Microsoft is only recently getting into retail, putting up their first two stores in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mission Viejo, California. This has been seen by many as an effort to compete against (or at least copy the success) of Apple’s popular retail stores. Apple Stores have been so successful in reaching Apple customers that the company no longer needs to participate in its own MacWorld expos.

Microsoft has recently posted job listings for their retail store staff. The usual requirements were there. Pleasing personality, check. Able to give a warm welcome, check. Able to troubleshoot common product problems and provide win-win situations with clients, check. Able to lift 75 pounds… wait, what?

Apparently, Microsoft requires their storekeepers to be able to lift 75 pounds – for what reason, we don’t know yet. But it does give a nod to Microsoft’s muscling into the retail scene.

It’ll be interesting to see what Microsoft storekeepers will be doing with all that muscle – is the computing giant rolling out some 75-pound technology for their customers, and will the storekeepers be carrying it to their customers’ cars? I guess we’ll all be keeping an eye on just what Microsoft has in store for us… yup, that’s another pun.

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