- Jobs at Microsoft are highly sought-after, but many entry-level positions don’t require a college degree.
- The company avoids ruling out applicants based on prior credentials, focusing instead on soft skills and a willingness to learn.
- According to executives, this approach helps bolster diversity at Microsoft.
- Microsoft is one of several major tech companies to widen its hiring practices in an effort to recruit from a more diverse talent base.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Landing a job at Microsoft without a college degree is within reach – even if your name isn’t Bill Gates.
That’s because, for many entry-level positions, Microsoft doesn’t require that candidates hold a college degree, instead encouraging anyone who believes they’re a good fit to apply.
Microsoft executives spoke to Business Insider about the reasons for that practice. They said the decision not to require certain credentials for entry-level jobs allows Microsoft to recruit from a broader talent base, and ultimately builds a more diverse workforce at the company.
“If you have the same people who have the same STEM degree and same background and everything, they’re not going to be able to solve all our problems,” CVP of cybersecurity solutions Ann Johnson told Business Insider. “If you have people that come in with a lot of different backgrounds, they can actually think differently.”
Microsoft isn't the only major tech company eschewing traditional expectations for job requirements. Google and Apple have broadcasted a similar policy of accepting job applications from anyone regardless of their educational background, as the broader tech industry grapples with combatting its chronic lack of diversity.
Here's what executives had to say about Microsoft's policy of accepting applications from anyone for entry-level jobs, regardless of degree.
Most entry-level jobs at Microsoft can pay anywhere from $60,000 to over $130,000, according to listings on Glassdoor.
Source: Glassdoor