Starting At Microsoft

There’s a condition that afflicts many innocent, hard-working people around the world every day. Its victims suffer from light sensitivity, disorientation, lethargy, sleep deprivation, and depression. There is no cure, but some drugs temporarily alleviate its symptoms. Many people manage to live somewhat normal lives through proper treatment. I’m referring, of course, to waking up before 9 AM, which I had to do all this week and expect to continue doing until my body gives out. Please donate to my relief fund.

I started my job at Microsoft on Monday. Monday and half of Tuesday were spent attending orientation, where I and other new employees were introduced to Microsoft the company, Microsoft the paycheck giver, Microsoft the health benefits giver, Microsoft the ethical enterprise, and the like. We were also issued our employee badges and e-mail addresses. I’m now an official Microsoft newbie!

I reported to my building on Tuesday and couldn’t find my manager. Eventually I found some people I had met when I visited there before I had decided to accept the job offer, and we went out to lunch at the cafeteria near our building. The food was decent, but not great, and there seemed to be a good variety. I’ll probably get sick of it all eventually, but right now it’s all good. After lunch, my colleagues (I have colleagues…weird) found my office and my manager. It turned out I had to move my computer, which was still in boxes, across the street and set up temporarily there. Moving and setting up my computer took the rest of the day. I’ve spent the rest of my time since then arranging things in my office and configuring software on my computer. It’s a long, slow process; I won’t be done setting up until next week.

I immediately liked my office mate, Varun (rhymes with maroon); my development lead (my immediate boss), Joel; and my manager (my boss’s boss), Dwayne. The team members that I’ve met so far have been open and friendly too, so all in all, everything is off to a good start, I think.

It’s exciting to sense the intelligence and capability that I’m surrounded by now. I was thrilled by a conversation I had today with a team member about functional programming. I’m not used to being around other people who share my passions and interests, especially within computation.