Solution Sales Specialist Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship here at Microsoft. You are truly valued and have plenty of opportunities to build on skills for the future.

I feel it took a while to build the respect of my colleagues but that's the way it should be. Once you prove yourself you are trusted to deliver to tight deadlines with important work.

You can't fault Microsoft here. You are treated as importantly as anyone, you are given quarterly 'connects' where you discuss your progress and aspirations with your manager. You are also encouraged to get a mentor in other functions of the business or your team and this ensures you take advantage of 12 months here.

I think you're as busy as you want to be. You can pick up too much work and completely ruin your work life balance or you can do the minimum and waste your 12 months here. I opted to stay reasonably busy to ensure I always had work to complete, this ensured I didn't get bored whilst at work.

You are given responsibility to run your own projects and they encourage you to work closely with clients, resellers and partners. I'm aware that other interns had the opportunity to present in boardrooms of big businesses whereas other interns had internal facing jobs and weren't given such responsibility. So I guess it depends on your role and whether you have the trust of your team. If you're good enough you're old enough!

I have gained numerous Microsoft Office Specialist qualifications, been to sales and presentation training courses and been to workshops on personal development. There is no question you have the opportunity to develop yourself on your internship here. I also had a side role to work on the BeYourFuture blog to help inspire other people to join the early in career schemes here at Microsoft, which has helped me improve the creative side of me.

I love working within my department. There was a really friendly vibe here and I have never dreaded coming in. It's a mix between professional and casual and I feel I work best in this type of culture. I am friendly with everyone in my office and throughout Microsoft.

Before I joined we had a 'Welcome Day' to meet the other interns in our year. We also had a weeks' induction to really gain an understanding of Microsoft. The Early in career team are excellent in supporting you throughout your year here.

I have had: - Sales Training Course (learning to sell the MS way) - Presentation Training Course. - Workshop on personal development (with Nicholas Bate) - Change management course. - Gained Microsoft certificates such as Word, Powerpoint and Excel.

We are encouraged to apply back as a MACH (graduate). Microsoft really want to push early in career talent through the Intern - grad - full time employee cycle.

I believe we had just over 50 interns in our year, we were mainly in house shares and have formed great friendships this year. So there is a real intern community and spirit amongst the interns, apprentices and MACHs.

Reading is not too bad for a social scene, plenty of shops, restaurants and clubs. Transport is easy enough with the free shuttle bus to work. The cost of living is reasonable and I have been able to spend and save this year with ease.

It is not a bad nightlife in the centre of Reading although I wouldn't encourage you to party during the week, safe that for the weekend! That being said, it's no London!

I had plenty of opportunities to do things out of my work role. I was part of the Microsoft football team and joined in with their training sessions, games and social events.