After 50 Rejections, Seattle Man Lands Two Microsoft Job Offers

Benjamin Phillips, 26, finally got his dream job at Microsoft after a 15-month job search and over 50 rejections.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:39am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a polished Microsoft Surface Pro tablet and a small Minecraft figurine arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, representing the abstract concepts of technology, gaming, and career achievement.A Microsoft Surface Pro tablet and a Minecraft figurine symbolize the career journey of a determined job seeker who landed his dream role at the tech giant.Oxford Today

Benjamin Phillips, a 26-year-old from Seattle, landed two job offers from Microsoft at the same time after facing over 50 rejections during a 15-month job search. Phillips, who had dreamed of working at Microsoft since playing Xbox as a child, finally broke through by networking on LinkedIn, completing Microsoft certifications, and getting a referral from a former executive on the Minecraft team.

Why it matters

Phillips' story highlights the perseverance and creative strategies needed to land a coveted job at a major tech company like Microsoft, which receives thousands of applications for each open position. His experience also showcases the power of networking and building relationships, even with people you don't know, to uncover hidden job opportunities.

The details

After graduating from Miami University and earning an MBA, Phillips returned to the US in 2024 and focused his job search on Microsoft. He set up email alerts for non-technical roles at the company and applied for his first position, a business marketing role, but was rejected. Facing over 50 rejections, Phillips tried to improve his resume, made it more metrics-focused, and started cold-networking on LinkedIn, messaging anyone he could find at Microsoft. He eventually connected with a former Microsoft Minecraft executive on LinkedIn, who gave him a heads-up on an open role on the Minecraft team. While waiting to hear back, Phillips completed every Microsoft certification he could find on LinkedIn. In April 2025, after 15 months of silence and rejection, Phillips received two Microsoft job offers at the same time - one for the Surface Pro team and one for the Minecraft team, the role his LinkedIn connection had alerted him to.

  • In late 2024, Phillips connected on LinkedIn with a former Microsoft Minecraft executive.
  • By early 2025, Phillips had received more than 50 rejections from Microsoft.
  • In April 2025, Phillips received two Microsoft job offers at the same time.

The players

Benjamin Phillips

A 26-year-old Seattle resident who landed two job offers with Microsoft after a 15-month job search and over 50 rejections.

Microsoft

The American multinational technology company that Phillips had dreamed of working for since playing Xbox as a child.

Minecraft

The popular video game that is part of Microsoft's gaming division, and the team that Phillips ultimately joined at the company.

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What they’re saying

“When I got the Minecraft offer, it was my birthday weekend. I broke down, cried, and praised God.”

— Benjamin Phillips, Microsoft Business Program Manager

What’s next

Phillips will begin his new role on the Minecraft team at Microsoft in the coming weeks, where he will be responsible for business-facing aspects of the popular video game.

The takeaway

Phillips' story demonstrates the importance of persistence, creative networking, and leveraging connections in the job search process, even when facing repeated rejection. His experience highlights the competitive nature of landing roles at major tech companies like Microsoft, but also shows that with the right strategies, job seekers can ultimately achieve their career goals.