Recruiting top marketing talent

Despite a continuing downturn in the job market, most businesses are still looking and competing for employees with topnotch marketing skills.

That's true at Microsoft Corp., the Redmond,Wash., software giant, which runs its licensing division out of Reno.

"Our big focus this year is increasing our marketing talent," said Jennifer Sloan senior marketing recruiter at Microsoft.

Sloan will be outlining Microsoft's recruiting best practices on October 16 at a luncheon sponsored by the Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Marketing Association.

"I will be talking about a day in the life of a marketing recruiter at Microsoft, explaining how it works and what we look for in a resume," said Sloan last week.

She said the software maker primarily looks for people with what she calls strong outbound marketing skills including lead generation and product launches.

The company, which can have its pick of the litter in most job areas, also looks for an MBA from a top business school.

Preference is also given to candidates with a background in high technology or consumer products.

Just as important, though, she said, "We look for people who a proven career path and big results in the roles they've held." Microsoft also works to keep its marketing talent educated.

The company has developed a program with Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management to keep training its marketing employee.

Currently, Microsoft is trying to fill about 220 marketing jobs, said Sloan.

That compares to about 2,700 job openings throughout the company throughout the world.

None of those marketing positions are in Reno, though, she said.

So how did Sloan end up as a speaker for AMA's northern Nevada chapter? "I attended the AMA annual meeting in Boston and met people from various chapters there," said Sloan.

"I had dinner with and then flew back West with someone from the Reno chapter.

And they asked me to do it."

The luncheon is being held on the second floor convention center of Harrah's in Reno starting at noon.

Admission is $18 for AMA members, $24 for the general public and $16 for students.

The AMA can be reached at 786-3030 or online at www.amannv.com.