Insights for Permanent Microsoft professionals
What do hiring managers look for in a Microsoft candidate during a job interview?
| Willingness to learn | 61% |
| Positive attitude | 59% |
| The ability to demonstrate their skills | 44% |
| Communication | 44% |
| Passion | 43% |
| Cultural fit | 41% |
| Integrity | 31% |
| Creativity | 28% |
| An understanding of the role | 26% |
| Openness to new approaches | 25% |
| Willingness to learn | 61% |
| Positive attitude | 59% |
| The ability to demonstrate their skills | 44% |
| Communication | 44% |
| Passion | 43% |
| Cultural fit | 41% |
| Integrity | 31% |
| Creativity | 28% |
| An understanding of the role | 26% |
| Openness to new approaches | 25% |
It’s no surprise that employers value a willingness to learn—especially considering that 64% (see our ‘Insights for hiring managers’ page) told us that upskilling their workforce is their main strategy to stay competitive. This makes it more important than ever to showcase any additional training or skills you’ve acquired throughout your career and to emphasize your commitment to continuous learning and growth.
The journey to success – job hunting timelines, interviews and offers
The hiring managers that took part in our survey tell us that there are, on average, three steps to the hiring process at their organization. This includes an initial application, a number of interviews, and in some cases a competency test. Similarly, recent candidates completed an average of three interview stages for their current role.
Five weeks
Microsoft professionals shared that, on average, it took them five weeks to secure their current role, with 17% spending over 12 weeks on their job search.
Four interviews
Two offers
LinkedIn poll
Factors that impact your earning potential
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of technical experience with Microsoft products | 92% | 6% | 2% |
| Exposure to large projects | 86% | 10% | 4% |
| Years of experience in IT | 83% | 11% | 6% |
| Specific vertical industry experience | 67% | 25% | 7% |
| Microsoft certifications | 56% | 27% | 17% |
| Working with AI | 54% | 28% | 18% |
Years of technical experience with Microsoft products
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 92% | 6% | 2% |
Exposure to large projects
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 86% | 10% | 4% |
Years of experience in IT
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 83% | 11% | 6% |
Specific vertical industry experience
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 67% | 25% | 7% |
Microsoft certifications
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 56% | 27% | 17% |
Working with AI
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 54% | 28% | 18% |
- Demonstratable project experience
- A track record of your performance and achievements
- Good interpersonal skills
- The ability to communicate and negotiate with business leaders and decision-makers
- Proven leadership or management skills
- Networking abilities to build professional connections
- PMP certification, training, or project management experience
- The ability to market your skills and experience effectively to clients and employers
Want to find out what you could be earning and compare your salary against your peers?
Expert Insight
As we observe this shift over the next five years, we can anticipate the cloud landscape to evolve towards greater ubiquity and become more specialized, emphasizing multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies necessitating skills in cloud orchestration and interoperability. As organizations continue to adopt cloud technologies to drive innovation and efficiency, skill sets essential to have on your teams will include:
- Cloud architecture and design
- AI and machine learning
- Platform engineering, DevOps and automation
- Cybersecurity
- Data analytics
- Networking
For professionals looking to get ahead in their cloud careers, continuous learning is crucial. Engaging with courses and working towards vendor-specific certifications is a great way to keep your finger on the pulse, ensuring you stay agile in adopting new tools and up-to-date with how cloud solutions drive business value.
Just make sure that you’re also gaining sufficient practical experience. Contributing to open-source projects, building a portfolio, and using free tiers or sandbox environments, particularly with platforms like Microsoft Azure, will enhance skill sets and ensure you remain on the cutting edge.
But it’s not just your technical know-how that’s vital for success. Developing soft skills and networking within the community through forums and conferences can open up invaluable new career opportunities, so don’t let these pass you by!
By focusing on these areas, professionals will be well-prepared to navigate the dynamic field of cloud computing and adaptive technologies, positioning themselves for future growth and innovation in this ever-exciting field.
Read more from Thomas on how to advance your career in the Cloud in our blog
What’s on offer in the jobs market?
Are Microsoft professionals experiencing pay increases?
Almost two-thirds (65%) of Microsoft professionals received a salary increase from their current employer in the past year.
-
0-5% pay increase 47% -
6-10% pay increase 29% -
11-15% pay increase 7% -
16-20% pay increase 6% -
21-25% pay increase 3% -
26-30% pay increase 5% -
More than 30% pay increase 3%
Why did end user employees receive a pay increase?
| I received an incremental pay increase | 60% |
| I received a performance-related increase | 29% |
| I received a promotion | 13% |
| My organization is more profitable now than it was 12 months ago | 5% |
| Greater demand for Microsoft professionals has increased my market value, and my employer wants to keep me | 3% |
| There's a lack of Microsoft talent in the market and my employer wants to keep me | 3% |
| More opportunities for remote work have increased my job options, and my employer wants to keep me | 2% |
| My organization made staffing cuts and I have taken on more work | 2% |
| Other | 10% |
Why did partner employees receive a pay increase?
| I received an incremental pay increase | 45% |
| I received a performance-related increase | 39% |
| I received a promotion | 27% |
| Greater demand for Microsoft professionals has increased my market value, and my employer wants to keep me | 16% |
| There's a lack of Microsoft talent in the market and my employer wants to keep me | 6% |
| I gained an additional Microsoft certification | 5% |
| Increased opportunities for remote work have increased my job options, and my employer wants to keep me | 3% |
| My organization made staffing cuts, and I have taken on more work | 3% |
| My organization offered staff pay increases due to an increased workload | 3% |
| Increased demand for Microsoft services means my organization has more clients than a year ago | 2% |
| Other | 3% |
Did your salary change when you last switched jobs?
71%
15%
No, my salary stayed the same
6%
8%
On average, individuals who obtained a salary increase after changing jobs saw a 20% rise in earnings.
Are employees negotiating pay increases?
66%
32%
4%
The majority (83%) of employees who attempted to negotiate a raise were successful, and earned a 14% pay increase on average.
Why have some employees never negotiated a pay increase?
- My organization offers regular performance-based pay increases
- I feel uncomfortable or lack the confidence to ask for a pay rise
- It’s not acceptable to ask for a pay rise in my organization or country
- My employer provides regular incremental pay increases/pay reviews
- I’m happy with my compensation
- I changed employers rather than negotiating
Would you rather look for a new role than negotiate with your employer for a higher salary?
Counteroffers
A counteroffer is an offer made by your employer to persuade you to reconsider your resignation. Almost half (46%, down from 50% in our previous study) of professionals have received a counteroffer after resigning from a role.
What are employees offered as a counteroffer?
| Salary increase | 86% |
| Promotion | 31% |
| Training and development opportunities | 14% |
| Retention bonus | 10% |
| Bonus | 10% |
| Remote working | 10% |
| Flexible working hours | 9% |
| Shares in the company | 6% |
| Additional paid time off | 4% |
| Commission | 1% |
| Employer paid for certifications | 0% |
| Other | 4% |
On average, those who received a salary increase as part of their counteroffer received an 18% raise.
Under a third (29%, down from 35% in our previous survey) of respondents who received a counteroffer accepted it.
Rewards and recognition
A competitive salary is no longer the only priority for candidates in today’s job market. Professional development, effective leadership, and a need to explore new challenges remain high on the list when tech specialists consider new roles. This means employers must offer more than just a well-crafted compensation package to secure top talent.
Additionally, providing meaningful perks that enhance employees’ quality of life can significantly boost an organization’s chances of attracting skilled professionals in a market where demand far exceeds supply.
In this section, we’ll explore the perks and benefits Microsoft professionals currently receive so that you can see how your employer measures up.
What employee benefits are Microsoft professionals receiving?
90%
80%
56%
55%
Flexible working hours
| Bonus (monthly/biannual/year-end bonus) | 54% |
| Training and development opportunities | 46% |
| Casual dress policy | 42% |
| Retirement savings plan/401(k) match/pension contributions | 42% |
| Life insurance | 38% |
| Four weeks or more paid time off | 36% |
| Bonus (monthly/biannual/year-end bonus) | 54% |
| Training and development opportunities | 46% |
| Casual dress policy | 42% |
| Retirement savings plan/401(k) match/pension contributions | 42% |
| Life insurance | 38% |
| Four weeks or more paid time off | 36% |
How many employers are offering remote working?
Average working hours
The average working week for full-time permanent employees is 42 hours—with 1% of respondents telling us they work over 60 hours a week—and part time employees averaging 19 hours.
Discover further insights on the future of the workplace and remote working.
Paid time off by region
Professionals working in a permanent role tell us that they receive, on average, 23 days of paid time off (PTO) a year.
Paid time off (PTO) varies significantly from country to country due to differing employment laws and minimum leave requirements. However, as companies compete for talent, PTO has become a key negotiation tool.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen the levels offered to Microsoft professionals change, even in regions where PTO is a legal requirement and staff are guaranteed leave. This is likely a response from companies to employees’ desire for better work-life balance, particularly in such a notoriously hardworking sector as tech.
France
Germany
Belgium
Netherlands
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Canada
Spain
Italy
Australia
United States
Conclusion
A massive 90% of Microsoft professionals are offered some degree of remote working, with only one in ten working in-office five days a week and 41% working entirely remotely. This strong preference for flexible work arrangements indicates that organizations not providing remote or hybrid work options are in the minority and may be at a disadvantage in attracting talent. Additionally, businesses that offer above-average paid leave stand out in a talent market increasingly driven by work-life balance considerations.
