Internal Communications Co-ordinator for Microsoft Services Review

My role as an internal communications coordinator for the Services business of Microsoft was simply amazing. I had the opportunity to work with highly talented people, contribute my own ideas into the business and even shape my role by taking on new challenges and exciting opportunities. I couldn't recommend a placement or job at Microsoft more highly. It truly was an amazing journey that has helped me to develop both personally and professionally and better appreciate the power of technology to change people's lives for the better.

My team were brilliant and full of encouragement. I regard my manager to be a real role model that helped me recognise my strengths and potential in the IT industry.

Support was always available if and when i needed it and my job was balanced with a real sense of freedom and autonomy.

Life at Microsoft can be hectic at times - but in the fast moving and ever-changing IT industry it's to be expected. It's up to you to get your work done but if you really want to get the most out of the placement experience i would suggest pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and doing new things. Yes it might mean that your job isn't the standard 9-5 but you my potentially only get to be at Microsoft once. So make the most of it, learn from others and have fun!

My first task working for Microsoft was to plan, support and deliver an internal team-building off-site event for over 300 people. It demanded a range of skills, from creative marketing, to detailed process management and relationship-building, but it was great to see the project through from start to finish. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. If you want "real" responsibility, Microsoft is the place to find it.

I have returned to my final year as a Business Management student at Queen's University Belfast and its fair to say i've returned a changed person. I'm more organised, creative, confidence and most importantly driven to be the best i can be than ever before! Before i joined Microsoft i was unsure about what i wanted as a career and future but now i have a clear idea of what i want from life both professionally and personally. And to top it all off i've learnt a few new tricks and skills in areas i never explored before, from project management and video making to Photoshop and Microsoft Office expert training!

Now is a perfect time to join Microsoft! With a new range of devices and services (Xbox One, Surface Pro 2, Office 2013, Windows 8.1 and other soon-to-be cool innovations...) the atmosphere is electric. It does have it's lull moments like any company but, as cheesy as this sounds, there's always fun and laughter to be shared at Microsoft and the approachable people and culture reflects that!

There is always room for improvement but with the help of the University Campus team this year a group of UK interns developed the first ever HR-sponsored intern survey so interns can have their individual and confidential say on the internship programme so that continuous, incremental improvements can be made for future interns. From working on that team, I can say that the HR and Campus staffing time are working very hard to make your internship at Microsoft the best out their on the market! They really do care :)

I received some great training opportunities but currently there aren't lots on offer for interns in general. Accessibility to training programmes seems to be mainly influenced by your role. However, you have an amazing opportunity as an intern to network with almost anyone in the business, find out about their career and role at Microsoft and sometimes even shadow them on customer sites or at corporate events. I cannot stress how friendly, approachable and inspiring the people at the Microsoft UK Reading Campus are! They are genuinely interested in the new ideas and skills you have to offer and appreciate the support you can offer them. They also act as great mentors and can point you in the right direction towards what you want - whether it be to come back on the graduate MACH scheme or work in a particular sector or role in the future. So for me its not the technology but PEOPLE that make Microsoft a great company to work for!!!

I've applied for the MACH graduate scheme and hope to return to Microsoft in a business consultancy or account based role. However i would stress that just because you were an intern at the company for a year doesn't mean that you are more likely to get hired as a graduate. I would love to return to Microsoft in the future as the roles or offer are very exciting and appealing to me however i'm treating the MACH scheme as a Plan B option. In the past they have hired very few interns following a post-intern assessment centre process - so it all comes down to how much you want it and how well you do one the day which is why i gave it 5 stars.

The social scene was great among fellow interns. We tend not to take ourselves too seriously and i've experienced some great nights with the interns at Microsoft social events, birthdays and the regrettable leaving do's.

The cost of living in Reading is quite expensive however it's relatively cheaper than London and the internship covers most of your expenses.

The nightlife and socialising side is great but you will find that people will fall in with their clicks and housemates quite quickly and it comes down to how well big intern events are planned and communicated by the Intern-led Community 101 team. My year was reasonably decent.

There's lots of sports clubs and groups you can join!