Can I get a job at MS without a degree?

From Microsoft:

Microsoft has always prided itself on finding the best talent anywhere, regardless of where it comes from. Yes, we do a lot of recruiting on college campuses and that gets a lot of press. But we also spend a great deal of time scouring resumes, job fairs, industry events and shows looking for people with great talent. In the beginning a degree can be important. CS grads know the basics, know the theory, and have a head start when it comes to our entry-level jobs. On a foundational level, that is a good thing. But once you are out of school and working in the industry, experience is critical. I recruit for the Core OS Division. This is the group within MSFT that ensures all of the deep kernel processes of the OS work seamlessly. We need incredibly talented, technically-deep engineers to solve some of the toughest computer science problems there are. When I am reviewing resumes, I ask the following questions:

* What do you want to do?
* What have you done so far?
* Have you grown in each experience?
* Are there any gaps in your experience?
* Have you taken any risks?
* What degree do you have?
* What school did you attend?

School is important, but it's only one thing -- and as you can see from this list, it's more of a data point than a barrier to entry. Be honest in your resume, target and limit the amount of jobs you apply to and make sure they match your skills, abilities and experience -- and then do your homework. Once you are in the interview process (phone interview, tech interview, face-to-face) your educational background will not be a primary part of the evaluation. Can you code? Can you solve challenging problems? Can you work effectively with a team? Can you resolve conflict? Can you make others great? Can you contribute and grow? These are the questions we seek to answer.

P.S. – I can think of at least one relatively successful Microsoftie that famously did not get a degree: Bill Gates.

Apply away and see you on campus soon.