Wahoo!!
Over 2 months and 5 interviews later, I was overjoyed to receive an employment offer from Microsoft to become a SharePoint Premier Field Engineer based out of Irvine, CA. I’ve been numb and ecstatic about the opportunity since seeing the email on Monday that I didn’t even know what to do with myself for awhile.
In case you’re wondering what a PFE does, here’s the job description from the Microsoft Careers website:
The purpose of the Premier Field Engineer (PFE) position is to provide Microsoft customers with reliable technical solutions to the complex integration problems associated with business solutions built using Windows SharePoint Services, SharePoint Portal Server and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. Typical tasks performed in this role include specific problem isolation and correction, conducting application design and technical reviews, performance tuning, application stability consulting/troubleshooting, code reviews, porting/migration assistance, configuration/administration management, pre-rollout testing and general development consulting. The prospective PFE candidate should draw upon all resources at Microsoft, to advise and consult on the use of Microsoft SharePoint Technologies to avoid such problems in the future.
The PFE position requires a long list of technology experience or demonstrated understanding of these technologies. The ideal PFE skill set is grounded in a solid understanding of the Microsoft Windows platform. From this foundation, the PFE position is exposed to many technologies, including but not limited to: Windows SharePoint Services, SharePoint Portal Server, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, IIS, SQL Server, development with .NET languages, XML and Scripting technologies, and data access technologies. Practical user mode debugging is a preferred skill, but not required.
Candidates must have exceptional customer service, problem solving, and communication skills, and the ability to work in a team environment. Must have sufficient technical depth to communicate with development and other internal organizations at a peer level as well as convey technical concepts to non-technical individuals. Must possess the ability to work with minimal supervision and operate as a self contained business unit within the Premier Field Engineering team. Must have the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Strong business background in Fortune 500 and/or experience with systems technology consulting firm desired.
Overnight travel is required. Travel requirements vary regionally and could be as much as 40-70%. Candidates must possess current passport or be able to obtain passport within 90 days of hire. They must be available for travel dispatch 24x7x365.
Education: College degree, preferably in Computer Science, is required. MCTS in SharePoint Technologies or other applicable advanced certification is strongly preferred, but not required at hire; however, must be obtained within 12 months of hire. Will consider related field (or equivalent) experience.
I’m going to be shipped out to Redmond for 3 weeks of training starting September 21 so this blog will be pretty quiet and comments may not recieve timely responses as I’ll have to spend most of my time wrapping up current projects. But next time, you can expect to see a post about my PFE interview experience! 🙂
The SharePoint Swiss Army Knife 
Congratulations…! Wish you all the success in your job…
Congratulations 🙂 I also know a lot about those 5 interviews 😀 I am also a bit jealous because you’ll now “Drink from a firehose” as Scott Hanselman said once.
CONGRATULATIONS Henry! That is great news to read.
Keep posting as you can, perhaps the “experience of Redmond” could be something…
Welcome to the team buddy!
Have fun… and get ready to do RAP’s 🙂
Thanks for the words guys!
Uh oh… I’m almost afraid to find out what RAP’s are now… haha. :p
Hi
I am planning to apply for SharePoint PFE position. Can you tell more details on what the interview process was? Also, SharePoint uses various technologies, how deep one has to be in these technologies. How much development background is needed?
PK
Hey PK, I don’t remember specific dev questions but you do have to know how to fix problems that are potentially caused by developers like memory leaks and how that affects the system as a whole. Otherwise most of it was SharePoint-centric but you’d also have to show knowledge of all the technologies that make up a SharePoint farm.
So basically if you can stand up a farm(s) from scratch, know what every link in central admin and the SSP does, can create a WSP file from scratch, and have knowledge of dev best practices, you should be good to go 🙂
Thank you!
My brother in law would love this post. We were not too long ago talking about this. hehe
Hi hun, great site! I really like this post.. I was curious about this for a while now. This cleared a lot up for me! Do you have a rss feed that I can add?
Howdy. 1st I desire to say that I really like your weblog, just determined it the past week but I have been following it sometimes since then.
I seem to be to agree with most of your respective thinkings and opinions and this submit is no exception.
Thank you to get a good webpage and I hope you hold up the very good work. If you do I will continue to browse through it.
Use a fantastic evening.
Where can you get good copywriting classes? I hate it when I am stuck without any idea on how to write good copy for ads. My boss tells me that my choice of words aren’t good enough, or my words are too complex, or I don’t have the tone of the people I’m speaking to.. I mean, what the hell? As long as I’m writing good copy with interesting words, isn’t it enough? Maybe I need copywriting lessons. So, any idea where I can get copywriting lessons from an expert?
Congrats Henry. I’m actually looking to hire 4 Sharepoint PFE’s here in Dallas and 2 in Houston to work for a consulting firm hired by Microsoft. After 6 months you’ll have the ability to be a full time “badged” Microsoft employee. If you’re looking to join Microsoft this is a great way in.
If you know any “clones” of yourself that are also interested in the SharePoint PFE position then I’d love to hear from them. My email is shenry@bravotech.com Thanks!
Hey Henry.. I also have an onsite interview with Microsoft for the position of Premier Field Engineer. Can you kindly help me prepare for the same… and give an idea of the onsite interview is like.
I have the same question. I was asked for an interview as Premier Field Engineer, but it wasn’t specific as to what I will be doing. Unlike yours, Henry, Sharepoint PFE, will our PFE (non-specified) be general?
@richard: when do you have your interview.. even my interview is non specific PFE position unlike mentioned by Henry.
thanks.
Hi
Congratulation onjob offer.
What did you had in your trchnocal interviju?
How good was person you had in your interviju.
Wanna share some information?
Thanks