Microsoft is one of the most popular and relevant tech companies in the world so it is not a surprise that getting a job in the firm can be difficult. Technology experts with college degrees get the most lucrative Microsoft jobs. If you are considering an unconventional education path, the first question in your head may be: does Microsoft hire bootcamp grads?
Luckily, Microsoft offers employment opportunities within the technology industry to coding bootcamp graduates. This article will show you which jobs at Microsoft are currently available for bootcamp grads. You will also get details about what employers think about bootcamp graduates, and how tech bootcamps prepare you for a job at Microsoft.
What Do Employers Think of Bootcamp Grads?
Employers within the tech industry and beyond have high regard for bootcamp graduates. Employers believe that these fast-paced institutions offer job-specific technical and soft skills required for people to thrive in the tech industry. The trust employers have in these bootcamp graduates has developed significantly over the last decade. Indeed, one of the biggest job resource sites in the world has been keeping close track of bootcamp industry trends.
In 2017, Indeed published a report of a survey it conducted to test how hiring managers feel about bootcamp camp graduates. The report stated that up to 72 percent of all hiring managers believed that bootcamp graduates are as qualified as computer science graduates.
About 12 percent of the respondents said that bootcamp program graduates are more qualified than computer science degree holders. The remaining 17 percent of employers believed that bootcamp education doesn’t prepare students as much as university programs do. These statistics explain the growth of bootcamps over the last five years.
Do Tech Companies Hire Bootcamp Grads?
Yes, major tech companies hire bootcamp graduates in most parts of the world, especially in the United States. Microsoft is just one of the popular tech giants that give bootcamp grads a chance. Other employers of bootcamp students and graduates are Google, Cisco, Facebook, Vroom, and Eventbrite.
A wide variety of high-paying companies that hire bootcamp grads also include Scribd, Vimeo, Razorfish, Progressive Insurance, Access Development, Granicus, Mobify, and Capital One Labs. A bootcamp grad may also find a wide range of tech roles within non-tech companies requiring programmers, data scientists, or project managers.
Does Microsoft Hire Bootcamp Grads?
Yes, Microsoft hires bootcamp grads through its apprenticeship program, Microsoft Leap. The Microsoft Leap program was launched in 2015 to make things easier for people who want a career in technology without having a college degree. The 16-week full-time program is available across various tech fields. Apprentices learn for four weeks and gain hands-on, practical experience for 12 weeks.
By the end of the program, all qualified candidates receive invitations to apply for jobs in technology that suit their skill set. If you get to this stage, you will still have to go through the rigorous interview process that direct job applicants experience. However, without this paid apprenticeship program for learning practical skills, it would be difficult for a bootcamp grad to get a job at Microsoft and launch a career in technology.
College Degrees vs Bootcamps: Which Option Better Prepares Students to Work at Microsoft?
A college degree is more likely to guarantee you a job at Microsoft than a bootcamp certificate of completion. While college graduates can apply directly to Microsoft and get high-paying jobs, bootcamp graduates have to go through the intense Microsoft Leap apprenticeship program to boost their technical skills first. Unfortunately, not everyone can get a four-year degree before the job application process.
Below is a list of how a university program and bootcamp experience can each prepare you for a career at Microsoft.
What Microsoft Looks For in an Employee
- Charisma. Microsoft needs influential people that aren’t just enthusiastic about their jobs but can also persuade others. Charisma is one of the most important qualities of a leader, along with effective communication and active listening.
- Adaptability. How quickly can you learn new technology and make adjustments from your existing professional routines? Microsoft spends a lot of resources on research and innovation so they can stay relevant in the industry. Therefore, the company wants people who can easily adapt.
- Technological Interest. You need to be naturally driven to technology, not chasing jobs in tech because of the possible financial compensation. During your interview at Microsoft, the interviewer will want to know your technical skills and interests.
- Collaboration. Microsoft places a lot of emphasis on providing a collaborative work environment where workers rely on each other like the vital parts of a living organism. You need to be someone who plays well with others, even if you are aiming for a tech job that doesn’t require consistent collaboration.
How a Degree Prepares You to Be the Perfect Microsoft Employee
- Combine Business and Tech. You can major in computer science or any other information technology department and minor in business. Microsoft has a business department that requires knowledge of business and technology. A computer science degree program allows you to get this knowledge.
- Learn from the Accredited Curriculum. Most universities are accredited by national regulatory bodies. Computer science, engineering, and other related fields also have programmatic accreditation. For most employers, including Microsoft, these accreditations hold a lot of sway because of the oversight they provide over the quality of education.
- Hands-on Internship Training. Microsoft has a 12-week internship program designed specifically for college students in their first and second years. The program allows students in computer science and related fields to experience more hands-on learning that boosts their resumes and makes them more ideal candidates for proper Microsoft jobs post-graduation.
- Demonstrating Intelligence and Determination. Microsoft is interested in employing highly intelligent people who are determined to make a difference. Getting into a technology program in a college, especially a prestigious college, and seeing it through shows that you are intelligent and determined.
How a Bootcamp Prepares You to Be the Perfect Microsoft Employee
- Demonstrates Grit. The best coding bootcamps, like Kenzie Academy, Fullstack Academy, and Lambda School, have incredibly exclusive enrollment processes and low acceptance rates. These programs are also intensive, and provide an immersive learning experience. Being a bootcamp alumnus who wants to launch a career in tech shows Microsoft that you have grit.
- In-Demand Skills. The traditional bootcamp model designs its curriculums based on the most in-demand skills in the tech industry, including Microsoft. Their curriculums are updated frequently to meet the current demands in the technology job market.
- Working Experience. The majority of bootcamp graduates already have bachelor’s degrees in other fields. These bootcamp graduates enter the bootcamp market because they want an accelerated option for penetrating the tech industry. With their existing career experience in any other industry, they will be more mentally equipped to handle the tech work environment compared to fresh college graduates.
- Portfolio Management. The best bootcamps make it their responsibility to provide real-world, hands-on technical training to breach the skills gap in tech. Instructors that provide guidelines for portfolio management are industry experts, not just educators. This makes it easier for job seekers to excel in the apprenticeship program and stand a chance in an actual full-time position.
What Microsoft Jobs Are Available to Bootcamp Grads?
There are many full-time jobs available on the Microsoft career page and most of them require a degree. As stated above, however, there are some jobs you can apply for as a bootcamp graduate as long as you have completed and passed the Microsoft Leap program. Learn about the annual salary of the role in Microsoft as compared to the industry average.
A bootcamp that has Microsoft as one of its hiring partners may also provide you with a more direct opportunity during your job search. Note that you will still need to complete the interview process.
| Microsoft Job Title | Average Microsoft Salary | Average Salary (US) | Best Bootcamp Option |
| Technical Product Manager | $134,495 | $114,436 | Simplilearn |
| Cyber Security Engineer | $132,558 | $112,974 | Evolve Security Academy |
| Software Engineer | $126,785 | $99,729 | Flatiron School |
| User Experience Designer | $125,062 | $98,816 | California State University, Long Beach UI/UX Design Bootcamp |
| Data Analyst | $94,356 | $67,294 | BrainStation |
Technical Product Manager
Members of the product management team play key roles in ensuring the smooth and efficient completion of projects at Microsoft. People who studied project management in bootcamps may apply for this role, as long as they have up to six months of professional project management experience. As a technical program management Leap graduate, you can apply for a full-time job in any Microsoft branch.
How Simplilearn Can Help You Become a Technical Product Manager at Microsoft
Microsoft provides training for future product managers before they are assimilated into the company’s workforce. However, you need some practical experience in the field, since the training is advanced and not for beginners. Simplilearn provides beginner-level certification training to people who want to explore a career in project management, and the training comes with a 100 percent money-back guarantee if it’s not satisfactory.
Cyber Security Engineer
Microsoft has a cyber security Leap pathway for bootcamp program graduates with a foundational knowledge of the subject. So, people who graduate from bootcamps and other non-traditional tech institutes can secure a cyber security position at the tech company if they pass the Leap program. As a cyber security analyst, you will work in the network security department at Microsoft, charged with mounting cyber defenses.
How Evolve Security Academy Can Help You Become a Cyber Security Engineer at Microsoft
Evolve Security Academy has a 20-week cybersecurity bootcamp program that comes with a 94 percent job placement rate. The bootcamp offers live online and in-person part-time options, depending on what suits you. Tuition could be $12,500 for the online courses or $14,500 for in-person, depending on the program you choose.
Software Engineer
Another technology path you can enter through the Microsoft Leap program is software engineering. Apart from the bootcamp camp certificate of completion, you will also need at least six months of professional experience as a software developer or engineer. If you are self-taught with no professional experience, you will need to provide a link to your project portfolio as evidence of your practical experience.
How Flatiron School Can Help You Become a Software Engineer at Microsoft
As one of the most reputable, exclusive, and largest bootcamps in the United States, Flatiron School is fully equipped to guide you on your journey to learning software engineering. Its immersive and online programs for software engineering run for about 15 weeks full-time or up to 60 weeks part-time. These online programs cover front-end development, back-end development, and back-end web APIs. You can learn more about this coding bootcamp’s programs by checking our Flatiron School review.
User Experience Designer
The user experience design apprenticeship program at Microsoft is accessible to anyone who already has bootcamp education in the field. Like the hiring practices with other Leap programs, you can apply for a job at Microsoft only after completing the paid apprenticeship. Also, the apprenticeship doesn’t guarantee you a full-time position at the tech company, but it helps your chances.
How a California State University, Long Beach UI/UX Design Bootcamp Can Help You Become a User Experience Designer at Microsoft
To be a successful user experience designer at Microsoft or any other technology company, you need more than design skills. You also need effective research, collaboration, prototyping, and product testing skills. You can get these practical skills during the 10-week full-time program at California State University, Long Beach UI/UX Design Bootcamp. The bootcamp program also covers HTML, CSS, and other key visual design technologies.
Data Analyst
Microsoft has jobs for data analysts without degrees, as long as they are self-taught or bootcamp certificate holders. You can try applying directly, but you will stand a much better chance if you complete data analytics training through Microsoft Leap first. If you are employed, you will be required to work with other data analysts to provide data-driven insight to your department.
How BrainStation Can Help You Become a Data Analyst at Microsoft
BrainStation is an ideal online bootcamp that offers several courses for those who want to explore careers in technology, including data analytics. The program offers a certificate of completion that doesn’t just allow you to work as a data analyst, but also lets you teach data analysis to others. Classes include basic Microsoft Excel, advanced Microsoft Excel, data collection, data cleaning, analysis strategy, and data problem-solving.
Can a Coding Bootcamp Get Me a Job at Microsoft?
Yes, the right coding bootcamp can help you get the knowledge you need to get a job at Microsoft. You can either enroll in the Microsoft Leap program or you can try applying for entry-level roles in your technology field. It is important that you attend a bootcamp that already has a verifiable track record of graduates working at Microsoft.
Does Microsoft Hire Bootcamp Grads? FAQ
Yes, graduates from coding bootcamps typically get hired in respective technology fields within the first six to 12 months after graduating, according to data from the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR). Because of their diverse backgrounds, bootcamp grads offer additional skills like analytics skills and interpersonal skills outside of their technical skills.
However, your chances of getting hired, the average salary you’ll earn, employment timeline, and the company you’re hired by depends on the bootcamp you attend. Some bootcamps are more reputable and have better technology industry connections than others, so you are more likely to get hired if you attend these bootcamps.
Yes, most employers, especially employers in the United States tech industry, recognize bootcamps as alternatives to traditional education. They see the bootcamp space as an ideal option for people who want to switch to a tech career without spending years getting a degree as a college student. However, most employers would prefer if the bootcamp industry had more oversight from national regulatory bodies.
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Yes, many coding bootcamps have a high graduate employment rate, with career service teams that actively help graduates get hired. However, not every bootcamp offers a job guarantee so the career service may not come with actual job offers. You will still have to apply for jobs and qualify for interviews on your own.
Coding bootcamp graduates make an average of $70,000 yearly. However, yearly salaries vary greatly based on specialization, location, and the reputation of the bootcamp provider. Some bootcamp graduates earn over $100,000 in their first jobs after the program while others earn as low as $50,000.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
