spread all this out at the end of the conference room table. (HINT – don’t sit at the end of the conference room table – it’s a subconscious power position – reserve that for the interviewer.)
Throughout the interview he proceeded to check his email, and even answered questions with a mouthful of banana. Regardless of how brilliant the guy was, and he was pretty brilliant, it was hard to look past the casual way he approached the interview. I know he knew how to interview, he’d held several really good positions at large companies in the past. Like Momma always said “put your best foot forward”, and as my Daddy says, “you only get one chance to make a first impression.”
Cyndy’s Resume Tips #5-7 March 11, 2009
Posted by techcyn in Microsoft Careers, RESUME TIPS, Uncategorized.Tags: Careers at Microsoft, Microsoft, Microsoft Jobs, resume
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The key to getting your resume in the right hands is making it easy on the recruiters. This means, put it in a simple format that is easy to cut and paste into an email. No tables please and keep the header/footer clear of your contact information. This makes it difficult for the recruiter to cut and paste. I know this sounds like you’re dealing with a bunch of lazy recruiters but the reality is that some days I get over 200 resumes. It is impossible to go through everyone of them when I have to spend time reformatting someone’s resume to send to the hiring team.
Make your resume easy to read, easy to understand. Acronyms are fine as long as you are 100 percent sure your readership knows what you are talking about. Keep it to a couple of pages. It’s not necessary that I know you sold carpet before you became a software developer.
Fonts and spellcheck!- keep it simple and please spellcheck your resume – Bachelor has an “e” in it.
More Big Love gossip March 4, 2009
Posted by techcyn in TV.Tags: big love
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Like my friend said, this season is like a trainwreck waiting to happen. Nicky having an affair??? What’s up with that? And Roman Grant killing Kathy Marquardt. I this season isn’t equivalent to “jumping the shark”. I would miss it.
Microsoft has opportunities for Software Developers in OSLO, NORWAY! March 4, 2009
Posted by techcyn in Microsoft Careers.Tags: C++, career, Careers at Microsoft, Denmark, job, Norway, Oslo, software developer, superstar
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Are you living in the EU and interested in working for Microsoft? Do you have a killer software development background? Are you a superstar?
If you answered yes to these questions, I want to hear from you. Microsoft is hiring in Oslo, Norway for its’ FAST subsidiary. Only superstars need apply, but if you feel like you’ve got what it takes, let me hear from you this week!! cyndyd@microsoft.com
Big Love Gossip March 3, 2009
Posted by techcyn in TV, life after work.Tags: big love, hbo, TV
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OMG!!!! Selma is Roman Grant’s sister! What a dastardly bunch!!!
Microsoft Mobile Advertising Solutions Specialist – Dallas, NYC, Atlanta, LA, SFO, or Seattle March 3, 2009
Posted by techcyn in Microsoft Careers.Tags: Careers at Microsoft, marketing jobs, Microsoft, Microsoft Careers, Microsoft Jobs, resume, Windows Mobile
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If you’re interested and qualified, email me at cyndyd@microsoft.com
Mobile advertising is one of the most dynamic spaces in digital advertising and a multi-billion dollar opportunity for Microsoft. As the Internet and computing are reinvented on mobile devices – ever smaller, more personal and ubiquitous – advertising is evolving very quickly onto mobile. Mobile advertising opportunities currently span a broad range of interactive media, from display to search to messaging to in-application experiences from Microsoft and our partners.
We’re looking for a seasoned and successful Solution Specialist with an outstanding track record in digital advertising Sales and a passion for emerging/mobile media to help us drive Microsoft’s mobile advertising business in the U.S. In the role, you will aggressively grow media revenue across multiple channels, partner closely with Microsoft Advertising’s sales force, establish strong industry relationships with agencies/clients, complementary Microsoft groups and mobile/media industry players.
In this role, you will focus on:
● Driving to exceed U.S. Mobile Advertising fiscal year revenue targets
● Developing sales strategy for Regional territory and advise Microsoft Mobile Advertising Sales Management on market opportunities, sales positioning, use of resources and strategic planning
● Working with members of Microsoft advertising sales teams, marketing and business development to deliver mobile advertising campaigns successfully
● Overseeing development of relationships with key clients and management of agency relationships (Emerging Media, Mobile specific Teams and Contributors)
● Driving revenue generation, reviewing and analyzing performance, driving actions for improvement, and implementing efficient and productivity enhancing tools and processes
● Owning of regular sales forecasts, planning and budgeting, and presentation of regular annual, mid-year and long-range plans
Target qualifications include:
● Comprehensive knowledge of advertising media sales including 5+ years of sales experience; Digital and Mobile experience preferable
● Proven experience in successfully building and growing advertising sales revenue, ideally in senior sales or business development roles
● Highly entrepreneurial, self-sufficient and able to work independently to successfully grow and foster long term internal and client relationships based on quality service, strategic impact and driving for client results
● Able to act as an Evangelist for Microsoft internally and with the industry; educating and convincing clients about the benefits of mobile advertising as a new media
● Familiarity, relationships and proven connectivity with publishers and advertisers in market place, including regional and/or global brand level clientele; mobile agencies and operators a plus
● Ambitious with advanced negotiating skills and experience on business, corporate, legal and account management issues at a senior level
● Team player with a positive and dynamic personality, excellent communication and presentation skills, strong planning and organizational capabilities
● Operational focus – get things done – and result driven
● University degree required
