Nice one! That's fantastic news. Well done dude, all coming together nicely
This Business and Moment...
- Thread starter randomshenans
- Start date
Soldato
So jealous of you guys, you all seem to be doing well and working at a high level of skill and experience! 
Regulus, if I was you i'd be speaking to the team, telling them at you know it sucks and they are all doing an amazing job. Then I'd be speaking to management about it, telling them that it's causing moral issues within the team and that they need to sort it out. As long as your team know you know how they feel and are at least trying to do something about it, they should at least support you properly.
randomshenans, she seems to have quite a bit of experience and knowledge but I can't help with questions, the role is above my understand.
That's great news Phate, would you still push your own thing as well or put it on a back burner? As for your manager, I'd be going to HR and lodging an official complaint about his behaviour. Even if you're going, I'd be wanting to leave a black mark on his record for being a ****! If other people are noticing it too then HR will have to do something.
Regulus, if I was you i'd be speaking to the team, telling them at you know it sucks and they are all doing an amazing job. Then I'd be speaking to management about it, telling them that it's causing moral issues within the team and that they need to sort it out. As long as your team know you know how they feel and are at least trying to do something about it, they should at least support you properly.
randomshenans, she seems to have quite a bit of experience and knowledge but I can't help with questions, the role is above my understand.
That's great news Phate, would you still push your own thing as well or put it on a back burner? As for your manager, I'd be going to HR and lodging an official complaint about his behaviour. Even if you're going, I'd be wanting to leave a black mark on his record for being a ****! If other people are noticing it too then HR will have to do something.
Caporegime
Well I just had the call. Monday morning 10:30am
Jon confirmed it is not a technical interview (as far as he knows) but about me, personality...how I work in teams etc...
It's a woman as well, so I just need to lay on some of that classic British charm...
*checks breathe*
Oh coincidentally this just happened....
A bit too much of a coincidence!
@AHarvey. In terms of my own start up idea IF I get this job at MS it will go on the back burner for the time being. Purely so I can focus fully on the new role. A big drive for my own business was because I need some form of light at the end of the tunnel...something to work towards to get me out of here!
The idea won't be forgotten though
well done SCCM (well, SMS) has a fond place in my heart after effectively giving me my big break.
Whilst I'm not in that area anymore it started the chain of events (and jobs) to get me somewhere I'd always wanted to be from an job/company point of view, doing a role I really enjoy.
SCCM (well, SMS) has a fond place in my heart after effectively giving me my big break.Whilst I'm not in that area anymore it started the chain of events (and jobs) to get me somewhere I'd always wanted to be from an job/company point of view, doing a role I really enjoy.
Caporegime
Hehe, I remember it when it was SMS!
For me, SCCM I really enjoy as its a big part of what I love doing...Desktop Infrastructure. I find it fun...although I've had odd looks when saying that before
For me, SCCM I really enjoy as its a big part of what I love doing...Desktop Infrastructure. I find it fun...although I've had odd looks when saying that before
Soldato
Oh great. I need to move our new work website(s) to a new host because I'm not happy with Vidahost's performance on this new version of the shopping cart software. Spent weeks looking for a specialist host with UK support for this software and a few days talking about the needs of the server. Finally got the login details... and it's not suitable at all. Considering they ONLY host this system how can they give me hosting space that is not compatible? Specialists my ........
Soldato
I am so directing all of my SCCM incidents for my customers if you get the job, Jake. Premier support is a great place to be at MSFT - eventually you will start to pick up more PFE type tasks all going well and begin delivering to customers our proactive engagements to help them move forward with the product. Following on from that there is progression to being a Designated Support Engineer for customers allowing you to influence the strategy and direction of customers adopting SCOM/SCCM/Orch - this is a great area to be working in as everyone is heading in that direction.
Caporegime
It certainly sounds like a lot of fun! I'm extremely excited about the potential...I'm a bit nervous as this IS Microsoft at the end of the day but excited and confident in what I can offer
Seems like they're not hanging around on this role. My current contract renews in 6 weeks so this could play out well. I will just simply ask them not to renew it rather than go down the route of handing in notice etc
Fingers crossed for Monday folks!
Blair - thanks for your email. I'll respond to you tomorrow
Seems like they're not hanging around on this role. My current contract renews in 6 weeks so this could play out well. I will just simply ask them not to renew it rather than go down the route of handing in notice etc
Fingers crossed for Monday folks!
Blair - thanks for your email. I'll respond to you tomorrow
Soldato
I know what you mean around the "This is Microsoft" aspect. Do not let yourself suffer from imposter syndrome - if you've got to this stage, you're good enough. Same goes for age (something I've previously struggled with), if you're good enough, you're old enough.
On that note, I'm off to Seattle tomorrow evening for a week and very excited about going to hq! Hopefully it lives up to my expectations!
On that note, I'm off to Seattle tomorrow evening for a week and very excited about going to hq! Hopefully it lives up to my expectations!
Soldato
Business critical? Build it on Azure / AWS!
So jealous of you guys, you all seem to be doing well and working at a high level of skill and experience!
Regulus, if I was you i'd be speaking to the team, telling them at you know it sucks and they are all doing an amazing job. Then I'd be speaking to management about it, telling them that it's causing moral issues within the team and that they need to sort it out. As long as your team know you know how they feel and are at least trying to do something about it, they should at least support you properly.
.
I have alluded to that fact but everyone senior to me appears to be in well over their heads with little time. The company is in an aggressive growth stage and not turning down any projects. They've recently taken on a big $50 million marquee project with a lot of local prominence - but they literally have nobody to run it. Funny how these things work. You drive past these major and prominent engineering projects and think 'Man, these guys must have their **** together', but when you get involved, you realise it's as messy as running a prison kitchen.
I've decided to stop coming into the office looking as if I'm carrying the world on my shoulders. One thing I've learned (and probably should've known), is that your reports look at you for energy, guidance and general mood. Their moods reflect mine. If I'm listless, unfocused and feeling sorry for myself, they act out like naughty children. Yesterday I came in full of fire, smiles and focus, and we had a great day. I made a point of leaving my office door open and hustling the phone within their earshot. The whole day there was this positive energy about the place and people got stuck in. They kept approaching me telling me what they've been doing and the small success they're having and the problems that was solved. I made a point of being genuinely complimentary without going overboard. During our wrap up meeting I congratulated everyone on a great day. Really positive experience.
Same thing so far this morning. I'm absolutely exhausted but won't show it until we leave at 5pm today.
Either way, I've decided to give it a few months and if I don't like it for the long term, I'll simply jack it in and take 3-6 months off work. Been threatening to do that for a while now. The girlfriend wants me to do it now but I'm going to give it a few months and see how it goes. Very liberating feeling
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Caporegime
Yes I'm trying not to be too overwhelmed with the whole "ermahgerd...Mercrerserft" bit. I just need to remember to focus on what I know I'm good at...And the rest will come along itself.
I've struggled with age as well...I'm 28 with 12 years experience in the industry...I usually get asked to explain that one!
Enjoy Seattle!
Maybe I'll get to go to HQ one day!
Killer day today. I had a demo last night 11-12am, did work after until 2am, back up at 6:30am, rode 40km and went to work. Then after work rode home and had 3 more demos. Just finished the last one, now got to type up some contracts and get info to the right people with a glass of bubbly and red wine chaser
Bonus being; ASU last night teachers keen to use us (we have contracts in place, this was just finding the faculty to use it first) so rolling out in March with them. (legals pending! Love paperwork).
Today was an online Uni in Sao Paulo, who want to pilot with view to rolling out, getting a PO ready now. Then university in Canada want to use us, but they use D2L for an LMS so we're going to have to build that plugin. Benefit is, they're a 45k student uni, so potentially a nice deal there (we charge per student), going to push that integration through.
Lastly was utx (University Texas System https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Texas_System) who want to use us, want to get a PO sorted so they can get going and are getting back together with us next week...
I might not have any sleep, but it's starting to roll, which I just need to keep on going with!
Bonus being; ASU last night teachers keen to use us (we have contracts in place, this was just finding the faculty to use it first) so rolling out in March with them. (legals pending! Love paperwork).
Today was an online Uni in Sao Paulo, who want to pilot with view to rolling out, getting a PO ready now. Then university in Canada want to use us, but they use D2L for an LMS so we're going to have to build that plugin. Benefit is, they're a 45k student uni, so potentially a nice deal there (we charge per student), going to push that integration through.
Lastly was utx (University Texas System https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Texas_System) who want to use us, want to get a PO sorted so they can get going and are getting back together with us next week...
I might not have any sleep, but it's starting to roll, which I just need to keep on going with!
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Oh ****... just got a train fine while traveling to work. lol! Was treated unfairly so I'm appealing against it!
Caporegime
Wow mate. That is insane! congrats on the new leads!
Hopefully... need to follow through with them all now and get them in and signed, but it's nice movement. I've decided it's all about the phoning people, too. Not enough people call any more and it's a big difference.
Just spoke to a uni in Adelaide (it was her Friday night now!) but talking again next week. Just building a call list now and will hammer that. Simple.
On a side note, I've been talking to a couple of mates out here about an idea/ product, let me pitch it to you:
Mailboxes. App & webapp. I have many accounts. 3 gmail accounts, one zoho, one fastmail, etc etc.
Now, I have most added to my gmail as iMap account etc. but it's not really a nice/ easy to manage experience.
We want a one mailbox experience. Where it's clearly defined which account is which, a clean super easy interface, that lets you seamlessly switch between accounts, yet see everything all in one place.
Be able to add social hooks to your space? Host your own mail in there, too?
One place for all your mail. One experience. A better one. Yksi.one *BOOOM* *KLAXON* etc etc. (yksi means one in Finnish, one of the guys is Finnish)
We're knocking up a prototype, to get the technical side locked down and then sort the simple design over the top.
Just spoke to a uni in Adelaide (it was her Friday night now!) but talking again next week. Just building a call list now and will hammer that. Simple.
On a side note, I've been talking to a couple of mates out here about an idea/ product, let me pitch it to you:
Mailboxes. App & webapp. I have many accounts. 3 gmail accounts, one zoho, one fastmail, etc etc.
Now, I have most added to my gmail as iMap account etc. but it's not really a nice/ easy to manage experience.
We want a one mailbox experience. Where it's clearly defined which account is which, a clean super easy interface, that lets you seamlessly switch between accounts, yet see everything all in one place.
Be able to add social hooks to your space? Host your own mail in there, too?
One place for all your mail. One experience. A better one. Yksi.one *BOOOM* *KLAXON* etc etc. (yksi means one in Finnish, one of the guys is Finnish
) We're knocking up a prototype, to get the technical side locked down and then sort the simple design over the top.
Hopefully... need to follow through with them all now and get them in and signed, but it's nice movement. I've decided it's all about the phoning people, too. Not enough people call any more and it's a big difference.
Just spoke to a uni in Adelaide (it was her Friday night now!) but talking again next week. Just building a call list now and will hammer that. Simple.
On a side note, I've been talking to a couple of mates out here about an idea/ product, let me pitch it to you:
Mailboxes. App & webapp. I have many accounts. 3 gmail accounts, one zoho, one fastmail, etc etc.
Now, I have most added to my gmail as iMap account etc. but it's not really a nice/ easy to manage experience.
We want a one mailbox experience. Where it's clearly defined which account is which, a clean super easy interface, that lets you seamlessly switch between accounts, yet see everything all in one place.
Be able to add social hooks to your space? Host your own mail in there, too?
One place for all your mail. One experience. A better one. Yksi.one *BOOOM* *KLAXON* etc etc. (yksi means one in Finnish, one of the guys is Finnish
We're knocking up a prototype, to get the technical side locked down and then sort the simple design over the top.
It's ALL about calling. So few people make the effort to pick up the phone that if you do, you already stand out.
If it helps, it sounds like lots of the struggles and late nights you're going through is exactly the same as some friends of mine did when they were in fairly early stage start ups (100-200 people, so much bigger but you get the idea). Finding that product/market fit is tiring and it can sometimes feel like you've nailed it but then the next week you realise you haven't.
Stick with it, it'll be worth it. The startup that my friends were involved in was just sold to Cisco for LOTS of money. It's all worth it.
Thanks Basher! That's exactly it, it's like a rollercoaster. You get this buzz as things start, but then the week later it's like ugh?! I just keep going, analyzing, measuring, testing things and most importantly keep pushing.
Definitely about calling too. We've become so bad at it. People are like "I've emailed him 5 times" just pick up the phone... I'm one for falling into this, too. So I can't say I'm not, but that's why I'm going direct. Like you say, you stand out much more.
I don't suppose that company was AppDynamics was it? EDIT, can't be. Well, if it was it went for $3.7Bil so you know lol
Definitely about calling too. We've become so bad at it. People are like "I've emailed him 5 times" just pick up the phone... I'm one for falling into this, too. So I can't say I'm not, but that's why I'm going direct. Like you say, you stand out much more.
I don't suppose that company was AppDynamics was it? EDIT, can't be. Well, if it was it went for $3.7Bil so you know lol
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You got it! I love listening to various sales podcasts and reading sales leaders blogs and it's amazing how many people still just don't get it. It's not even cold calling. It's doing your research, being relevant and having a real life conversation.
Yep, it was AppD. I'm lucky enough to be part of that now, too (I work in sales at Cisco).
Caporegime
This sounds like the promise of many other mail apps out there. The problem is it is rare for one to completely accommodate everything. The best I found was "PolyMail" - it's being worked on heavily and constantly improving.