Digital Marketing Manager Review

I have learnt to much this year, met so many incredible people and had a great job where I've been able to challenge the norms and take on big challenges.

In the short space of a year I've grown to know my team as a second family. They've supported me every step of my placement, been great mentors, had patience while I learnt new things and trusted me with responsibility.

Every step of my placement I've been supported. Whether that be where I've taken on extra tasks and responsibility, been mentored, guided when learning new things or given training by a patient manager.

I was very busy in my role, mainly due to the amount of work I took on. But the way I see it, is that I was here for just a year, I wanted to be able to take away as much as I could from the time I was on placement - and I'm so glad I did this.

I was responsible for customer-facing websites, ensuring they were relevant, created profitable end-actions or supported score cards, driving up traffic, scorecard interaction and engagement. I also led the overhaul of the UK internal communications infrastructure for 3,500 people. This was a huge responsibility as many people rely on it for important news, updates, go to market resources and company progress. I was tasked with presenting at digital marketing events to help promote digital marketing and its benefits. Guests at these presentations included Facebook, LinkedIn, Wunderman, VML and other key industry experts.

I started at Microsoft with only traditional marketing knowledge from my university degree. I'll leave with a whole new skillset to add to this in the form of digital marketing. Digital marketing is a new and highly sought after marketing skill that I hope will put me in good stead for the future. I’ve also taken my degree knowledge and see how it is applied in the real world, and thanks to the diverse and broad company that Microsoft is, I’ve been able to apply nearly everything I have learnt practically.

Microsoft drives the mentality of work hard, play hard too. We were all highly motivated and ensured we got our work done. This was due to the relaxed and informal atmosphere in the offices where we didn't feel pressured or stressed to any great extent, but happy, content and supported.

Our hiring managers are briefed to ensure we are stimulated, that we develop and progress as a person. This was definitely the case - my hiring manager tailored my role to my strengths allowing me to develop and really challenge myself.

Microsoft invests heavily in its workforce and regularly lays on workshops, training sessions, 1 on 1 development and online tutorials to ensure whatever way you prefer to learn and receive training, you can.

The MACH scheme is an outstanding graduate opportunity that if you work hard and demonstrate the core competencies that Microsoft values, it should be achievable.

Microsoft recruits very like-minded people who have a lot in comming, this meant that as interns we all got on really well, supported one another and made long-term friendships and connections that will last a life time.

Working in any major city or county is going to be expensive, but in terms of the quality of placement Microsoft offers, it's well worth it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the diverse nightlife available in Reading. It's not the best but the people you share your social time with make it a quality time to remember.

There are endless opportunities to get involved with outside work. There are social clubs for every form of activity, from canoeing, to football, to photography, to running, to abseiling - the list is endless!