Engaging with the next generation of technical talent

In April 2025, students from Hoffman Estates High School explored technical roles on Career Day with Microsoft volunteers. Through a discussion panel, the volunteers talked about career opportunities available at the Microsoft datacenter, ranging from operations and engineering to IT and sustainability roles.

The students were fully engaged and asked questions on how they can prepare now to become top candidates in the future. The panelists, who work in Microsoft datacenter operations, shared requirements on skills, experiences, and mindsets that can help the students stand out.

One of the highlights was having the panelists share their unique and sometimes unconventional paths to Microsoft, and how their journeys have evolved since joining the team. It was a great reminder to students that there’s no single route to success—just passion, persistence, and a willingness to learn when an opportunity presents itself.

Through the Career Day spotlight on datacenter technical roles, the Hoffman Estates students gained a greater understanding of the pathways to network with datacenter employees and a vision of how to enter the tech workforce as they complete their education.