I’m a Software Engineer at Microsoft. I work on an incubation team that works to build experiences using software and hardware prototypes to define the next generation of Windows Devices and experiences. Previously at Microsoft, I was in a rotational program for college new hires where I got to try out two other roles. First, I was a Service Engineer working on two factor authentication with a focus on accessibility and usability. Second, I was a User Researcher for XBOX User Research on the Platform team. I went to a liberal arts college called Goucher College where I made my own major in Human Computer Interaction.
I believe that having a liberal arts degree has helped me in the technology sector, and hope that soon companies realize the power of a liberal arts degree.
Latest comments (74)
Hey Julie! I just changed from a computer science major to a liberal studies major due to the fact I have my associates in computer information systems. I honestly don’t want to program and code I honestly want to work on computers but not the programming part could you help me? I want to work for some companies but not the programming part! I will be graduating in December! My friends aren’t happy with me changing my degree it was just that computer science was giving me so many breakdowns I couldn’t do it anymore!
Hi Julie! Did you find that companies would try to place you in less technical roles because of your degree and communication abilities? If so, how did you handle it and stay technical?
Thankfully that has not happened, but if it did (and this is what I tell interns I mentor), I would put a technical spin on whatever I was working on. For example, in my last role as a User Researcher, they were doing a lot of labeling and data collection by hand, so I automated it with a script. This freed up researchers time to do stuff that was actually beneficial.
Any role whether you like it or not can be turned into something you enjoy. A girl I mentored didn't like her role, and wanted to do Data Science, so I told her to take what she was working on it and find a way to apply data science to it, and then make it. Obviously, this should not take up all of your time, but if you can do it and show it, are they really going to get mad?
I believe about 80% of the time it is better to ask for forgiveness.
I was wondering if any non-traditional courses for a software engineer have helped you as a developer?
Writing classes have definitely helped.
I also took an Organizational Behavior class that has helped with being in a workplace and what not.
Hey awesome co-worker and fellow BA major!! What group do you roll up into at MS? (WDG - Web Platform (WPT) for me)
Also would you share what side projects you are working on in addition to what you are working on right now?
WDG Quad.
No side projects at the moments. And cool top secret stuff
Hi Julie! As a non CS degree major, I can relate with your story (aviation here). What are some the things you do to network with other developers/like minded people?
Twitter. I am addicted to Twitter. I just started following people who I thought were interesting, and replying to people, and I found friends.
Exactly what I did. Amazing the gems you can find that way.
Awesome. I'm just getting into Twitter now, I wish I knew about these people before, I got some serious role models now! :)
Gonna follow you on twitter too :D
I post a lot of ridiculous non relevant things. So be prepared
What was your interviewing experience like at Microsoft? Are there any areas of study you would suggest emphasizing over others? Thanks!
My interview experience was pretty standard. I recommend checking out the many online resources and books on interviews, they will help. Areas to focus on is very dependent on role and who is interviewing you. When I interview, I look for thought process and passion most of all.
Thank you for the reply!
Hi Julie! 👋 Fellow liberal arts grad here 😊
I'm curious to know if there has been one (or many!) thing from your liberal arts degree that has helped you immensely in your role at Microsoft/in STEM in general? Like you, I feel that my liberal arts degree has make me uniquely qualified for certain things in my job, and allows me to bring something special to the table. Is there anything you can point to in your experiences that are in the similar vein?
Hello!
I WRITE SO MUCH. I write emails, I will soon be writing patents, I write documents, I write code reviews. The amount of writing I do, lends itself to a Liberal Arts degree, because I know how to write. I sent an email to someone very high up once at Microsoft, and my manager freaked out. He saw the email and was stunned at how eloquent it was, I was not sure if I was supposed to be offended or not.
I don't think it is noticed to much now, but I think in the future of my career, my ability to write will be a huge strength.
Your degree and abilities are really well-rounded. Do you get to use that well-roundedness often in your work, do you ever wish you could more? What would you change about software engineering, if you could?
I feel like with my current team I absolutely get that chance. If I could change anything about software engineering it would be interactions with users. I think the biggest thing software engineering is missing is empathy. We in the tech community live in a very different world than everyone else, and I think that sometimes gets forgotten.
I totally agree. I actually made a similar point in a different thread awhile back discussing how to improve communication between software engineers and their business-minded colleagues, though it is definitely just as applicable to interactions with users.
HCI seems like a very design-centric degree, in addition to the obvious tech and science challenges. Do you ever design things in your day-to-day, or on side projects? What are your go-to tools?
Hey Cassidy! We should hang out soon!
I really don't do side projects, because I feel like my daily job is just making things.
Tools that I love include: Sketch, atom.io (which you told me about), and Pixelmator.
I hope that in the new year I can scratch that creative muscle again.
We should! I'm starting to actually have free time again, ha!
I'll be curious to see the things you make!
Wooo!
And me too! Maybe we will make something together. I have never been good at making stuff on my own, I like a collaborative effort.
I just want to share that I also do not drink coffee.
I only drink coffee that doesn't taste like coffee. So like mochas and ridiculously sweet Starbucks drinks. It is very hard living in Seattle and not being a coffee drinker. There are a lot of judgy looks.
grande java chip frappcuino - 2 pumps extra ice light whip with skim milk plz
..same 😅