Bootcamps.org

The tech industry is akin to the snowball effect; its growth is built upon the development of tech companies that have become key drivers in economic growth, posting over $4 trillion in annual revenues.

• The big tech companies include Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet Inc, Meta Platforms, Tesla, Oracle, and Amazon.
• The tech industry employs more than 12.2 million workers, with the employment growth rate expected to grow at a 6.7% annual rate.
• The most lucrative roles in the tech industry are software developers, data analysts, information systems security analysts, artificial intelligence engineers, and mobile applications developers.
• Big tech workers earn almost twice what any other worker in the rest of the economy earns, with the average wage rate in big tech clocking in at $97,430 compared to the $45,760 average for occupations.

There are over 507,000 technology companies in the United States, and by revenue count, it’s the largest tech sector globally. From innovative digital infrastructure to next-gen tech devices and services, the tech industry is growing steadily and is expected to surpass the $5 trillion revenue mark in the 2022 financial year.

To get a clear picture of what companies are in the technology sector, revenue numbers and market cap are the best indicators that one can use to rank the firms. Let’s explore the list of the t0p technology companies, their annual revenue, full-time jobs, and future roles in big tech.

What tech companies are in the technology sector?

Apple

Annual revenue: $387 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 154,000

Average wage: $143,362

Apple is the largest tech company globally and the most valuable;e stock in the global stock market, with a $2.2 trillion market capitalization. It was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Wozniak. Apple began as a personal computer producer but has increased its lineup of tech gadgets and services over the years. Their most profitable line is the iPhone smartphone segment, Mac laptops and desktop computers, smartwatches, smart TVs, and tablets.

Apple is known for its quality and consumer-centric products that are privacy-focused. As a result, the company is always on the hunt for tech workers to grow its products and work on improving its services. Apple’s most sought-after roles include software engineering, iOS development, and machine learning engineering.

Microsoft

Annual revenue: $185 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 221,000

Average wage: $120,662

Microsoft is a computer software and consumer electronics company founded by Paul Ellen and Bill gates in 1975. One of Microsoft’s most renowned products is the Windows operating system and its suite of productivity programs, such as MS Office.

As the company expanded its diversification into internet solutions, it acquired Skype, Linkedin, and Github subsidiaries. Microsoft is ranked as one of the best technology companies to work for, and with over $184 billion in annual revenue, Forbes ranked it as one of the world’s most influential and valuable company.

Amazon

Annual revenue: $485 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 1.6 Million

Average wage: $114,073

When Jeff Bezos started Amazon in 1994, it was just an online book store. Ever since its growth into the world’s largest marketplace. As Amazon became one of the world’s largest tech companies over time, it spread its reach into the tech field. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is one of the largest tech companies offering cloud computing and web hosting providers.

Amazon Prime Video service and Prime Studios represent Amazon’s all-in venture into filmmaking and content streaming services. The company also produces a whole host of consumer gadgets and automation systems.

Tesla

Annual revenue: $67 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 99,000

Average wage: $110,000

Tesla might be the leader in electric vehicle manufacturing, but it’s more than just an electric vehicle manufacturing company. According to its CEO, Tesla is a tech company that also happens to be a tech company. The company designs and manufactures most of the tech that goes into its EVs, and it’s constantly hiring software programmers and AI engineers to work on its full self-driving (FSD) program.

Tesla is currently in the design phase of the Teslabot, a humanoid robot set to revolutionize the workforce. Its energy subsidiary manufactures solar roofs and battery packs in a bid to speed up the transition to renewable energy.

Samsung electronics

Annual revenue: $250 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 266,673

Average wage: $141,353

Samsung is a global leader in the tech manufacturing sector with products in just about any electronic segment, from Smartphones to laptops and home equipment. What started in 1969 as a family-owned business has, over the decades, grown into one of the world’s largest tech companies, a fully-fledged appliance manufacturer and chips fabricator.

Samsung Electronics hires a wide range of technical workers who get to work in the software end of their product lines, including computer programmers, data analysts, AI engineers, and low-level programming technicians.

Alphabet Inc

Annual revenue: $278 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 156,500

Average wage: $129,554 Billion (2021)

Alphabet Inc is Google’s parent company and one of the global tech giants. Its most successful product is the Google search engine which serves over 1 billion search requests daily. Alphabet also owns YouTube, which is the most frequently used content platform.

Google Cloud manages over 50 data centers worldwide. Alphabet also has a large stake in the advertisement industry, with Google Ads leading the park in online advertising. Google also owns the Android operating system, the largest smartphone operating system by market share globally. The company is also hiring machine learning engineers for its Waymo subsidiary. Other high-demand positions on Alphabet include software engineering and data analysis.

Foxconn

Annual revenue: $219 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 1.29 Million

Average wage: $123,884

Foxconn is an international electronics contract manufacturer that currently holds the number one position in technology manufacturing services worldwide. Its main products include computer chips, PCB components, and consumer electronics. Foxconn manufactures, on average, 40% of all consumer electronics used on the entire planet.

What began as an electrical components manufacturing line in 1974 has quickly expanded into the most trusted chip manufacturer with exclusive production plans with all the major tech companies. Apple, Intel, Sony, and Microsoft are some of Foxconn’s key customers. The most sought-after roles at Foxconn include quality engineers, information technology engineers, virtual manufacturing engineers, and computer scientists.

Meta platforms

Annual revenue: $120 Billion

Full-time jobs: 71,970

Average wage: $140,602

Meta Platforms owns the top three social platforms by user count and is one of the most valuable tech companies worldwide. The company started as a college social site back in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg in Cambridge. Currently, Meta owns Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Reality Labs, and Novi Financial.

With its success in social media platforms garnering over three billion daily users across its sites, Meta is looking to pivot into the metaverse. This virtual reality universe is set to redefine how humans interact with each other over virtual reality and augmented reality tech. The company is renowned for its supportive work culture and great employee benefits. The most sought-after roles at Meta include software engineering, mobile development, virtual reality development, and machine learning engineering.

Intel corporation

Annual revenue: $73 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 121,100

Average wage: $132,248

Intel is the world’s largest semiconductor chip manufacturer and is considered one most influential tech companies in the rise of personal computers. Intel supplies computer system microprocessors for major brands such as HP, Dell, Acer, and Lenovo. Its CPU business and systems on chip (SOCs) generate the largest share of its annual revenue, which surpassed $79 billion in 2021.

Intel is also rolling out its dedicated graphics cards lineup, which is set to compete with Nvidia and AMD’s GPUs. The company is also engaged in network interfaces, integrated circuits, and flash memory manufacturing. As part of their diversification drive, Intel has been designing and manufacturing vehicle automation sensors and artificial intelligence solutions. The company offers a wide range of tech roles in software development, computer engineering, machine learning, and data analysis.

IBM

Annual revenue: $50 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 282,000

Average wage: $117,000

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a multinational tech corporation headquartered in New York. IBM has operations in over 171 countries and a wide range of products and services in information technology. The company designs and produces computer software, hardware, and middleware, as well as offering consulting services in the tech industry.

IBM’s main products are centered around automation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing services, robotics, blockchain, and quantum computing. IBM also happens to be one of the largest mainframe computer manufacturers deployed in its data centers and large corporations. Its research organization annually patents new products and tech solutions to remain competitive. IBM’s most in-demand tech jobs include software engineering, data analytics, Artificial intelligence engineering, and cloud engineering.

TSMC

Annual revenue: $65 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 65,152

Average wage: $129,565

Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company (TSMC) is a multinational semiconductor contract design and manufacturing company that’s currently the most valuable semiconductor manufacturer worldwide. The company operates the largest semiconductor foundry that serves fabless semiconductor companies, including Apple, ARM, AMD, MediaTek, Nvidia, MArvel, and Broadcom.

Besides producing CPUs and GPUs, the company also designs and manufactures microprocessors, SOCs, network interfaces, digital light processors, embedded processors, and drivers. Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing compnay is one of the largest employers of tech talent ranging from chip engineers to AI engineers and computer programmers who work on the drivers and low-level machine code.

AMD

Annual revenue: 21.5 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 15,500

Average wage: $103,119

Advanced Micro Devices is an American semiconductor company that develops computer processors, graphics cards, and other consumer technologies. AMD’s product line includes microprocessors, embedded processors, graphics cards, servers, and workstaTIONS.

Over the years, AMD’s product lineup has become more consumer-focused. It now includes TV accessories, motherboard chipsets, solid-state drives, personal computers, and the drivers for its lineup of computer hardware. The most in-demand tech roles at AND include software engineers, computer programmers, data analysts, Machine learning experts, and information security experts.

Nvidia

Annual revenue: $29.7 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 22,473

Average wage: $143,472

Nvidia is an American-based multinational tech company headquartered in  Santa Clara, California. The company primarily designs GPUs, CPUs, TV accessories, data processing units, and tablet computers. Nvidia also designs application programming interfaces (APIs) for high-performance computing in data centers and data science applications.

The fabless chip producer also deals with the system on a chip (SOCs)for the automotive and mobile computing market. Nvidia is also one of the biggest artificial intelligence hardware producers. Its workstations are used for scientific research, automotive, media, entertainment, engineering, and architecture design. Nvidia’s most in-demand tech jobs include computer engineers, chip designers, information technology experts, AI engineers, and software developers.

Tencent Holdings

Annual revenue: 85.9 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 112,800

Average wage: $133,308

Tencent is an entertainment and technology multinational conglomerate with major stakes in the video game industry. The company was founded in 1998 as a marketing agency for internet-related services and, over time, has grown into a multi-billion dollar holding company. Tencent is one of the largest tech companies that has invested in mobile gaming.

Tencent’s main products revolve around artificial intelligence, video games, film production, music, payment systems, social networking, search engine, automation, and mass media. The company also runs e-commerce, web browser, and antivirus software brands. With over 112,771 employees globally, Tencent is always looking to onboard new tech talent. The most sought-after roles at Tencent include video game development, software development, artificial intelligence engineering, and cloud engineering.

Accenture

Annual revenue: $59.5 Billion (2021)

Full-time jobs: 624,000

Average wage: $117,185

Accenture is a professional services company specializing in information technology consulting services. Its top clients include over 91 of the largest tech companies in the Fortune Global 100 companies. As of 2021, the company reported $50 billion in revenue. Accenture has more than 624,000 employees worldwide, serving in consulting, strategy, and tech operations.

Accenture deals with a wide range of information technology consultancy services, from cybersecurity to cloud computing and digital engineering. The firm is on an aggressive expansion path acquiring numerous IT subsidiaries globally as it seeks to cement its foothold as the global managed services and tech consultancy leader. The most in-demand tech skills at Accenture include digital marketing, data analytics, mobility services, IT services, software engineering, and cloud development.

Conclusion

The tech industry is a significant economic growth pillar, and as more businesses opt for innovative digital infrastructure, the technology industry is expected to surpass $5 trillion in annual revenue by the end of 2022. Although there are some concerns about whether they can sustain the current technological advancement rate, one thing is clear; there’s a huge demand for tech-trained workers as companies switch to modern technologies.

Google is a tech giant with over 163,900 employees as of 2022, and the best way to get a chance in the hiring process is to get introduced to a recruiter at Google by one of their current or former employees.

• Google receives over 3.3 million job applications every year, which makes it incredibly tough to land a job at the company.
• The median base salary for Google employees is $123,000, with the best-paid jobs being senior technical roles.
• Each year Google hires several thousand workers in various sectors ranging from software development to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, search engine development, and tech hardware development.

Google serves search engine results to over 3 billion internet users daily, making it the largest search engine globally. Being one of the most valuable brands on the planet makes working at Alphabet a dream come true for most tech graduates. The firm has a fantastic work culture, and there’s always more room for career development in Alphabet’s tech subsidiaries.

Getting a job at Google is not easy; less than 1% of the annual applicants get interviewed and even fewer get hired. The firm only aims to hire global top talent. This guide will take you through everything you need to know on how to get a job at Google and what tech positions are available at Google.

Google’s background

Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google in 1995 at Stanford University. What began as a search engine grew into a 1.3 trillion tech titan.

In 2015 through a restructuring deal, Alphabet became Google’s parent company and its subsidiaries. Currently, Google has software, robotics, internet services, cloud computing, computer hardware, fiber infrastructure, automation, and biotechnology products.

Why is it hard to get a job at Google?

Google has a strict hiring standard as it only wants the best of the best. The firm also receives over 2 million applicants annually, which makes it tough to get a job at the company. While sifting through all these applications during the hiring process, the major considerations are the educational background and prior experience tackling big tech challenges that Google is working on.

How to get a job at Google

Optimize your job search

Google’s careers website lists all job openings at the company. You can use the career search tool to search for roles that match your qualifications and decide which ones you want to apply for. The website requires you to sign in using your Google account before you can start applying. You can also filter out the search results by department, location, education level, and job type. Google permits users to apply for three job openings every 30 days, so you can apply for multiple jobs to improve your odds of getting called for an interview.

Get your education certificates in order.

Before applying for any tech role at Google, you must ensure that you possess the required education and experience. Make sure you have your certificates in order, as the company will need to look into your educational background. While Google places more weight on having a traditional 4-year degree for most of their tech roles, you can also apply with your dev bootcamp certification.

Craft the perfect resume for each position

The next step involves writing the perfect resume and cover letter for the specific role you are applying for. One thing is clear; recruiters spend minimal time scanning through the multitude of resumes they receive daily. So it’s in your best interest that your resume immediately shines the light on your best qualities while also giving a detailed picture of who you are and why you deserve to work at the prestigious company. Remember, Google favors candidates who emphasize leadership roles and keep the resume and cover letter to one page.

Reach out to your networks

Your best bet to getting a job at Google is working with your networking channels. This is because Google’s hiring team places more trust in its existing and former employees’ opinions on potential hires. Ideally, you should approach your contacts or Google employees within your networks and ask them how to get Google’s hiring team’s attention. Ideally, the person still has a connection at Google, and they will be better lined to advise you on how to approach the process.

Ace the interviews

Google’s interview process consists of 7 steps, which take around two months to complete. These require varying degrees of preparation, especially the onsite and phone screen interviews. Here’s what you can expect during the Google interview process:

Resume screening

After submitting your application on the Google jobs portal, a Google recruiter will contact you via Linkedin or email to evaluate your resume. This step of the hiring process is just a formality to gauge whether the experience you have listed on your resume aligns with the position you applied for.

Google recruiter call

After approving your resume, the recruiter will schedule the first recruiter call that lasts around 25 minutes. During the call, you will be asked non-technical questions about your background and why you are interested in the position. The recruiter will also explain how the rest of the interview process works and address any questions you may have regarding timelines and location.

Phone screens

The Google recruitment process usually requires one or two phone screens, depending on the role. The first will be with your hiring manager, and the second one with a future peer from the team you will be joining. These typically last 45 minutes and are conducted over Google Meet. The questions will vary depending on the position.

Onsite interviews with Google hiring manager

The on site interview takes place in google’s physical offices, but in some extreme cases, they may stick to video calls. This step comprises around six back-to-back Google interview questions sessions, each lasting 45 minutes.

Hiring committee

Google relies on third-party committees to review the interview grades from each of the interviewers. The committee consists of Google employees who were not present during any of the interviews to make the whole process impartial.

The hiring committees take into consideration role-related knowledge and experience, project management experience, general cognitive ability, leadership position skills, and culture fit at the company in the qualified applicants.

Google team match

Your recruiter will get in touch with you to schedule a team match interview. During this step, you will interview with several team members to find out which team you will be in after joining Google. You may skip this step if you have already specified the team you want to work for, which often depends on the role you are applying for at Google.

Salary negotiation

Applicants who pass the interviewing process will receive a salary offer package from Google. You can negotiate for better terms during this stage, and it’s advisable to always start with a high figure and remember to negotiate all the terms.

Tech jobs to apply for at Google

Software engineer

National median wage (2021): $120,730

Google is inherently a software engineering company. Its software engineers create technologies that connect billions of people and unlock access to information. These roles revolve around web search, information retrieval, data storage, distributed computing, data structures, natural language processing, and mobile software development.

Software engineers get to work in small, versatile teams that tackle critical projects in a fast-paced industry that needs froth and evolution to overcome daily challenges. As a result, the firm only hires engineers with a broad range of technical skills with an eagerness to take on technology challenges and design software that impacts users globally. Eligibility for software engineering at google depends on educational qualifications and prior experience.

Data analyst

National median wage (2021): $82,360

A data analyst serves a critical role in any data-driven company by designing and implementing data systems. Google runs on data analytics which requires experts in data mining, data cleaning, and data visualization. Data analysts require basic coding skills in SQL and R programming to work with large data sets.

As a data analyst, you will work with statistical tools to find patterns and trends that offer valuable insights to Google. You will also work with machine learning teams to improve  Google’s predictive analytics tools. To become a data analyst, you require a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a professional certificate in data analytics.

Network engineer

National median wage (2021): $120,520

Network engineers are responsible for designing, conjuring, and directing network systems installations. The position requires one to stay updated with industry standards and implement updates that improve the network’s resilience while maximizing its performance.

Google requires network engineers to design the technical infrastructure required to link up  Google platforms. The company also delivers internet to millions of residents, and they require network engineers to solve problems in connectivity. The innovations required to keep Google’s network reliable are only possible with the efforts of thousands of network engineers. This role requires industry-relevant certifications and experience in designing, analyzing, and automating network technologies.

UX specialist

National median wage (2021): $100,530

User experience (UX) specialists work alongside product development teams to design user-friendly products and prototypes. The job descriptions require fathering user insights into their attitudes, behaviors, and emotions in regard to specific products or services.

Google UX specialists work with development teams to create beautiful, innovative, and intuitive products that address the user’s needs. The role may also require working alongside software engineers, content strategists, and researchers to craft products with quality, simplicity, and usability at heart. A bachelor’s degree in engineering or information technology and experience in javascript, CSS3, and HTML5 are required to become a UX specialist.

Artificial intelligence engineer

National median wage (2021): $131,490

Artificial intelligence engineers use machine learning techniques to design algorithms and applications that help a company operate efficiently and make better data-backed decisions. A substantial amount of the work in Ai engineering involves statistical analysis and designing machine learning models that can analyze large amounts of data to find useful insights.

Google Cloud Platform requires machine learning solutions that are modeled for each customer’s unique use case. As an artificial intelligence engineer, you will use TensorFlow, AI Platform, and DataFlow to design custom solutions that empower customers’ decision-making. You may also work with Google Cloud products to improve efficiency and adaptability. This position requires a bachelor’s in mathematics, information science, or related fields and experience coding in Python, Java, Go, or Scala.

Data center technician

National median wage (2021): $101,000

A data center technician installs and maintains network equipment and data servers in a data center. It’s the work of a data center technician to monitor server performance and maintain an optimal environment within the data center. They also troubleshoot server and network problems.

Google owns tens of data centers that need constant maintenance in terms of installing and configuring hardware and software upgrades. In this internet-focused environment, downtime needs to be resolved immediately, so you will also help in setting up redundancy in network bridges, switches, hubs, and routers. You will also help set up contingency plans. This role requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent fields and experience with networking protocols, server hardware, and operating systems.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is it hard to get a tech job at Google?

Yes, Google is stringent in hiring only the best talent for a few jobs, and every year, the company receives more than 2 million job applications, which makes it hard to get a callback.

What qualifications are needed to work at Google?

Most technical roles at Google require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or similar technical fields and coding experience.

Can I apply for a job at Google with a Bootcamp?

While Google does prefer a traditional 4-year college degree, in some technical roles, you may apply if you have compelled a coding bootcamp.

Does Google pay its employees well?

On average, Google pays its employees $122,914 annually, which is well over twice the national median wage in the United States.

Conclusion

Google is one of the best tech companies to work globally, and the company is renowned for its amazing employee perks. Google’s work culture is team-focused, with an environment structured to make work as comfortable and healthy as possible. If you are looking to get your dream job at Google, you should apply for a role that perfectly matches your qualifications and experiences, as you will be competing with a multitude of other applicants.

Spotify is arguably the best place to work if you are a music fan with technical skills and a keen interest in unlocking human creative potential.

• Spotify is one of the largest music streaming platforms globally, with over 433 million active users as of 2022
• Spotify has over 6,617 employees worldwide working in various roles ranging from engineering to programming, marketing, and research.
• Spotify has been on a worldwide expansion path and is constantly introducing new streaming products besides its traditional music and podcast offerings; as a result, the company is hiring more technical employees.
• Spotify’s most in-demand tech roles include data security analysts, data scientists, software developers, machine learning experts, web developers, mobile applications developers, and tech researchers.

Getting a job at Spotify is incredibly challenging owing to the fact that the company only hires less than a thousand employees annually from over 60,000 applications every month. Spotify is on an aggressive expansion drive which is reflected in its rising annual revenue surpassing 12 billion for the 2021 financial year.

While there’s no single predefined path that an applicant can take which guarantees them their dream job at Spotify, there are a few steps one can take to improve their chance of landing a job at Spotify. These include researching for the role they are applying for, ensuring that it fits their values, qualifications, and experience, and practicing for the phone almond on-site interviews.

Let’s take a look at how to get a job at Spotify, why a position at the firm is so lucrative, and some of the available tech jobs at Spotify.

Spotify background

Spotify’s audio streaming and media services company was founded in 2006 by Martin Lorentzon and Daniel EK. The company headquarters are in Stockholm, Sweden, although it’s listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Spotify has regional offices in 16 countries, serving over 188 million paying customers and 256 million free subscription users.

With over 82 million copyright-restricted songs and over 4 million podcast episodes, Spotify is now one of the largest streaming services globally and is available in 180 countries.

What’s it like to work at Spotify?

The work culture at Spotify is positive, and the company ranks as one of the best places to work, with a high employee satisfaction rate. Spotify is structured in such a way that employees can advance their careers.

Spotify is known for offering high employee wages, even for entry-level positions. The compensation rate gets adjusted to reflect the most competitive rates in the market. The firm also gives paid six-month maternity leave on top of the annual paid leave.

Spotify frequently hosts live performances at its offices as part of its efforts to promote a music-centered working environment.

How to get a job at Spotify music industry

As Spotify pushes on with its diversification plans across its platforms, it needs to hire new talent. However, getting a job at Spotify is incredibly hard as you are competing with thousands of applicants for a few dozen roles.

Most of the open positions at Spotify are in their largest offices in Stockholm, London, and New York. Thankfully the company does offer great relocation packages to settle out-of-state employees and their families.

Let’s break down the job application process at Spotify and how you can improve your chances of landing a job at Spotify;

Research for the dream job you are applying for

When looking for a job to apply for, you must confirm that the position is available, visit Spotify’s career page and go through the available roles. You should then ask yourself whether the position you want to apply for matches your expertise and interests. These pistons also list the required qualifications that you need to fulfil to become eligible for the role.

Remember, just because your academic qualifications match the job description doesn’t mean it’s the right position for you. Ask yourself what gets you excited, what challenges you, and what you would want your impact to be on the company.

Draft the perfect resume

The only way recruiters are going to notice you from the thousands of applications they go through each day is by making them see how great you are. Draft a new resume that’s straight to the point and easy to read. It should clearly state your best achievements and the qualities that best fit the role you are applying for.

Remember to use bullet points when listing accomplishments and summarizing your accomplishments in previous positions. The perfect resume should communicate who you are, your accomplishments and capabilities, and your future career goals.

Prepare for the interviews.

While preparing for the Spotify interviews, you will need to get to know the company. Start by researching the job descriptions and band manifesto, which outlines the company’s mission, culture, beliefs, and values. The company also puts a lot of emphasis on diversity and employees feeling that they belong at the company.

You will also need to learn how Spotify hires its employees. This involves reading about what it takes to be a great culture add to the company and what it means to be good at what you do. Make sure that these values align with your life aspirations, personality, and values.

During Spotify’s hiring process, you may be asked how you prioritize your sources of joy, so it won’t hurt to do some introspection beforehand as part of the interview preparations.

Pass the interviews

After reviewing all applications, the Spotify recruiters will contact qualifying candidates via phone call, Linkedin message, or email to invite them to the first round of interviews. The only way to progress beyond this point is by putting your best foot forward and acing the interviews.

As with most technical roles, there’s no winging it; how much you practice will determine how well you get to articulate your story and answer the questions. While you may have rehearsed your story, you have to be authentic dont paint a conny picture of life.

Video or telephone interview and portfolio review

The initial video or telephone interview process with a Sptofy recruiter is all about going through your resume to ascertain that you are who you claim to be. The interview is more of a chat about you, your background, portfolio review, and the role you are applying for.

In-house interview process

Candidates who pass the telephone interview get invited for the second round of interviews, which are often conducted face to face with two talent acquisition team members. Depending on the role, you may have to go through multiple in-house interviews with several band members across the Spotify business.

During the interview, you can expect questions that test whether your values align with Spotify’s values and how you take ownership of your work. The panel will also gauge how adaptable, collaborative, and self-driven you are.

Decision step of the hiring process

After the final interview in Spotify’s hiring process, successful applicants can expect to hear back from the hiring managers after a few days. Your recruiter will contact you and send you the job offer unlocking the negotiations phase.

Spotify offers flexible share incentives, global parental leave, employee assistance programs, flexible public holidays, and extensive learning opportunities to all employees.

Tech jobs at Spotify

Senior data scientist

National median wage (2021): $100,910

Data scientists rely on data to explain trends and phenomena in the data to draw useful insights that help a company make better decisions.

Spotify relies on data scientists to understand how the music streaming business is performing and understanding what its subscribers like. The insights garnered from data science help the platform to serve the right content to its subscribers and develop key products for future growth.

Spotify uses a data-based decision-making process to create the best experience for its creators and listeners. Data scientists also work alongside the project manager and marketing department to gather and analyze data points in demographics, perceptions, attitudes, and economics to target potential customers with the best-fitting content.

A strong coding background is required for a data scientist role with deep knowledge in Python, Scala, Java, C++, or R. A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field will also improve your chances during the hiring process. Completing a coding bootcamp in visualization tools such as Data Studio, D3 or Tableau will also put you ahead of the competition.

Backend engineers

National median wage (2021): $115,550

Backend engineers design, build and maintain server-side web apps and proprietary software structures on which a company’s online services run. Back-end developers work with the software development teams to code server scripts, APIs, and business logic.

Spotify is constantly hiring backend engineers to provide solutions and expertise in securing its server-end technology environment and optimizing service delivery. This role also involves building protocols for flexible flows across various device architectures and scaling highly distributed systems.

Besides a bachelor’s degree in computer science or relevant fields, the backend engineer role requires strong coding skills in Python, Java, or Scala. Demonstrable experience building scalable backend systems and data pipelines is also a must-have.

Android and iOS engineers

National median wage (2021): $109,020

Spotify’s largest user base is on Android and iOS devices, so it needs Android and iOS engineers to design and develop the mobile apps for these platforms.

Beyond writing the code for the smartphone apps, a software engineer also works on the recommendation and personalization systems that deliver unique content to each listener.

iOS and Android engineers play a critical role in the teams that build Home user interfaces and improve user experience on the platform. This role also involves building new features and extending continuous development and integration systems on supported mobile devices at scale.

A deep understanding of iOS and Android development tools is a must if you want to apply for the role. You will also need to demonstrate your fluency in coding during the hiring process, especially in Java, C++, and Objective-C programming languages. iOS and Android engineers also need experience in testing, debugging, and monitoring the performance of mobile apps.

Machine learning engineers

National median wage (2021): $131,490

Machine learning engineers research and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that automate predictive models. Companies that deal with large data sets often require machine learning to analyze the data and make insightful predictions.

The Spotify listening experience relies heavily on machine learning to find what every listener prefers and deliver content recommendations that are perfect for each listener.

Spotify’s advertising team also relies on machine learning to understand what’s being said in the audio content to serve ads that align with the content the user is listening to.

Getting a machine learning engineering role at Spotify requires hands-on experience working with PyTorch, Tensorflow, and scaling machine learning systems in Python. Expertise in natural language understanding (NLU) and agile software development practices using deep learning algorithms is also highly recommended.

Web developers

National median wage (2021): $100,670

Web developers design and build websites that are visually appealing and responsive. Back-end web developers write code and create the structure of websites. They also manage access points for all users with permission to manage the website’s content.

Front-0end web developers work on the visitor-facing side of the website, where they mostly code and optimize the interface’s visual and interactive parts. On the other hand, full-stack developers work on both front-end and back-end development and are often hired to work on projects that don’t require both teams.

Spotify web developers work on web solutions that integrate into the platform and provide large-scale web-based technologies. Web developers work alongside multi-functional engineering teams and designers to build -backend and frontend services. This job at Spotify requires deep knowledge of CSS, HTML and using development tools in TypeScript and Node.js.

Conclusion

Spotify is one of the best places to work if you are a tech graduate, but the fundamental question is how to get a job at Spotify. Due to the high demand for jobs at Spotify and the large number of job seekers, the chances of landing a job at Spotify are low, and the Spotify hiring process is stringent. The best way to improve your chances includes customizing your cover letter and resume to show your best qualities and expertise in the role you are applying for.

Potential Spotify employees must also show their love for the tech and music industry, as that’s what you will be dealing with for the most part. Spotify offers great salary benefits to its employees, and its work culture fully supports career growth.

To get a job at Facebook, you need to apply for an available job, be recommended to the hiring team by an existing employee, or be discovered by a recruiter for your outstanding accomplishments and experience.

• Facebook has over 2.9 billion active users and is the third most visited site globally.
• Facebook has over 44,942 full-time employees in over 3142 career options.
• On average, Facebook’s employees earn an annual base compensation ranging between $82,089- $184,153, with additional compensation packages ranging from $150,000- $155.000

Facebook and its parent company Meta operate the largest social media platforms globally.  The company’s leading platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Whatsapp, Workplace, Meta Quest, and Meta Portal.  Let’s dive into Meta, its history, the jobs available at Facebook, how to get a job at Facebook, and tech careers at Facebook.

What’s it like to work at Facebook?

Facebook has been operating for the last 18 years, with Mark Zuckerberg being its founder and CEO.  The social platforms are on an expansion drive, creating thousands of new career opportunities.  Their main departments include advertising technology, data and analytics, network infrastructure, enterprise engineering, software engineering, and artificial intelligence research.

Most Facebook employees say they enjoy working at the company and would recommend friends and family members apply for positions at Facebook.  Facebook values its employees, and the company has a great work culture centered around casual teamwork targets with the freedom to express one’s opinions from the low ranks to Facebook’s vice president.

Facebook makes it fun to work on campus, and all employees can access free snacks and meals,  bikes, commuter shuttle buses, quiet rooms, and onsite fitness centers. Facebook offers health and life insurance plans to its employees. Depending on the role, they also get great retirement plans and equity awards.

Facebook employees get free tax consultations and access to turbo Tax, making the whole tax filing process stress-free. The company also offers cash reimbursement to new parents to cover newborn expenses and dependent care FSA benefits.

How to get a job at Facebook

Owing to the large number of applications that Facebook receives every month, your best bet to landing a job is making sure that you apply for a job at Facebook that perfectly matches your skills.  The company’s recruiters are always on the hunt for exceptional talent so remember to keep your Linkedin profile updated with all your outstanding achievements.

Having a friend or a current Facebook employee within your networks introduce you to a recruiter may also improve your chances if you do qualify for the specific position.  Follow the following steps to improve your chances of landing a job on Facebook:

Search for an appropriate role

Facebook has 23 central departments with over 3142 career options.  While the company always has hundreds of open positions on any given day, you must keep in mind that you are competing with thousands of other applicants.

You first have to go to Facebook’s career page and search for an available position that perfectly matches your education qualifications and experience requirements.  This will substantially increase your odds as you will be competing with far fewer applicants with perfectly-matched skills.  Research what the job description entails and what you will be expected to do at the company.

Customize your application

You will need to edit your resume and cover letter to highlight the skills and capabilities that Facebook is searching for.  Sending generic resumes is a sure way to lose any possible chances of landing a job, as the application will be automatically filtered out.

The goal of editing your resume is to impress Facebook recruiters so that you can qualify for the interviewing stage.  So, pay extra attention to highlighting your skills as a builder and quick learner as the company’s overarching goal in hiring the best talent is so that they can contribute to its growth and solve current problems faced by Facebook.  Remember to use structured, professional, and to-the-point language.

Remember to highlight your critical achievements and leadership roles, how you mastered the knowledge you have gained to solve specific problems, and how you plan to use your skills in the future position.  If you are a recent graduate or an ongoing student applying for an internship, you should detail how the schoolwork you have covered gives you a competitive edge.  Remember to include all relevant education and technical certificates.

Shine during the Facebook interview process

If you are one of the lucky applicants, who gets contacted by a Facebook recruiter to schedule an interview, you must start preparing for the entire process.  Facebook’s recruitment process consists of four major interviews; resume screening, phone screening, onsite interviews, and the hiring committee review.

The average interview process conversion rate is 16%, much higher than the initial Facebook application process conversion rate.  These interviews are complex, with the most decisive parts including the onsite interview and phone screening.

Resume screening

The first interview with a Facebook recruiter will consist of a resume screening process.  The interview process is often conducted on call or via Messenger, and you will be required to cover your education qualifications and experience.  The recruiter will also evaluate your resume for the required technical requirements for the position you are applying for to ensure that you are a potential fit.

Phone screening

The phone interview consists of two parts: the initial and technical calls.  During the first round, a human resource recruiter will call you to ask a few questions.  The call, which often lasts 20 minutes, revolves around behavioral questions which are aimed at revealing your qualities and basic information that determine if you are fit for the applied role.

The second phone screening is often more technical and lasts up to 45 minutes.  You will be asked technical questions regarding the job’s responsibility during this period.  If you are applying for a programming or coding-related position, you will have to complete a few questions in algorithms, coding, data structures, etc.

Onsite interviews with the hiring managers

After the phone interview, the Facebook recruiter will contact you to schedule onsite interviews.  This step consists of 4 to 5 in-person interviews with Facebook’s hiring team, and they last 45 minutes each.  The assessment revolves around your fit or the specific role, culture fit, and teamwork fitness.

Technical positions may also require an extra technical interview session to assess coding and system design skills.  Facebook evaluates fitness by testing your knowledge of workflow, conflict resolution, and agile methodology.

Hiring committee review

Successful candidates will get contacted by Facebook recruiters to schedule hiring committee reviews.  During these meetings, the candidate meets with Facebook team leaders and managers to determine whether the applicant is a good fit for the specific cream they have applied for.  The hiring committee then evaluates your performance during all interviews as the Facebook interview panel members rank.

Offer and salary negotiations with the hiring manager

Once the hiring committee is fully satisfied that you are the right candidate for the position, they will inform the human resources department of their decision.  You can then expect to receive an employment offer shortly.

The offer opens the doors for negotiations on the terms and conditions.  Always remember to start on the higher end when negotiating for your salary and benefits, as most offers are based on a minimum remuneration value.

Tech jobs at Facebook

Most of the Facebook job openings revolve around technical skills in coding and programming.  These roles come up with creative solutions using data-backed insights to solve problems facing Meta or to innovate one of their existing systems.  Here are some of the most in-demand tech roles at Facebook:

Software engineer

National median wage (2021): $131,020

A software engineer at Facebook is tasked with the reliability of building software programs in various departments.  The role includes designing and coding various solutions in the engineering disciplines.  The company’s most in-demand software engineering roles require full-stack application development skills to build spec-perfect software solutions.

While most Meta products are on Android and iOS mobile platforms, the firm also hires software engineers from the tech job market to work on machine learning, augmented reality, and virtual reality software.

Technical software engineering roles require experience in Java, C#, C++, C, and other relevant coding languages.  Demonstrable experience building code bases and working with mobile technologies such as React Native applications is also recommended.  A bachelor’s degree in Software engineering is a must while applying for this role.

Game producers

National median wage (2021): $127,734

As Meta scales up its Metaverse and Oculus products, there’s a huge demand for game producers and developers to work on VR/AR gaming content.  The role encompasses building virtual reality applications and the entertainment content that runs on the platform.

Game development is often a team role, so having prior experience working with game development teams, both external and internal, is highly recommended.  Game producers also should possess hands-on experience coding for AAA PC or console games.

As most game production in Meta will solely focus on Metaverse, VR development experience, and interactive entertainment is a must.  A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field will also improve your chances of getting a Facebook job as a game producer.

Optical scientists

National median wage (2021): $124,300

Optical scientists design and develop laser technologies that are used in telecommunications.  Meta requires optical scientists to engineer the Oculus platform and develop next-gen VR and Ar headsets.  Besides researching optical problems and developing possible solutions, optical scientists also develop computerized blueprints for optical instruments.

Meta Reality Labs explore and innovate novel hardware systems and interfaces for augmented, mixed, and virtual reality experiences.  Most of this work revolves around designing consumer hardware and technologies for near-to-eye displays, a job requiring optical scientists’ expertise.

The role involves leading the fabrication of optical components, troubleshooting and optimizing VR components, and collaborating with the software development teams.  A degree in engineering or optical science is required, and experience working in optical fabrication or diffractive optics and photonics.

Network engineers

National median wage (2021): $120,520

Network engineers design, implement and maintain the connectivity networks in a company.  The role involves planning new initiatives to upgrade existing network infrastructure to keep up with the business’s needs and providing consistent traffic solutions to eradicate congestion and other downtime issues.

Facebook networking technology requires network engineers to make it flexible and scalable.  The network engineering team is also responsible for traffic volume, and overall network usage optimization as the social media services continue to expand.

With the adoption of software-defined networking, becoming a network engineer requires a computer science degree or software development and related courses.  Technical skills in analytical and coding will also give you a significant boost.

Data center capacity engineers

National median wage (2021): $124,040

Data center capacity engineers plan and deliver hardware capacity and end-to-end server requirements in a data center.  For a company to scale up its data storage and processing capabilities, the hardware end also needs to keep up with the extra demand without lagging.

Meta hires data center capacity engineers working with cross-functional teams to design and implement data infrastructure upgrades.  They also have to work with Meta software and engineering teams to address complex data storage and processing issues that impact Facebook’s computing infrastructure.

As a data center capacity engineer, you must also analyze and interpret systemic issues that impact up[time and analyze technical drive resolution issues.  A bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or commensurate experience in enterprise-level storage, networking, or server maintenance is required.  Solid knowledge of various coding languages such as Python, SQL, or R will be an added benefit.

Data engineers

National median wage (2021): $124,027

Data engineers build systems for collecting, managing, and converting raw data into useful information.  They work alongside data scientists and analysts to develop data analysis and interpretation tools.  Data engineers in large companies like Facebook evaluate and optimize social media platforms’ performance.

Beyond building the data pipelines that Meta needs to deliver content to their subscribers, data engineers design next-gen data tools that rely on machine learning.  Data engineers at Meta design and launch reliable data pipelines between online caches, real-time systems, and data warehouses.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer science, or a relevant technical field.  Practical experience in coding is required, with deep knowledge of Python and SQL.  Experience in data modeling, schema design, and workflow management engineering is also required.

Conclusion

Meta is one of the largest tech giants globally, and the company is always advertising thousands of tech roles as its platforms expand.  While securing Facebook jobs is hard, having the right tools and experience for the specific role you are applying for will significantly improve your chances.

You can also contact Facebook employees on your network and ask for guidance on how to get a job at Facebook.  You may also obtain a recommendation letter addressed to the recruitment team to improve your chances.  Most of the tech roles at Facebook require a bachelor’s degree plus relevant skills that you can acquire by completing a coding bootcamp.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is more than just a computer hardware tech giant; the firm engages in tech consultancy, in-house design, middleware, software, hosting, cloud computing, nanotechnology, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.

• IBM serves 177 countries and is one of the largest global employers, with over 350,000 full-time employees as of 2022.
• IBM ranks high on the retention score rating as the company prefers to retain current employees instead of having to train new ones; this makes IBM jobs highly coveted if you are instead in a company that will support you throughout your career growth process.
• IBM employee benefits include health benefits, legal assistance, company social outings, paid holidays, and tuition reimbursement.
• The most in-demand tech jobs at IBM are software developers, web developers, database architects, information security analysts, software engineering, and network systems administrators.

Over the last 111 years, IBM has grown from a fledgling computing tabulating recording company (CTR) to one of the leading tech companies. Unlike most tech companies focusing on a single platform or technology, IBM is highly diversified. This is one of the reasons why employees work so long in the company that a substantial number of them have their entire careers within the company’s five business segments.

Let’s take a look at IBM background, how to get a job at IBM, how to improve your chances of landing a job at IBM, and available tech jobs at IBM;

IBM background

IBM was founded in 1911 by Charles Ranlett Flint as the CTR company based in New York before rebranding to IBM in 1924. IBM sells computer software, middleware, and hardware. The company also offers hosting and cloud solutions. IBM consultancy services cover a wide range of industries from nanotechnology to Artificial intelligence, software engineering, and quantum computing.

The IBM brand comprises hundreds of products and services in the tech industry, analytics, blockchain, business operations, cloud, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, supply chain, and industries.

What do employees say about working at IBM?

Current and former IBM employees praise the company’s compensation package and advancement opportunities. IBM employees are ranked high as some of the most fulfilled tech workers and rate the organization high on location and time flexibility. The firm also offers the ability to upskill and learn new things and aid employees in meeting their personal career goals. Employee perks include healthcare benefits, flexible spending accounts, paid time off and vacations, a 401K plan, supplemental life insurance, and a health savings account (HSA).

IBM employees rate the work environment at the company as highly positive. The garage work culture makes it easy for team-based projects to succeed with positive interactions between team members and stakeholders. This creates an overall fun work environment which boosts productivity and cuts wastage of time, hours, and company resources.

How to get a job at IBM

To get a job at IBM, you have to apply for the available roles, go through the IBM hiring process, and, if you pass, you will receive an employment offer. Due to the large number of applicants that IBM receives each year, it’s recommended that you perfect your application and ace the interview process to qualify for the advertised role.  Here are the steps you can take to get a job at IBM;

Research the available roles

The most critical step in applying for a job at IBM is picking the right role for your qualifications and capabilities. Visit IBM’s careers page and search for an available role that perfectly matches your skills. Remember that an IBM career is an investment in your future, so you need a proper kick-off to propel you through the vast array of global IBM career opportunities.

Draft the best fitting application documents

After identifying the position you want to apply for, you will need to craft the best cover letter and resume that shines a light on your qualifications and competency. The resume should list your skills and how you have been able to apply them to solve particular issues. The resume should also clarify that you are ready to expose yourself to new learning opportunities and your interest in new technologies.

You should then apply for the role using the updated resume and cover letter. In most cases, the application process will require you to sign up for the IBM Talent Network.

 Prepare for the IBM interview process.

The best way to prepare for the IBM interview process is by researching the possible questions you can expect to be asked during the interview. These questions vary depending on the role; however, most of them often follow a similar phrasing. You can expect to be tested on your core competencies, including personal drive, passion for IBM, adaptability, client focus, creative problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and ownership during the hiring process.

Pass the interviews

Successful applicants will get contacted by IBM recruiters to schedule the screening and assessment interviews. Depending on the role you are applying for, you can expect to go through three to five interviews throughout the entire IBM hiring process.

CV screening

During the first screening call with an IBMer, they will go through your application, and you will be asked general questions regarding the content you have included in your resume. The CV screening interview is a formality to confirm that you possess the skills indicated in the application. The real IBMers participating in this application process are specialists in the respective field you are applying for, and experts in screening resume for quality control.

Phone call screening with IBM recruiter

Depending on the role you applied for, you may have to go through a second phone call screening with IBM recruiters. The call involves reviewing the job description, identifying your strengths, and evaluating your previous experience. During this call, you should be honest and think on your feet instead of giving general answers. Keep your answers concise and remain positive, as some questions might throw you off.

Online  assessments

IBM may require you to take a couple of online assessments to evaluate your skills depending on the position you applied to. “the cognitive ability online assessments test a candidate’s cognitive ability, and you may be required to join a WebEx conference call with a proctor who monitors the tests. These tests are often in the form of games that test a candidate’s problem-solving skills.

Depending on the position you applied for, you may also be asked to undergo a coding interview. This consists of time allotted coding questions that test your knowledge of data structures and algorithms based on the coding language of your choice.

Technical interview

Applicants who clear the online assessments and qualify for the next round will be contacted to set up an in-person technical interview with IBM recruiters. Technical interviews are all about evaluating your technical skills in your line of work. You can also expect questions about your problem-solving skills, dealing with stressful situations, and using technology to solve problems. If the position requires coding skills, you can expect questions on object-oriented programming systems and basic computer fundamentals.

HR interview

THE IBM HR department will contact successful candidates for the final in person interview round to assess their personalities, strengths, shortcomings, and background. HR interviews also evaluate whether you are the perfect fit for the position you applied for or not. You will also be asked questions about your resume, ranging from your motivations to professional interests.

Offer and negotiation

After the rigorous interviewing process, qualifying candidates will receive a job offer and feedback on the interview. This marks the beginning of the onboarding process, and you may be required to submit appropriate documentation before you can begin negotiating the employment terms. If you have applied for an entry-level role, you can negotiate the base compensation structure and the signing bonus, but senior roles also include target bonuses and equity.

Tech jobs at IBM

Data scientist

National median wage (2021): $100,910

Data scientists use statistics and machine learning models to unlock business insights that companies can use to make data-driven business and technology decisions. IBM’s data science department analyzes the ever-growing volume of data sources and subsequent data to guide strategic planning by providing insights on future performance.

As a data scientist, you can work on data ingestion using various methods to collect data, from manual entries to real-time data streams and web scraping. The data science role also involves deciding appropriate structures and formats for data storage that optimize data processing rates during the analysis part. Data scientists must communicate their findings using data visualizations to display the sights.

To qualify for the data scientist role, you need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields and technical coding skills in Python or R.

Software engineer

National median wage (2021): $131,020

A software engineer designs and codes computer programs. IBM hires a wide range of software developers, including systems software developers who work on operating system-level software such as network distribution software and compilers.

As an IBM software engineer, you get to work alongside the software development teams and software engineers to design flowcharts, write code, and map out the software development path for each application.

Education qualifications for the software developer position vary depending on the role you are applying for, and IBM is not keen on education qualifications during the hiring process. Instead, it focuses on expertise and experience in software development. You will need to possess deep knowledge of computer science fundamentals and your programming language choices, such as Java, Python, SQL, and javascript.

Machine learning engineer

National median wage (2021): $128,031

Machine learning engineers focus on using algorithms to analyze data by imitating how humans gradually learn to improve prediction accuracy. IBM has a long and deeply rooted connection with machine learning going back to as early as 1962 when Robert Nealey lost a game of checkers to IBM computers that relied on machine learning algorithms.

IBM has one of the largest data science departments, and it’s always looking to hire new talent in machine learning engineering. This role involves applying statistical methods to train algorithms in classifying data and making predictions. You can also work in data mining projects within IBM to uncover key insights that impact growth metrics.

To become a machine learning engineer, you require a bachelor’s degree in computer science and provable experience building or managing test automation and designing AI algorithms.

Cloud engineer

National median wage (2021): $120,520

Cloud engineers build and maintain cloud computing infrastructure. The role involves cloud architecture design for organizations and coding cloud applications. A cloud engineer’s role is to help companies migrate their computing applications to the cloud and configure networking and cloud security services.

IBM has over 60 data centers globally and is always hiring cloud engineers to design solutions for their cloud partners. IBM cloud engineers work on various tasks, from integrating custom apps to the cloud API to designing integration flows and troubleshooting cloud environments.

To become a cloud engineer, you need to develop deep knowledge of cloud platforms such as IBM Cloud and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Provable experience working on networking, operating systems, data security, and storage will also come in handy in this role. As a cloud engineer, you need coding skills in various programming languages such as Ruby, Golang, Java, and Python.

Cyber security specialist

National median wage (2021): $102,600

Cyber security analysts specialize in information technology and network infrastructure security in a company. The cyber security specialist must thoroughly understand cybercriminal behaviors, cyberattacks, and malware in the tech industry. With this knowledge, they can then anticipate potential attack vectors and prevent cyberattacks before they happen.

Cyber security specialists configure security tools such as password projectors, vulnerability management tools, and antivirus software in the organization. They also evaluate the company’s network and report on possible weak points and unusual network activities.

To become a cyber security specialist at IBM, you require a deep understanding of IT fundamentals and cybersecurity. Provable experience working on cybersecurity specialization and expertise in penetration testing, digital forensics, and cybersecurity best practices are required.

Conclusion

IBM offers a great work environment that allows tech workers to translate their skills in designing and developing advanced information technology into value for the company and its clients through consultation services.

Having a job at IBM gives you a front-row seat on innovation projects that matter, ranging from cloud computing to quantum and AI counting. The company also offers great benefits and career progression paths with in-house job training programs.

Getting a job at Microsoft requires a combination of passion, curiosity in technical wizardry and soft skills, entrepreneurial spirit, and demonstrable qualifications for the specific job you are applying for.

• Microsoft is on an aggressive expansion path globally with over 221,000 employees as of 2022 and is expected to continue hiring in operations, research, and development growth areas.
• Microsoft hired over 19,000 employees in 2021, bringing the total number of United States employees to around 122,000.
• Globally, Microsoft hirings are on the rise, with over 21,000 employees added within 2021, bringing the total to over 99,000.
• You can get a full-time position in the four business units at Microsoft, which include operations, marketing, research and development, general, and administration.
• Microsoft’s business segments and product portfolio covers a wide range of enterprise and consumer software, services, and hardware.

Microsoft offers career opportunities in over 40 disciplines, which can complicate the process of applying for a job at Microsoft. Each year the organization receives over 2 million job applications, with less than 10% getting selected to interview.

Whether you are a recent graduate or an experienced professional looking to get a job at Microsoft, one thing is clear; you need to stand out from the rest of the competition. This guide covers how to get a job at Microsoft, what you can expect in the application and interviewing process, and possible career opportunities at Microsoft.

How to get a job at Microsoft

The company’s hiring process varies depending on the specific career; however, most careers begin with a job application or getting discovered by Microsoft recruiters. Shortlisted applicants then undergo multiple rounds of interviews that can take up to 6 weeks. The following steps outline the general process of applying for a position at Microsoft:

Update your resume to fit the job description

The only way recruiters are able to sift through the millions of job applications they receive is by screening resumes for a general fit for each role available in the company. They then spend around 6 to 30 seconds reviewing the total content.

Recruiters often look for red and green flags in candidates’ resumes. Update your resume to avoid falling into the red flags category of candidates with singular experiences. Instead, opt for a willingness to diversify your experiences even though they fall outside of your past positions.

You must avoid the “resume of perfection” trap where candidates poetry themselves as know-it-alls. Instead, opt for a learn-it-all approach, whereby your resume has to express your motivation to grow and learn constantly.

The presence of useful keywords like “learning” and “growth” in your resume triggers green flags, especially in the “interests” section of the resume. Remember to include a short statement on your values or five words that describe you. Another green flag is adding a bulleted list of hobbies that show your interests outside of the immediate role you are applying for.

Apply for available Microsoft careers

Having gathered all the appropriate documents, you should proceed to apply for the position that you are interested in. Visit Microsoft careers page to see available positions, and the website will direct you on how to create an applicant profile. This will give you access to the right guides, job description and point you in the right direction while also giving recruiters insight into your experiences and interests.

Prepare for the interview with the hiring manager

Microsoft’s new hiring approach adopts the sharing of interview content with the applicant before the interview, allowing candidates to think clearly. The Microsoft interview process also uses real-world problems that the company is currently working on. You can expect the Microsoft interview process to take an interactive approach, keeping you engaged and thinking on your feet.

A major part of the preparation process involves visiting Microsoft’s career website and researching the company’s core competencies, the vision of the future, and Microsoft’s culture. The information provided makes it possible to do your due diligence on the job description and how the position you are interviewing for contributes to Microsoft’s goal of working as one toward empowering billions globally.

Ace the interviews

Microsoft contacts successful applicants via email, phone call, or Linkedin. You will be assigned a recruiter who will contact you for the first interview, which is divided into two parts. During the first session, the Microsoft recruiter will ask you to review your resume while answering multiple behavioral questions that gauge your openness to curiosity, learning, and leadership qualities. This initial interview may differ if you apply for technical roles, whereby they may ask technical questions on data structures and algorithms.

After the initial phone screening, qualified applicants get invited to another phone interview, and your Microsoft recruiter will share potential questions and topics to be covered ahead of the interview. During this interview, a hiring manager or an official from the hiring team will participate in the phone screening, so remember to show great communication skills and professionalism.

Qualifying applicants get invited to on-site interviews, which are usually conducted on any of the Microsoft campuses depending on your location. The interviews consist of multiple back-to-back rounds where you will meet several managers or developers depending on the role you are applying for.

The human resource (HR) interview is the final round which is mostly done as a formality to test additional behavioral questions and determine if you are a good fit for Microsoft. It’s advisable to be yourself and demonstrate your thinking during this final interview. Technical applicants may be required to go through an “As Ap” who, in most cases, is a program manager or a senior tenured Microsoft employee. During this step, you may have to demonstrate your knowledge of the tech landscape and how Microsoft operations are affected.

The offer and salary negotiations with Microsoft employees

Within a week after the final interview, you should expect to hear from the interviewer. Microsoft will send an offer, but if that fails to happen, you have to wait for 6 to 12 months before reapplying for the same position.

The offer includes a base salary, sign-on bonus, and new-hire equity. You can negotiate for better terms depending on your level, which will determine the target bonus and other perks.

Tech jobs at Microsoft

Microsoft advertises thousands of career positions globally. Here are the best tech jobs in the US that you can apply for at Microsoft:

Digital cloud solution architect

National median wage (2021): $120,520

Digital cloud solution architects design and deploy cloud solutions for organizations. The career requires in-depth knowledge of cloud architecture, networking, cloud-based delivery systems, back-end and front-end platforms. A cloud solutions architect is also responsible for bridging gaps between a firm’s computing problems and available cloud solutions.

Microsoft is always on the hunt for Azure cloud engineers and architects to work on data center migrations, architecture design, networking, and database administration. Professional experience in related work is required, or a provable internship in cloud solutions is required for this Microsoft position. Education qualifications include a bachelor’s in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, or any other related field.

Technical specialist manager

National median wage (2021): $120,520

A technical specialist manager works alongside network systems analysts to design, review and troubleshoot computer networking operations in an organization. The role involves working with technical programs to develop networking and computing solutions that resolve problems without having to result in downtime.

A technical specialist is expected to analyze all procedures that rely on a company’s computer network and ensure that the entire network runs efficiently. They also assist with delaying management software. A degree in electrical or computer engineering, computer science, or related fields is required as well as networking certification from accredited sources such as SISCO.

Software engineer

National median wage (2021): $120,730

Microsoft is always looking for software engineering talent to work on developing computer systems software. Most of the software engineers at Microsoft get to work on Windows operating systems and other Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365.

The organization offers tens of software engineering positions ranging from operating systems to gaming, network control systems, and middleware. A software engineer job description at Microsoft requires you to be well-versed in coding, programming, and computer science fundamentals. Depending on the position you are applying for, additional rock solid skills may be required, such as debugging, information analysis, data structures, and algorithms.

Data scientist

National median wage (2021): $100,910

Data scientists work with large data sets to find trends and patterns that provide useful insights. As a data scientist, you get to create data models and algorithms that can predict outcomes using machine learning techniques.

Microsoft Azure networking teams require data analytics to innovate high-performance computing and visualization systems. The position also requires you to have technical skills in designing telemetry systems and analyzing data from multiple sources. Data scientists work alongside software engineers to design distributed software services that complement Azure data centers and Cloud Edge technologies.

Cloud security engineer

National median wage (2021): $102,600

Cloud security engineers design and implement cloud workloads that maintain secure cloud infrastructure. This option requires one to have a deep knowledge of all aspects and the latest concepts in cloud security, such as access management and configuring network security defenses.

To become an Azure security engineer, you need to pass the associate certification exams that test your expertise in implementing Azure security controls. You also need experience in hybrid and end-to-end cloud infrastructure. Cloud security engineers get to work alongside the Azure teams to implement cloud-based security and management solutions.

Network engineer

National median wage (2021): $120,520

Network engineers implement and oversee a company’s computer networks. Network engineers supervise network administrators in planning, designing, and rolling out network upgrades. It’s their job to ensure that the network’s technical specifications meet the company’s daily needs, and they also deal with maintenance and troubleshooting efforts.

Microsoft’s network infrastructure is spread across cloud computing, hardware development, research, and software development. As a result, the company is always on the lookout for additional network engineers. The network engineer’s role requires a degree in computer science or information systems engineering, and some technical positions might require tech industry certification.

Machine learning engineer

National median wage (2021): $131,490

Machine learning engineers work alongside the data science team in an organization to research, design, and build artificial intelligence (AI) models. Their objective is to improve prediction accuracy and provide data-backed insights.

Microsoft has a wide range of machine learning applications, from facial recognition to gaming and ad campaign designing. In fact, Microsoft is one of the largest employers of AI experts in the United States. These positions require proficiency in designing and deploying scalable machine learning models, analyzing new data sources, and automating detection algorithms. The machine learning industry is always changing, with new techniques and libraries getting introduced frequently, so you must be in touch with the latest AI tech stacks.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How hard is it to get a job at Microsoft?

Microsoft employment opportunities are highly competitive, with the organization receiving more than 2 million applications annually. Microsoft also has its hiring managers with access to the vast global applicant pool, who are always on the lookout for exceptional talent.

Do applicants require coding skills to apply for a job at Microsoft?

Only technical positions require coding skills at Microsoft. The organization looks for applicants with a strong desire to learn, an entrepreneurial spirit, a willingness to work hard, and a passion for tech.

What degree do you need to get a job at Microsoft?

While not all positions at Microsoft require a degree, academic qualifications are necessary in order to qualify for a job at the company. You can apply with a certificate from an accredited institution, especially if the desired position contributes to your upward mobility. Internship positions require the candidate to have completed the first or second year of a bachelor’s degree in order to qualify.

Can you apply for a job at Microsoft using a coding bootcamp certificate?

Yes, Microsoft offers jobs to applicants who have completed coding bootcamps as long as they possess the hands-on technical skills required for the specific job at Microsoft you are applying for.

Conclusion

Microsoft is one the best tech companies to work for, with the most current and former Microsoft employees praising the company’s work environment and ethics. With its multitude of projects and revenue streams in cloud computing, gaming, software development, operating systems, hardware sales, and many more, the tech conglomerate is always searching for new talent to hire. There are positions for all levels running from internships to entry-level positions and senior coding, engineering, and managerial roles.