Grant Allen: Trial By Interview

SOFTBALL.  Microsoft, I was told, would use cases, too, since cases are such a good indicator of on-the-job business-problem-solving performance. Truth be told, my first one was a softball; I actually had fun talking about my favorite technologies for 45 minutes, discoursing on how little-known products like Grouper (something of an incarnation of Ray Ozzie's Groove technology) could be better marketed. I also had been told the Redmond process was long and disorganized.

I was applying for a product-manager position which would presumably place me with one of MSFT's seven operating divisions (I say presumably because I ended up in a cross-product, U.S. subsidiary marketing execution division called BMO, for Business Marketing Organization); and Microsoft was slow in getting back to me regarding second-round interview logistics and group assignments.

Once I alighted at SEA-TAC, though, the process was slick: two nights at the W Seattle, picturesque Rainier scenery, shuttle around Microsoft's gargantuan campus, gourmet lunch, interesting gadgets, and scintillating conversation. There were a few interviews, too. Actually seven.

DECISION TIME.  All told, I received two offers out of my three DIP companies. My consulting offer came before DIP's conclusion but Microsoft didn't decide until a month and a half later. The problem with two offers is, well, the decision to make (aside: Paradox of Choices by Barry Schwartz; read it). In deciding between my two offers I went back and forth, enticed by the reputation and unique yet polished people at the consulting firm, yet intrigued also by the adventures I might find on the West Coast with a premier software company.

Then I happened into a presentation by Ted Schlein, Partner of Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, and Byers, THE big hitter in VC -- funding, among many others, Amazon (AMZN ), Genentech (DNA ), Flextronics (FLEX ), Macromedia (ADBE ), Google (GOOG ), Compaq (HPQ ), EA (ERTS ), AOL (TWX ), and Segway. In addition to pushing students to "get out there," "push for operational internships," and "launch a product," Ted (a Penn grad, I have to boast) proclaimed Microsoft the "best company to have ever been created."

That may be giving Gates, Allen, Ballmer and crew too much credit but I've had a number of conversations that reinforced the facts that: 1) working for a larger, established company adds a nice dimension to MBA résumés with armchair analyst roles and little operational experience; 2) the summer internship is a great, low-risk chance to try something new and different; new industry, new role, new company type/size/etc., new geography; and 3) working for a tech firm like MSFT would provide superb currency for a second-year segue into either consulting, growth-stage IT/telecom private equity, or general management/marketing/strategy in the wireless sector (another flavor of my months).

AND THE WINNER IS.  Bottom line, I had consulting experience already and it was time to branch out. What better way than an internship complete with subsidized housing in a gorgeous summer city, plus dinner at Bill Gates' house!

I also just found out I'll be working with a VC in Philadelphia for four weeks in late May and early June before I head west. I'll be focused on one of the fund's portfolio companies developing a free mobile-directory service service and starting to explore service extension capabilities for VoIP-enabled smart phones.

The time frame is short, so I'll be limited in what I can actually accomplish, but the exposure to both a sizable VC firm and a promising telco startup should be amazing, and dovetail nicely with the rest of my summer. I'll be sure to keep you posted.

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