The last few weeks in May were particularly exciting, not only because I turned 25, but because I was flown up to Microsoft’s campus in Redmond Washington to be a student producer at Microsoft Game Studio. The whole process was very fast. I had spoken with a university recruiter regarding an interview I had in March at GDC in San Francisco. She told me I interviewed well and would be invited back for interviews in Redmond, but most likely in the fall. Two weeks later, I received an email from the recruiter that they would actually be flying me up. Within 45 minutes, I had a plane ticket, hotel reservation and instructions and information on what my day would be like.
Arriving on the Microsoft Campus was a bit surreal. It was huge and the waiting area, while warm and inviting, still didn’t calm the nerves in my stomach. When I met my recruiter, I felt more at ease. He let me know they wouldn’t be asking me any of the legendary Microsoft logic questions, but that it would be more situational based questions regarding my experience as to how I would work with various teams. I ended up meeting with four interviewers, one of which I had interviewed me at GDC. After a long day of whirlwind questions and scenarios, I was done. I left as quickly as I entered and felt only the nervous tinge of hindsight 20/20 thinking of how I could have done better, though I did feel confident that I was on point 95% of the time.
When they called me on a Friday in June four weeks later, they let me know I didn’t get the job.
Emotionally devastated, frustrated and annoyed, my Friday most definitely ruined, I stopped applying for jobs altogether the rest of the summer. All the time and energy up until that point in interviews had been for naught, despite being invited to the final rounds most every time. Yet, looking back at it, I gathered a few things that I think bit me in the ass and allow for opportunities of growth.
-I might have gotten word vomit during my interview and in my nervousness mispronounced my interviewers names and probably didn’t offer the best analogies in my answers.
-I made the mistake of not being firm in the studio that I wanted to work at within Microsoft. When they asked me, I told them that I felt as an intern I couldn’t really ask for a particular studio of choice, but that I would be happy to try out any studio with a preference towards Kinect Labs or Epic. One interviewer said bullshit to Epic and said my heart would be more in Kinect. Probably didn’t help my case.
-I felt like my follow-up questions during the interviews were lame and if I felt that, I’m sure the interviewers did as well. My “great” questions were forgotten/muddled due to my nerves, and maybe the interviewers found them not particularly inquisitive.
-Despite Microsoft telling me to wear something business casual because they were more interested in me and not my outfit, I took heed of that advice. However, I feel like it was a test because despite wearing my power outfit (snazzy black jeans and a casual western-style top), the next time I go there I’m wearing a nicer outfit.
-I now know to say “areas of opportunity” rather than “areas where I’m lacking.” One of my interviewers bristled at that phrase, saying that it sounded like I didn’t think much of myself.
It was tough, wretched, and disappointing to not get the job after having it be a three month long process. However, there were valuable lessons in the experience. At my retail job in Apple, I decided to pursue becoming an administrator for the technician team at the store. It has skills applicable to being a producer and gave me a new way of approaching and anticipating roadblocks, an opportunity to multitask on many levels, and also a way to keep my job fresh. I know that this indicates the ability to take initiative and learn new skills.
When school starts up again, I’ll take these lessons to my future interviews.
Josh Lee 