I applied for several jobs at Microsoft yesterday, but they don’t ask you for a cover letter. Therefore, I’m going to post it on my web site instead. I get a lot of hits from the tech corridor, so why not?
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to express my interest in a content‑focused role at Microsoft. My background blends IT support, digital publishing, and long‑form nonfiction writing, but the through‑line has always been the same: I help people understand complex systems by making information clear, structured, and human. Microsoft’s commitment to accessible technology, thoughtful design, and user‑centered experiences aligns directly with the work I’ve been doing for more than a decade.
My career began in university computer labs and help desks, where I learned how to translate technical problems into language people could act on. At Alert Logic, I supported customers through firewall configurations, Linux diagnostics, and SOC escalations — work that required precision, empathy, and the ability to explain unfamiliar concepts without condescension. Those early roles shaped my approach to communication: clarity is a service, and structure is a form of care.
For the past twelve years, I’ve applied that philosophy to digital publishing. As the founder and writer of Lanagan Media Group, I’ve built a long‑form nonfiction practice across WordPress and Medium, using semantic structure, accessible formatting, and CMS best practices to create writing that is both readable and navigable. I work extensively in Microsoft Word, especially its advanced features — navigation maps, semantic headings, and internal linking — because they allow me to treat writing as architecture, not just prose.
I also work daily with AI‑assisted workflows, including Microsoft Copilot. I use AI not as a shortcut, but as a partner in drafting, analysis, and decision‑making. My projects — including Hacking Mico, a book‑length exploration of AI adoption and user experience — reflect a deep interest in how people interact with technology, how tools shape cognition, and how design choices influence trust. These are questions Microsoft takes seriously, and they are the questions that motivate my best work.
What I bring to Microsoft is a combination of systems thinking, user empathy, and long‑form discipline. I write with structure, I design with intention, and I communicate with the goal of reducing cognitive load for the reader. Whether the work involves content design, UX writing, documentation, or internal communication, I approach every project with the same mindset: make it clear, make it navigable, and make it genuinely useful.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to Microsoft’s mission and to bring my experience in writing, support, and content architecture to a team that values clarity and thoughtful design.
Sincerely,
Leslie D. Lanagan
Stories That Are All True 