Education Marketing Review

This was the best year of my life! I've pushed myself to new limits, learnt skills no education can provide, met friends for life and had so much fun!

Nobody made me feel like just an intern. I was an integral part of the team. If anything everyone valued my youth, as Microsoft is a technology company we are a new generation who have been bought up using tech. They really want to hear your opinions! Plus we all have a lot of fun together.

My manager would meeting with me for catch ups and formal reviews. Along with this I had so many mentors/people in my team who wanted to help my professional development. There was always someone who would help. Everyone wanted to hear your ambitions so that they could provide opportunities which fitted with them.

I live by the moto 'Work hard, play hard'. So Microsoft suited me so well. Sometimes, especially with events, I would have to work long hours. But I was doing valuable work, not admin. I was with colleagues who I am friends with. And once all the hard work is over we would have lots of parties/bar crawls. I didn't stop for the entire year, you wouldn't believe how much you can fit into 12 months.

At the start I would get little bits. But overtime, after you prove your commitment and abilities, your responsibilities build. By the end of the year I gained full responsibilities of projects. I was giving actions to senior people internally and externally.

My outlook has completely changed. Firstly, I understand Management and Marketing so much more from actually doing it. I feel like my essays will have much more to say. Secondly, I couldn't be more motivated to get a first! After pushing myself in completely new ways a degree seems so much easier!

Great. Me and my team, along with the interns, all get on so well. Whenever you are with them you cant help but have fun. There are days when the office is quite which can be quiet, but I just use those days to get on with lots of work. Sometimes there can be office politics, but it teaches you such valuable skills which you can talk about in an interview.

As there are 120 interns everything has a plan! My role was a little more flexible, but this meant I could make it what I wanted.

Most of the training took place as you went along in your role.

Microsoft's Graduate Scheme is my number one ambition!

We would go out every weekend, and as we all lived near each other we would constantly be doing fun things

It was pretty standard to be honest. The salary meant I was more than comfortable. I went for a nicer house which was £425 a month, but you could get much cheaper ones. And then I still had plenty of money for fun stuff, shopping and meals/drinks out regularly during the week. Plus I managed to save enough to travel for 6 weeks after placement.

The clubs/bars were all fine. Plus in Reading you have 80 interns, so we would all go out together. I always say its the company that makes a night out!