Services Solution Strategy Executive Review

A placement year at Microsoft throws you in at the deep end and while I could've done with a set of armbands at the start, I found my feet and had a wonderful year. The large Early in Career cohort at Microsoft made the experience all more worthwhile!

Getting to know people across the business and jumping into lots of projects, I felt valued by the people I worked with and came to realise the crucial role I had to play in my small team.

Not that this is a reflection on all placements at Microsoft but in my role specifically I didn't receive the right level of support from my manager as an intern with no prior experience working for a large corporate company. That said, getting to know more people across the business greatly helped me learn and find people I could go to for support.

Even at quieter times of year, as an Early in Career at Microsoft there is always something you can get involved in outside of your role and full time employees are happy to bring you onboard. Working for a smaller team meant there was always something to do provided you are proactive and look for opportunity.

Microsoft encourages all its Early in Career to take on tasks that will help you to learn new skills and develop as an individual. Over the 13 months I ran several events and had the opportunity to join customer meetings and have a voice.

Over the 13 months I have developed admin skills that will help organise and manage my studies going into my final year at University. More importantly, I've learned new soft skills on this internship that will help kick-start my postgraduate career, developing a self-awareness for how I work and the direction I'd like to take following University.

While many people would work from home towards the end of the week, there is a proactive work ethic at Microsoft and employees are always upbeat, enthusiastic and supportive.

It takes a while to understand your role and how your responsibilities align to the business, Microsoft Services had a well organised and structured on-boarding experience. The internship is organised with the flexibility to join projects outside your role and department.

On my placement I took several Microsoft Office Specialist exams that certify my capabilities in Word, Excel, PowerPoint. With a culture for learning and development, Microsoft has its own learning platforms that you're encouraged to visit when you've got time.

When completing your internship there's an opportunity to apply for a graduate role. Microsoft encourage all interns to apply and will often hire back placement students onto their graduate program.

The intern cohort would run social and personal development events that invited all and this last year, brought us closer as a group.

Rent is expensive because you're located in Reading and close to London but the area itself is relatively inexpensive. Great location for trips into London and while Reading is an urban town, the offices are located along the Thames and it is easy to get out of the town to more scenic areas.

Depending on where you go to Uni, the nightlife in Reading isn't exciting but always fun going out as a group of interns. The people (and intern group) made Reading a more exciting place to be.

Always. There is so much opportunity to join teams and get involved in projects both work related or for personal development.