Territory Channel Manager Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my job at Microsoft. As an Intern on Placement Year from University, I was given a lot of responsibility and trust in a strong, learning centric environment. It is a job that I miss a lot, but has equipped me with lots of new skills.

My team were always supportive and I felt like a full time employee, despite being on a Placement Year. Microsoft has a big community and many employees become colleagues who work with you to get the best outcome for all. This is something I feel they passed onto me!

My manager and mentors had frequent meetings to help me to learn, grow and meet goals during my Placement Year. They support you to explore parts of Microsoft that you want and make you feel very included in the business, allowing you to provide value to projects and conversations.

There were periods of time where I was less busy than others. However, in my role, I was able to develop a niche and became well known too have a wider knowledge for a specific product. There are early starts but they are all the more rewarding!

Loads! Microsoft prides itself on giving Early in Career a rewarding and worthwhile Internship. They focused on helping me to learn new abilities and develop my personal skills that will benefit my career. I led projects and held progress meetings with my colleagues, manager and senior leadership.

I have been back at University for my first week now. Already lecturers have noticed a natural confidence and a positive difference in me. They have noticed my work ethics and style have greatly improved, with the possibility of my knowledge benefiting them and other students.

The office environment was very positive. The team I was in enjoyed making jokes and having fun whilst getting great results and working hard. The ethics and 'way of working' is something I looked forward to everyday and is a behaviour that I look to continue when working and when studying at University.

Initial organisation was difficult and my arrival wasn't as planned as other departments. I learnt very quickly how to handle uneasy situations because of this, which if anything, set me well for the rest of my Placement Year. The department I went into was quite new.

Microsoft invest heavily in personal training and development. Microsoft provide a Learn-it-all culture and follow a Growth Mindset culture which is refreshing. LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Exams and other ways to learn are always encouraged. I learnt a loot of my presentation style through attending events and seeing others.

I worked in the partner organisation and my prospects are very appealing. Have experience of working not only with customers, but with partners provides a wide insight to multiple industries, helping me to gain experience and make more conscious business decisions.

The cost of living isn't too bad. Reading is a nice town with a great high street and has two shopping centres. Costs aren't too bad if you shop around...skills you get after being a student! Socialising isn't too bad either.

The nightlife isn't too bad. There are some good places to go and have fun. A lot of them are along the same road or close together near the town, which makes life a lot easier.