Microsoft Market Consultant

Do you have a passion for using Microsoft technology to empower consumers through the use of incredible and transformative products? The U.S. Retail Sales and Marketing Team is looking for Microsoft Market Consultant to promote the extraordinary Microsoft ecosystem within Microsoft Windows Stores located in Best Buy. We're looking for high-energy people who thrive on delivering the best customer experience possible. Warm and casual, yet knowledgeable and current, we live to delight our customers every time they visit. The Microsoft Windows Store Consultants are individuals who love to interact with people to revolutionize the Microsoft brand at Best Buy. We’re looking for someone who has fanaticism for Microsoft technologies and the ability to convert retail employees and customers into fanatical brand advocates of the Microsoft ecosystem. You will have to be someone who loves to influence, shape and design outcomes to help Microsoft compete and win! Microsoft will discover potential you didn’t know you had, push your limits, and inspire you to make a real impact on the industry and the world!

As a Microsoft Market Consultant, you will wear many hats and serve as a trainer, educator, event consultant and product expert to both customers and employees at Best Buy. You will manage and support the training, merchandising, events, and operations of the Microsoft product ecosystem within Best Buy. Representing Microsoft and working in our Windows Stores at Best Buy puts you at the center of the customer shopping experience and your role will span many facets of the retail experience. You will be expected to build relationships, earn the trust of employees and customers alike as you engage, educate, excite and empower those around you. You will support and manage the Microsoft business across up to five stores, aligning training and business needs accordingly. Being able to educate through demonstration, training and product evangelism techniques will have to be what you love to do every day!

The typical work schedule runs Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday off.

Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to acheieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to reealize our shared goals. Each day we buildon our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to posibitively impact our culture every day. 

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent AND 3+ years retail experience
  • OR Bachelor's Degree AND 1+ year(s) retail experience.
• 1+ years' experience with end to end customer service/people rapport building skills, both 1:1 and in a group environment.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent AND 5+ years retail experience
  • OR Bachelor's Degree AND 3+ years leadership retail experience AND 1+ year(s) multi-unit experience.
• Remote multi-unit support and/or managerial experience
• Experience with Microsoft Products and/or technologies. 
• Teaching or training experience
• Prior experience selling technology or other consumer products

Partner Store Market Consulting ATR-D - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $30.53 - $51.73 per hour. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $37.26 - $54.62 per hour.

Learn more about base pay ranges and pay equity: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-retail-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until October 13th, 2025.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.

Data Analysis

• Monitors incoming data (e.g., individual unit sale contributions, store environment index, customer service net promoter scores, other key performance indicators (KPI)), and provides results to internal and external retail store contacts. Identifies trends in the data and makes targeted improvement plans that address sales performance gaps. Performs routine audits of sales performance, operations, and training via store visit report.

Collaboration

• Partners with internal and external teams to align and execute sales strategies, visual merchandising (e.g., placement, signage), and knowledge base. Probes retail staff and leadership (e.g., General Manager and District Manager) to better understand potential improvements for store performance and sales culture, and takes required actions to meet goals. Partners with internal peers and external stakeholders to ask/share best practices and review performance. Partners with staff within the coverage area to plan for the coming year.

Educate Staff

• Develops and facilitates onboarding and training sessions to instill a sales culture within and/or outside of retail store locations. Evaluates Microsoft Expert coachings and follows the rhythm of the contract between the retail partner and Microsoft. Engages in side-by-side selling (e.g., observing sales staff), coaching, and role playing with retail staff to improve sales interactions, provide better customer service, and increase unit sales. Ensures others can evangelize the Microsoft brand. Explains the performance metrics, the reasons behind the numbers, and coaches sales staff in stores and virtually as needed to boost unit sales. Develops and facilitates training on product knowledge at Microsoft locations. Analyzes business, partners with store leadership, and facilitates morning trainings on product knowledge for departments or stores.

Growth Mindset

• Asks for and integrates supervisory, peer, and partner feedback, seeks mentorship, shadows experienced staff, and provides/receives peer-to-peer accountability. Pursues up-to-date knowledge about Microsoft ecosystems and Windows store execution and the retailer’s sales culture and goals. Plans additional development time (e.g., development plan, stretch assignment) to improve performance. Networks by attending events and proactively reaches out to internal and external stakeholders.

Influencing Without Authority

• Adapts communication style for each sales and leadership level to align strategies, garner buy in, and increase sales. Establishing oneself as a creditable partner and subject matter expert, reviews performance outcomes (e.g., profitability, customer satisfaction), and helps instill new behaviors in retail sales staff and peers to drive accountability. Ensures a balance partner and Microsoft priorities.

Manage a Portfolio of Stores

• Partners with the retail leadership staff at the store and market levels daily to craft, understand, and execute the strategic plans for each store within a coverage area. Identifies trends in successfully performing stores and adjusts schedule to maintain growth and manage gaps of low-performing stores to increase revenue. Aligns Microsoft goals and execution strategies with those of the retailer’s leadership team. Prioritizes time between store locations both physically and virtually to ensure sales success across all locations. Consistently supports and openly communicates with retail store leadership partners and quickly responds to questions from retail partner.

Problem Solving

• Determines root causes of problems and devises solutions. Observes retail staff to understand how they could be positioning Microsoft better or selling more units, and builds strategies while providing feedback so staff can meet these goals. Reviews scorecards and ensures staff communications are ideal. Escalates and follows up on a variety merchandising and other issues to appropriate channels (e.g., Partner Store, Microsoft leaders) in alignment with the policy of the internal and external stakeholder.

Visual Merchandising

• Evaluates the merchandise setup in Partner stores and positions products accordingly to maximize impact and sales. Partners with Store Leadership to communicate visual standards and confirm visual placement. Leverages the Store Environment Index report and Microsoft Store Visit Report to cascade feedback to internal and external stakeholders. Reviews all Microsoft ecosystems and Windows store executions to ensure they meet brand standards.

Other

• Embody our culture and values