Microsoft Vancouver is adding the equivalent of 10 large B.C. tech companies

And other ways to think about the company's recent hiring announcement.

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Microsoft Vancouver / Facebook

Microsoft announced that it’s adding more than 500 jobs to its Vancouver operations, bringing the company’s presence in the city to a whopping 1,700 employees spread across multiple offices. The roles will focus on key applications in “Intelligent Communications, Office, Azure, OneDrive, Web Experiences and mixed reality.”

Microsoft shared the news as part of a larger announcement of investments into Canadian innovation and growth, which also includes a new Azure Edge Zone in Vancouver.

  • Edge Zones are extensions of Microsoft Azure’s cloud services and are intended to place infrastructure near customers to support latency-sensitive workloads and improve connectivity to the world’s largest cloud, the company said.

  • The Vancouver Edge Zone will be complementary to existing Canadian Azure locations and will enable Western Canadian healthcare and public sector customers to address data residency and compliance requirements.

Contextualizing the scope of Microsoft’s hiring plans

Successive BC Technology Report Cards from the BC Tech Association note the threshold to be one of the largest 10% of tech companies in B.C. is an employee count of 50. Considering that fact, we can say that Microsoft Vancouver is adding the equivalent of 10 large tech companies to the province. And here’s another way to think about the announcement:

  • If B.C. tech workers earn on average $91,520 a year ($1,760 x 52 weeks, per BC Stats), then you could look at this as a minimum investment into talent worth north of $45 million.

  • (And if you want even more to think about… $45 million is seven and a half times the base budget of Innovate BC ($6.1 million), the provincial crown agency with a mandate to grow B.C.’s innovation economy… 🤔)

Okay, most of you are likely just wondering how to actually get one of those jobs. Don’t worry, we’ve got you.

How to land a job at Microsoft Vancouver

Pamela Saunders, the company’s local head of PR and social impact, shared this recent tip:

Twitter avatar for @notionportWilliam Johnson @notionport
If you’re looking for your next tech adventure... Image

Vancouver Tech Journal @vantechjournal

.@MicrosoftVan announces significant investments to further Canadian innovation and growth https://t.co/ForcpnY0EU

March 25th 2021

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In addition, Saunders is this week’s special guest on ‘Morning Coffee’, Vancouver Tech Journal’s weekly show on the Clubhouse app. Join us this Tuesday, March 30 at 9 am PST for an exclusive conversation with insights that you won’t hear anywhere else.

  • If you need an invitation to Clubhouse, please get in touch: william@vantechjournal.com

Twitter avatar for @vantechjournalVancouver Tech Journal @vantechjournal
Join us Tuesday morning on Clubhouse for a conversation with @pamelaSsaunders, @MicrosoftVan’s head of PR/Social Impact on the company’s recently announced investments into Vancouver’s tech sector, their hiring plans—and how to land a job there. Pamela Saunders (Microsoft Vancouver) on Morning Coffee - Vancouver TechTuesday, March 30 at 9:00am PDT with William Johnson, Ray Walia, Chris Hobbs, Casey Lau, Pamela Saunders, Dan Burgar. Every Tuesday, Vancouver tech leaders and special guests join to discuss the top tech stories/issues of the week. Special guest: Pamela Saunders, Head of PR & Social Impact, Microsof…joinclubhouse.com

March 26th 2021

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