Career level up!

Everyone · February 2012

Thanks again all!

Where's the multi-quote forum function when you need it?

chmod wrote:

You did not even go to high school? Really?

Interesting, anyways you have a lot of experience and you for sure must know about exchange.

Yes really. I only attended public school for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. Home schooled the rest. Somehow I managed to not end up completely socially retarded like a lot of the other home schooled kids I knew.

13 years overall IT experience now, 10 of those years have been working with Exchange and other Messaging Systems.

onesaint wrote:

Sweet! Congrats on the position!

Ok, so did you have to answer all the "why is a manhole cover round?" type questions for the interview?

LOL no, nothing weird like that, I'll give some details about the interview process, I'm sure a lot of people are interested in that.

techinthewoods wrote:

My goodness. All together it sounds like close to $200k a year job?!

With no highschool and only an associates degree that is phenomenal.

Congrats! Now then, where do we learn about other Microsoft jobs that allow full telecommute??

Actually Base Salary + Bonuses alone will be right around $250k/yr! I had to sit down when they gave me the offer, lol. I estimate the total compensation value (salary + bonuses + all other benefits) to be in the $300k-$400k/yr range.

Microsoft.com - Careers is where all there job listings are. I couldn't tell you what other jobs besides Premier Field Engineers can work from home, but there's a wide range of PFE positions.

Essendon wrote:

Very nice Josh! For someone like you it was only a matter of time before you landed something big. That work-from-home thing is a HUGE plus, IMHO. Soon enough we'll have our second MCM on the TE forums (royal is our first MCM and on Exchange too) !

Thanks! This is definitely the biggest thing I've ever landed, but my last few positions haven't exactly been small.

Yes working from home is a HUGE plus, I've been working from home since I took the job I'm leaving now 7 months ago. I'll be traveling a little more now, but glad to be able to keep that work from home benefit when I'm not traveling.

techinthewoods · February 2012

Everyone wrote: »

Actually Base Salary + Bonuses alone will be right around $250k/yr! I had to sit down when they gave me the offer, lol. I estimate the total compensation value (salary + bonuses + all other benefits) to be in the $300k-$400k/yr range.

Microsoft.com - Careers is where all there job listings are. I couldn't tell you what other jobs besides Premier Field Engineers can work from home, but there's a wide range of PFE positions.

Thanks! This is definitely the biggest thing I've ever landed, but my last few positions haven't exactly been small. Yes working from home is a HUGE plus, I've been working from home since I took the job I'm leaving now 7 months ago. I'll be traveling a little more now, but glad to be able to keep that work from home benefit when I'm not traveling.

Wow. That's really all I can say. Wow. You, sir, are the man.

Everyone · February 2012

Ok so some background for those that wanted to know... I could probably write a whole book, but I'll try to keep it short.

I've been around computers my whole life. In the 80's when most other kids had Ataris and then Nintendos, I had a computer. Computer's were my dad's hobby. He never worked in IT, even though he had a degree in Microprocessors. From age 5 on, we were never without a computer in the house.

My first job that was even remotely related to IT was working for Motorola assembling Star-Tac phones for 12 hours a day, with some side work that pulled me off the assembly line to fix some desktop PCs here and there in the offices for my supervisor. That lasted a whole month. Then I went to work in the Computer section at Best Buy as a "Product Specialist". This was long before they ever came up with the whole "Geek Squad" thing. It was sales, and I hated it. I only did that through the Christmas season, then I got moved to a special projects team. There I ran CAT5 and COAX all over stores for remodels and new store openings, setting up displays, and fixing the circuit boards that controlled the displays. I did that for a couple years, until one day I woke up and decided to join the Air Force.

The Air Force is what I really owe my success to. I went in delayed enlistment as a 3C0X1 (Communications Computer Systems Operations). I waited 6 months for a slot to open up, then off to boot camp and then tech school I went. I lucked out and got an awesome first assignment. I spent only about 3 months on the Help Desk before someone recognized my talents and moved me back to the Systems Administration shop. This is where I learned the most and got a ton of valuable experience. The shop was split up into 3 teams, Application Services, Configuration Management, and Messaging. I started off in Messaging, which was mostly working with Exchange 5.5 and the Defense Messaging System (DMS) at the time. I taught myself everything I could about it, and quickly became the "SME" (Subject Matter Expert). I spent some time on both the other teams before leaving. I learned a lot about storage, mostly EMC SANs, and how fiber works. I learned SMS, all about NT4 and domains, then later AD, GPOs, DNS, DHCP, etc. etc. The base I was at was the test bed for a lot of major upgrade and new implementation projects. I got to work on an NT4 + Exchange 5.5 to 2003 AD + Exchange 2003 migration not long after 2003 came out. I personally did one of the 1st BES implementations in the Air Force. There's so much more I did at this first assignment, but I'll leave it at that to keep this short.

The 2nd half of my Air Force career wasn't as great. My now ex-wife tried very hard to destroy my life. I almost lost everything, my security clearance, my promotion, my career, and my son. Luckily the right people knew me better than to believe the BS coming from my ex, and I was able to clear my name, get my clearance back, get my promotion back, and get full custody of my son. Near the end of my enlistment I was forced to make the decision to either give up IT so I could stay in the Air Force, or give up the Air Force so I could stay in IT. I found a middle ground and kinda got to do both. I left the Air Force, but landed a job with Lockheed-Martin working as a Senior Systems Administrator/Lead Messaging Systems Administrator on a contract with the same Air Force base I was stationed at when I got out. My new salary was double what I made as an E5. I also got to continue to serve by joining the Air National Guard.

The job with Lockheed was great, but after a couple of years their contract with the base ended. I couldn't find anything else within the company, so I had to find a new job. I ended up going to work for a hospital as an Exchange Administrator with a decent bump in salary. After a couple years there, they were going to get acquired by another hospital, so my job security became questionable. I landed the 1st job I applied to, another decent bump in salary, and got to work from home full time as a Lead Analyst for Enterprise Messaging at Eaton.

Basically all of my experience from the Air Force on up has been in Enterprise environments. I've worked for a total of 5 different Fortune 500 companies now. I do work very hard, and always strive to be the best at what I do. I quickly become either the "go to guy" or the "SME" or both for every position I take on.

cgrimaldo · February 2012

That is awesome news! Congrats!

SteveLord · February 2012

Great story. I am thinking of re-enlisting within the next 2 years into the Iowa Air Guard (if they'll even take anyone by then) so I can make 20 years. I did 8 years as a grunt in the Army Guard and am seeking additional lunch money, additional IT experience and the additional retirement check (on top of my state pension) when I get old.

vCole · February 2012

HUGE congrats!

RomBUS · February 2012

WOOOOOOW! That is awesome news "Everyone"! Good job on your accomplishments

I only hope to follow your footsteps and get there someday as well

Time will tell

But congrats seriously on your success! And enjoy your celebration on this one! Well deserved

I actually applied for one of their Premier Field Engineer position as well, it was a far cry...but worth a shot

Everyone · February 2012

SteveLord wrote: »

Great story. I am thinking of re-enlisting within the next 2 years into the Iowa Air Guard (if they'll even take anyone by then) so I can make 20 years. I did 8 years as a grunt in the Army Guard and am seeking additional lunch money, additional IT experience and the additional retirement check (on top of my state pension) when I get old.

If you can do it, go for it. I am just past the 10 years of total service mark, and I honestly don't know if I am going to make it to 20. Problems with my feet make it so I can't run, which has lead to weight gain and trouble passing PT tests. I'm starting to get the weight back off via stationary bike and elliptical at the gym whenever I can, but still struggling.

Anyway... on to the interview story.

This was actually my 3rd time interviewing with Microsoft. The first time was when I was getting out of the Air Force, I don't think I even made it past the phone screening. The second time was last year when I was trying to leave the hospital. I made it all the way to the end only to be told I was the #2 pick and they had offered the job to someone else.

This time around they actually came after me. Back in early December, one of their internal recruiters contacted me asking if I'd be interested in a PFE job. IIRC she found me on LinkedIn. I get contacted all the time regarding job opportunities, often several times a week, even though I am not looking. I usually turn them down since I have a good job, but this was Microsoft, so I decided to see what they had to offer. They were interested in me for an Exchange PFE job in their Enterprise division, working with large Enterprise customers in the central region. Sounded great to me, so I told her I was very interested. I had a phone screening on the spot, she tried to get me to tell her what my current salary is. I told her that I preferred not to disclose it. She ended up telling me what the salary range for the position was before the call was over.

The technical interview was very hard, but I was expecting it to be since I had been through one with them before. Their technical interviews are the hardest I've ever had. It was over the phone with 2 Exchange PFEs that had been doing the job for 10+ years. It was scheduled for only an hour, but we ended up talking for closer to an hour and a half. I probably asked them almost as many questions as they asked me. There were a few things that they asked me that I wasn't sure about, but overall I felt pretty good. I knew that the important part was not to guess at something if I didn't know it, instead I told them it was something I wasn't sure about, and that I would have to reference it in order to give a correct answer. I made it clear that I do NOT like giving people wrong information, and I will always tell someone that I will get back to them if I'm even a little unsure about something. A few days after the interview I got confirmation that it did in fact go very well, and they would like to schedule a face to face interview with the hiring manager.

Just before Christmas I drove into Chicago (Downer's Grove actually) to the offices there for the face to face interview. I knew what kind of questions to expect, and had even prepared for them, but I choked a little on this one. My mind went completely blank on the "Name your 3 greatest strengths" and "Name your 3 greatest weaknesses" questions, even though I had prepared for them. I was able to recover, and this interview also went beyond the time scheduled for it. I didn't feel as good about this one as I did with the technical.

After New Years I got a call that was almost disappointing, but turned out to work in my favor. The interview didn't go near as bad as I thought, but again I was the #2 pick and the job was offered to someone else. My first thought was "Oh well, it would have been nice, but..." before I could even finish that thought, the recruiter told me that the hiring manager was recommending me for the exact same type of job, but in another division, their Public Sector division, because he felt with my Military background, and my Security Clearance, I'd be a much better fit over there, and that they would hate to lose the chance to bring me on board.

So I was back in the game, handed off to another recruiter and another set of managers. Luckily I didn't have to start the whole process over again, I just had to meet with these managers. They flew me out to Pittsburgh to meet them for yet another face to face interview. All expenses paid, put me up in a very nice hotel for 2 nights. This interview went great. Pretty much the same kinds of questions as the last one, only I was on my A game for it this time. This one also ended up going longer than scheduled, and I knew when I left that I would be getting the offer. At the end of it, they actually came right out and told me I did very well, and started asking me about how much notice I'd need to give my current employer, then told me I should hear from them by the end of the week.

The end of the week came and went, and I still hadn't heard anything, I talked to my recruiter and found out they were still finishing up a couple other interviews because they had 3 identical positions open at the same time. I was traveling for my job after that, and while waiting for my flight home, I got the call with the offer. I was very excited to be offered the very top of the range I had been given, and couldn't believe all the other things that came with the offer.

If you're wondering how not getting the 1st position I was interviewing for worked out in my favor, well, that 20% quarterly bonus for my security clearance is the reason why. That position would not have had that. So by getting this one instead, I'll be making ~80% more per year than I would have if the original one had been offered to me.

whatthehell · February 2012

WOW -- sincerest congratz and you definitely deserve it (based upon reading your past job history, etc.)!!!
I would say best of luck in the future, but I don't think you need it! Congratz again and +1 for you!

RPGChai · February 2012

This thread is an inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing!

networker050184 · February 2012

Big congrats!

techinthewoods · February 2012

Everyone wrote: »

If you're wondering how not getting the 1st position I was interviewing for worked out in my favor, well, that 20% quarterly bonus for my security clearance is the reason why. That position would not have had that. So by getting this one instead, I'll be making ~80% more per year than I would have if the original one had been offered to me.

It's amazing how good things happen for good people like that. You are a class act; the way you take time to post detailed answers here is commendable. +1 to you.

NOLAJ · February 2012

Congrats!!!!! That's awesome!!

onesaint · February 2012

Everyone wrote: »

The Air Force is what I really owe my success to.

That's interesting. Everyone I know in IT who have passed the 6 figure mark have had military experience (either USAF or USM).

Again, congrats and thanks for the long posts, you must be elated.

kriscamaro68 · February 2012

Time to get the Sebring back in working order and racing at the track now huh? Or maybe a WRX STI or Porsche?

Zartanasaurus · February 2012

Congratulations. You owe it all to TechExams, right?

joehalford01 · February 2012

Wow dude, that is awesome! Congratz!

VAHokie56 · February 2012

Sounds like a feel good movie ending lol, grats bro good to see TE peoples in the big leagues

Everyone · February 2012

kriscamaro68 wrote: »

Time to get the Sebring back in working order and racing at the track now huh? Or maybe a WRX STI or Porsche?

Yup, going to pay off all bills first before putting anymore money into the car though, that was the original plan, going to stick to it. Just going to happen a lot faster, should be debt free (excluding mortgage) by the end of the year easily.

Zartanasaurus wrote:

Congratulations. You owe it all to TechExams, right?

Some of it for sure. The help I got from here last year when I joined to get my resume fixed up certainly contributed to it. I know it got me the interviews. That's why I reply to a lot of the resume help threads whenever I can, I learned a lot from giving mine a make over and have had great success with it. Have to give that back to the community here.

Webmaster · February 2012

Zartanasaurus wrote:

Congratulations. You owe it all to TechExams, right?

It's great when TE contributes to helping someone's career in any way, that's what it's all about, but I'm sure he owes it above all to his own dedication and effort, aka hard work

Turgon · February 2012

Yes I agree. My congratulations on this deserved news.

MAC_Addy · February 2012

Congrats on getting your dream job, mate! I saw that you had goals on here a few months ago and you've finally reached them! This gives me, and probably many others great motivation to pursue our goals!

forestgiant · February 2012

Congratulations man! That is awesome news. Your persistence is inspirational and your skills are way off the charts. Microsoft benefits from having you much more than you probably think. Good job!

nosoup4u · February 2012

Always glad to hear fellow IT people moving up the chain, congrats

joshmadakor · February 2012

Congrats dude, I'm kinda jealous

That's really amazing...

hiddenknight821 · February 2012

Man, I don't know what to say other than congratulations! You had me speechless at your first post, and your story definitely belong to TE Hall of Fame! What an inspiration!