A Very Testy Employee

During David’s summer internship, one of the things that made Microsoft an appealing work option was the attitude toward work itself. “I was attracted to come full time because of the experiences that I know I can gain and the opportunities that will be open to me. But the most important factor to me was the work-life balance. I didn’t want to become a drone behind a desk. Here, you can succeed at a job you love without living solely to work.”

Intern Impact
That intern summer was a productive one for David, although he didn’t know exactly how productive until he came back to work full-time. “As an intern I developed a test tool but I never had time to see if the test team was using it. When I returned as a full time employee I found that not only was it being used by testers, but other roles and teams were using it as well. It felt good to know that I was given an opportunity to make a useful contribution to the group in such a short time.”

Make Your Own Rules
In his role as an SDET, David has to understand the product design in order to write automation and test tools that can effectively help the team. An imposing task to some, but a liberating one to David. “I like that I am given the freedom to contribute my own ideas into my projects. I have never been given a blueprint and an instruction manual and told to get to work.”

No Rule Against Having Fun
Don’t think that David sits around staring at a monitor all day. It isn’t in his DNA, nor is it how Microsoft works. “It can be easy to feel that work is going to be a boring, sterile place. I was surprised that the Microsoft campus has a feel similar to that of a college campus. The general attitude is that “there is no rule against having fun”. There is plenty to do to clear your head. For me, a few games of Halo 2 is a pretty normal way to end my day of work.”

The Benefits Of Membership
Like many of those who join Microsoft, David has taken full advantage of the numerous benefits the company offers. “Flexible working hours is my favorite. I have never started my day feeling rushed to get to work. Of course I take advantage of the health insurance and retirement plans. I also use the gym membership.”

David has a different opinion as to what most attracts potential hires to the Microsoft family. “In my opinion, the most popular benefit has to be free soda in every kitchen. Although the towels in the locker rooms also seem to be pretty popular.”