Gretchen

Dear friends - After two wonderful years of rich and always interesting conversations here on JobsBlog and nearly six years of recruiting at Microsoft, today I post to tell you that I have decided to move on to a new adventure outside of Microsoft, and this is my final JobsBlog post.  I do want to assure you that JobsBlog will live on, and recruiters like Jenna and Jim (and even more!) will continue to offer you the inside look into Microsoft’s recruiting process and our career opportunities.  I’m so happy that JobsBlog has thrived, and I look forward to following the evolution of this community.

My decision to leave Microsoft was not an easy one.   I joined Microsoft right after college graduation, and I’ve never experienced a dull day.  In six years, I was lucky enough to learn and thrive in five roles within our organization (by my choice!), and break new barriers in the recruiting industry.  And over the last few months, I found myself in what I often called my “dream job,” working on really innovative projects with incredibly smart, talented, and passionate people.

What I love most about Microsoft is the entrepreneurial spirit that the company instills in its employees.  The accountability and feelings of pride and ownership are huge, and the company has backed me in taking many big risks.  Microsoft is also a great place to learn how business works. Just sitting in a meeting at this company is like reading a business school case study.  As someone who joined the company as a newbie, my head always overflowed with information and valuable lessons learned.

This entrepreneurial flair is what has motivated me to venture out and start my own company.  This is the right time in my life and career to give it a try … and we’ll see how it goes. :)  Microsoft has been supportive of its alumni’s entrepreneurial business endeavors, and I feel very supported and valued, even as I am leaving. 

I do want you all to know that I continue to consider Microsoft a fantastic career option for anyone – whether you are a current college student or highly experienced in the industry, whether you are technical or an English Lit major like me. :)  Microsoft really does have a little bit of everything for everyone, and like I said, you can’t find a better education anywhere.   

So with that, I wish you all well, and I thank you for the years of debate, humor, feedback, and of course, support.  I’m sure I will see you around.

All the best,
gretchen