My Career at Microsoft

My professional journey – My career goal was to work for Microsoft. Plain and simple. It took me seven years (1 interview a year) to get that opportunity. My wife used to ask me why I kept going back, year after year, after getting kicked in the teeth every time. My answer was simple and succinct; I could either work implementing the solutions or be a part of the solutions.

?My first years were in a new “Specialized Teams Unit” (STU) which was a new concept attempting to attach technical sellers to traditional account sales teams as an overlay. My immediate peer selling team was AWESOME. I truly believe that was the best team I was in during my Microsoft tenure. However, the STU members themselves were an interesting cast of characters. By in large, they were a great group of individuals, however there’s always one in every bunch. This one, which I’ll refer to as “Not Only”, had an ego and character which was all about tearing people down. NotOnly did he target me but many new hires to the Microsoft Midwest Team. This was the first time I experienced workplace harassment and bullying; to a point where if I think about it today it makes my stomach turn. He’d go out of his way to make you feel small or inadequate just to feed his ego and assert his dominance. At some points even threatening physical altercations.

For example, we had a new Windows Server launch, we were slated to learn specific features areas which we were presenting onsite to a large client. My career, up until that point, was mainly based on management tools. Needless to say, I was a little out of my comfort zone. However, that’s how Microsoft life was, pushing boundaries, learning new things and having personal perspectives. So, I studied up and did hands on to learn my section of this client presentation. On the day of the presentation, NotOnly comes up and asks me if I’m solid with the content. I told him that I was prepared for this. He said good and walked out of the large conference room never to be seen again for the day. When it was NotOnly’s time to present, the account team looked at me to ask if I was ready to present. You see, he was leading off the presentation and I was supporting cast, from my vantage point. However, on his way out and unbeknownst to me, he told the account team that I had it covered and he was leaving.

However, that was the “old Microsoft”. It’s where people threw whoever they could under the bus to make themselves look better for end of year reviews. This process was called “stack ranking”. Every year I found that I had to reinvent myself to land towards the top. First it was being part of an “elite Insiders” program, the next year coauthoring a book and the year after that working on a Solution Accelerator. NotOnly, on the other hand, made sure he was aligned and even personal friends with leadership so if anyone complained, it was directed back at the person bringing up the grievance as “not a team player” or the likes.

Over the years, the review systems changed and evolved as well as the managers. In fact, it wasn’t uncommon to have a manager for 12 months or less. In fact, my first Microsoft manager which hired me had a new role within the first month or so of us joining. Through all that, I’ve had some great managers (and peers) as well as some career limiting ones. However, it seemed as my time marched on within my roles at Microsoft, the management teams got weaker. Perhaps it was my perspective as the luster of Microsoft was wearing off and I was getting to understand the machine. I found out VERY quickly that business goes one with or without you.

My best example of this was in 2007. I am a disabled U.S. Marine veteran receiving disability from the VA for seizures. The Microsoft Midwest District was comprised of 3 states which the STU covered. So, we traveled to varies Microsoft offices or customer onsite briefings as a normal part of our roles. So, I was scheduled to present at our Indianapolis, IN office. As part of the sales teams, we had options of how we spent our money to be reimbursed. In the case of travel, it was our discretion to either rent a car or get paid mileage on our personal vehicle. Since there wasn’t a car rental place near my home, I just decided to drive to Indy.

Along the way of a several hour drive, I was speaking to my wife as well as helping a co-worker complete an RFP. Both had stated that I wasn’t finishing sentences and making sense; to a point where my wife suggested that I pull over at a rest area to take a quick nap. That turned out to be the best advice! As I was driving into the rest area, I had a grand mal seizure behind the wheel (loss of consciousness) landing my car in a rural field in Indiana. There’s a longer (and perhaps funnier version of this story) but at the end of the day I woke up a day later not knowing where I was at.

My Microsoft Team was going to rally the troops to come get me (due to not being able to drive as well as my car being towed someplace) however Microsoft HR told them to step back. Long story short is that I was on a business trip, had a medical event and the company told my co-workers I’d have to figure it out myself. Thus, my sister had to come pick me up (my wife had just had our second child and couldn’t do it by herself) as well as I had to be almost $2000.00 to retrieve my car. I never got an “official” HR response other than “…I should have rented a car”.

Which brings me to my overarching thoughts on working for Microsoft. Towards the end of my 16 or so years, I was working for a company which I loved but they didn’t love me. I’ve lived MANY stories personally like the one above as well as seeing co-workers go through some rotten things for the sake of a “better company”. In my opinion, the notion of a career with a company has gone by the wayside. Those with company loyalty rarely make it through the gauntlet of a fruitful career. So, I’ve had to learn the hard way that you must look out for yourself because the company will not as well as there being 20 people behind you that can take your spot.

Do I look back at my career with Microsoft with fond memories? Sure! It’s a LONG time to be with a company spending the suggested 60-hour work weeks to not love a part of it. However, as I reflect on it from my vantage point now, perhaps I might have changed a few things along the way (as well as managers!). Nonetheless, when I left, I was mentally exhausted. Coworkers who I felt were friends must have thought I was off my rocker! (I’m in self-reflection mode) I really felt that I went through a career meat grinder. I made it but boy, did I pay for it!