Microsoft's JobsBlog

Hmmm I will give my answers on this one.

I prefer the job to be interesting and challenging.  Pay is somewhat important (Hey we've all got to eat) but some of my BEST jobs didn't pay well simply because they kept my attention.

A great team to work with enhances any environment.  It doesn't help if the environment is a bunch of geniuses who are so full of themselves they can't get past first base.   The best team I ever worked with had a great overlapping of skills.  No single person really outshone the others but we were all stars in our unique ways.

And in a great fit team age didn't bother anybody.  Your boss could have been younger than you (happened in restaurants all the time) but if they had the ability and commanded respect, it didn't matter.

As far as what drives me personally I think a position that takes a small piece of what I am now and builds on THAT and allows you to grow in various areas is a great job.

Money is important since you HAVE to live (cardboard boxes don't come cheap and donuts come with a price too) but if work doesn't FEEL like work (Even if you're doing Insane hours to pull something off because you WANT to) that's makes the day so much better.

I had one position I would have DIVED on (Everything was a fit) but location killed me.  If I had the finances.  I personally would have done it.  Location usually kills me since I'm that guy with no budget to work with but would give up anything for the right job.

So do I win a prize? ... ;)

Cheers

Sean

Friday Funny Guy

I'd like to pursue for jobs that'd make a difference in other people's living. Then seeking opportunities to train up my skills.

Money comes next. (That's why I keep working with the current job for 4 years even though the salary is much below the market price - even when compare with fresh grads.)

The answer to these questions really depends on the career stage that a person is in. I have around 4 years of experience. Here are my determining factors:

1) Money has to be same or higher as what I'm currently earning.

2.) The type of work I get should challenge me and take me to the next level of my career.

3.) The job offers the opportunity to interact with smart and senior people who will offer mentorship and advice.

4.) The team and the people are the right fit. They like me and likewise I have respect for them.

5.) There is room for career growth and flexibility in the organization. I won't get stuck working on the same thing for the next five years. If I do a fantastic job I will be properly rewarded.

6.) I get a reasonable amount of vacation and the job has flexibility (any job where I have to be at work at 8am disqualifies as I like to stay up late and code).

7.) The benefits are good.

Good luck recruiters!

I have been in the same job for almost two years and this is also my first job. Now, when I think of a new job, I consider the following things in order -

1. Environment and team where I will work in.

2. Salary is better than the current one.

3. Weekends mean weekends.

4. Projects offering continuous challenge and improvising my profile.

This is pretty much it. However, I would like to mention that, I seriously think of a new job only at times when I don't see good profile build up to be an obvious case. This triggers the hunt for a new job for me mostly.

Convenient timing, as I am currently in the interviewing phase with a couple of positions...

What will determine which position I take?  There are a number of considerations for me:

1.  See S M Sohan's post...  Culture, environment and people.  I want diversity, and I want motivated people.  I want to work with creative and fun people who are there because they want to be, not "because it's a job".

2.  Breadth of opportunities/projects and the liberty to move between them.  As with people, I enjoy an eclectic mix of opportunities so that I don't have to necessarily be on solely one project for an extended period.

3.  Location.  Ideally I'd like to end up in a culturally rich, young area.  Things to do, places to go, etc... which leads into...

4.  The ability to have a life outside work.  Now granted, I definitely fall into that category of people that, when working on something they are passionate about, tend to be "always on", but I do want to have the option of turning off.   When I work on my time I want it to be because I choose to do so.  Sure, in the tech business deadlines come up, and you get some heavy weeks, but they should be the exception.

5.  How big of an impact can I really have?  Making a real difference makes me feel personally invested.  Feeling personally invested makes me care, and gives me an attachment to what I'm working on.  Personal attachment = motivated and happy me.

6.  Compensation.  Certainly far from the most important consideration for me, but too important to leave off of the list.  While a hard number is impossible to give with all the variables (cost of living at a location, benefits, performance bonuses, etc.), a competitive package is still a consideration for me, especially if I'll be relocating.

Just thinking about the topic right now, I quickly brainstormed a few areas in mind by priority:

1)  Compensation.

Reason:  I live in Silicon Valley.  There's not a day in which I don't think about finance.  More money = more options = less stress/restrictions imposed onto oneself = improved lifestyle.

2)  Location.

Reason: Gas prices = huge dent in the wallet on a weekly basis.  I have a lot of family residing in the area and anywhere else would leave me in isolation and have to start a brand new lifestyle, which can be both good and bad.  Which job would be more convenient?

3)  Career Growth.

Reason:  There's more than one route to success from point A to point B.  Some take longer, some take shorter.  I have many goals in mind and I don't want to spend my whole lifetime just to achieve a small portion of them.

The main factor is to maintain your field with your designation. At the same time company growth because it is necessary for our personal development too.

http://www.habsons.net

I am always looking for opportunities that offer the ability to learn, grow and try new challenges.  In my experience, if that one factor is present then all of my other parameters can be easily met.

This is probably because I'm a life-long learner (I recently went to back to Graduate school to earn my MBA) and I crave new challenges and new experiences.  

My ideal work environment would be in an organization where we are constantly re-inventing ourselves and where we move to new challenges every 24 to 36 months