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While I know I haven’t updated my site in a while (and I’m planning on it soon…), I feel compelled to give an update on my recent Microsoft Interview. I’m going to break it up into two parts, due to the amount of work I have to do and how much I have to write…!

I first want to say thank you for everyone’s thoughts and comments on my trip out there. I really appreciate it (and needed it!).

For those of you who don’t know, this past weekend I was flown out to Redmond, Washington for an all-expenses-paid trip to interview with Microsoft. Prior to this, I went through a series of interview events. I first submitted my resume online (I believe I emailed college@microsoft.com, I can’t exactly remember). I then received an email saying that they were interested and to fill out the survey. The survey consisted of 10 questions, and essentially gauged my interest in technology, coding, etc. I filled out the survey and mailed it back to the recruiter. The recruiter got back to me in about 2 weeks to setup a phone interview. The phone interview was interesting, but tough (as described in a post below). I wasn’t so confident I’d be hearing back from them, but little did I know a few weeks later I received an email that Microsoft wanted to fly me out for a campus interview. A lot of emails and paperwork later, I was flying out to Microsoft…

The position I’m applying for is Program Manager. It’s less technical then a developer and a tester. It’s almost more like a management position for projects. The program manager’s job is to dictate the flow of the project, set the deadlines and goals, determine the specifications and requirements, and ensure the project gets completed and shipped out the door.

I prepared a lot for my interview. Worried that I’d be asked to implement a linked list or traverse through a tree, I studied up on my basic C++. I bought a few interview books (some were recommended by Microsoft, others I found people recommend online). Microsoft is notorious for giving brain teasers in their interviews, so I practiced those as well. I studied all day Sunday, including the 6+ hours of travel time.

The travel process was as easy as could be. Microsoft made it very simple, as checking in for my flight, car, and hotel was as simple as telling them my name. I flew out from Charlottesville at 5 pm and arrived in Seattle around 10:45 pm. After getting my luggage and rental car, I had about a 20 minute drive to my hotel in Redmond. The hotel was very nice (Fairfield) and was located about 3 minutes from the Microsoft Campus. As soon as I checked in, the hotel employee offered me directions to Microsoft and a comp card that claimed “Any of our restaurants you eat at or things you buy here, tell them your room, and Microsoft will cover it.” After unpacking, I realized how exhausted I was and went to sleep.

I woke up at 10:00 am (1:00 pm Eastern Time) and took a shower. I was really nervous and didn’t feel like eating, but knew I couldn’t go the whole afternoon on an empty stomach. I drove down the road and decided to eat at a Quiznos. While eating and reading a book on interviews, a few guys walked in and saw me studying. One of them walked over and said “Have an interview today eh? Well, we’re all programmers here…ask us if you have any questions!” A very friendly gesture which I said thanks to, but I continued to eat and read my book…after all, I was going to be talking to plenty of people from Microsoft soon…

CHARLESTON, West Virginia (AP) — Two days after the end of the legislative session, state lawmakers are discovering something few were aware of: They voted to make English the official language of West Virginia.

I wanted to mention that Google has now upped its Gmail account to over 2 GB.. that’s massive! You can essentially keep hundreds of songs on your email, or thousands of pictures! The size quota is always increasing, as well, which is neat.

I have over 50 invites, so if anyone wants an account, let me know.

April is just flying by..

This weekend, UVA Club soccer traveled to VT to play in a spring tournament. Spring tournaments for club soccer are basically worthless.. as we only traveled with about 12 guys. Unfortunatley, I only made it to the Friday night game. We ended up beating VA Tech 3-0, beating William and Mary 1-0, and tying VCU 0-0 in the qualifying round. On Sunday, we played with less than 12 players and won the semifinals over VT, then lost to William and Mary 2-1 with only 11 players (1o at one point – 1 player we picked up randomly on the streets of VT – no joke!). Overall, our team played well. The players who went wanted to play, and for having significantly less players then the other teams, we showed well. I think it’s safe to say we were the best team at the tournament.. The tournament itself was slack, as the referees were actual VT students themselves.. which isn’t all bad, except the fact that the refs have never reffed soccer before (or so it seemed), and were awful..

I had a trustee workshop Saturday morning. I was appointed to be a trustee for the class of 2006, which is really just like being on fourth year council.. we help do everything from graduation and job searches to fun events and alumni relations. I’m on the alumni relations committe and am also helping with the webpage committee. I figured it was my last chance to get involved with something different here at the U..

Spring Fest was Saturday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day for it. It’s always a blast hanging out at Phi Psi and getting to see all the activities in mad bowl. Although I didn’t participate in any, we made Rob and Tommy (goats) enter the Gus Burger Eatoff. We took Rob’s puke bag away, and he ended up eating two gus burgers and puking. Tommy was a champ and made it to the final round, but ended up losing. Other than that, the bands were good and plenty of people were around to hang out.

This is my last awful week of school before exams. I have three huge assignments due today (Monday) and a takehome test Wednesday as well as a huge CS 340 lab Wednesday. Once I get through this week, it’ll be smooth sailing (relatively) to exams. I need to start preparing for my interview at Microsoft – I’m flying out there Sunday the 24th, have my interview the 25th, and returning the 26th. I’m real excited, but also nervous..

Still no word on who will be the UVA Mens Basketball Coach.. its completely up in the air, and no one seems to have any insight. It looks like the most likely candidate is Depaul head coach Dave Leitato – but even that is shaky. It’s rumoured that Tubby Smith has been offered a deal (and yes, we recieved permission and it was granted to talk with him), but that he has neither denied nor accepted the offer. Other talks are with Dave Odom, the South Carolina head coach, and Mark Ivaroni, a Phoenix Suns Assistant. Time will tell..

The Big 21 is this Saturday.. I can’t believe it’s this close.. this semester has really flown by..

A few weeks ago, I posted about how I had a phone interview with Microsoft… well, up until Friday, I had heard nothing back. I assumed I didn’t get another interview (that had been the third round with Microsoft), although I thought perhaps they would at least write and say “Sorry, we’ve decided to pursue other candidates.”

On Friday, April 1st I received an email from the recruiter telling me that Microsoft did indeed want me back for another interview and that I’ll be flying out to Redmond, Washington, in the near future for a full day of interviewing! I’m really excited (and nervous!). An internship at Microsoft would be the ultimate job for a computer engineer/science major, and I’d love it. I’m thrilled to have made it this far, but I’m fully aware that this next round will be that much more competitive.

I’m applying for a Program Manager position (PM), which is described from Microsoft’s website as: A Program Manager (PM) is at the epicenter of product development. As keeper of the product vision, the PM helps design and apply breakthrough technologies to new software solutions. Equal parts designer, strategist, and tech whiz, the PM tracks the product plan, drives communication between all team members, and works to define features.

I think this job fits me to a “T” – it’s not the least most technical job of the four, yet it would give me an ability to really think outside the box and implement new designs and features and things of that sort.

My recruiter told me I’d be interviewing all day – with anywhere from 3-6 interviewers at a time. I’ve read on multiple sites that the Microsoft interview process is almost a game of some sort – if you’re doing well, you’ll interview with more people and stay longer; vice versa, if you are doing poorly or they aren’t impressed, you may only interview with 3 people and leave the campus early ..

The Microsoft interview is known to be very grueling, long, and hard on the mind. I’ll be asked to solve problems, analyze software, write snippets of code, and be thrown all sorts of questions. I have ordered some suggested books online and plan to really study/prepare myself for the interview. Worst case scenario: I don’t get the job, but I will have prepared, learned, and have had a truly great opportunity from having that much contact with Microsoft professionals (AND getting to visit the famous Microsoft campus!)

Needless to say, I’m thrilled to have this opportunity. I’ll definitely post a detailed recap of my interview and let you know how it goes.