Global resource Co-Ordinator Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement although it was one set role I had exposure to various different areas of the business due to the encouraged stretch programmes. I was supported throughout the year both from my manager and the early in careers team and was able to network across the business and with the senior leadership team.

I always felt valued at microsoft and was never made to feel like ‘just and intern’ I was given responsibility straight away and regualrly owned my own projects. Being an intern at Microsoft is encouraged and colleagues valued the new perspective interns bring to the role and business as we often see new ways to change processes to create a more productive rhythm of business.

I was always given support from management in regard to my job role, stretch projects and personal situations. I was encouraged to take ownership of my role and projects but knew I have guidance from my manager if an issue occurred and I always felt comfortable to contact her about this.

Over the fiscal year there was period of being very busy and then relatively quite due to the nature of the role and the stages of the FY (beginning/end of quarter etc.) My job role was always manageable within my contracted working hours, however, I personally took on too many stretch projects and began to feel overworked and needed to step down from one half way through the year but stretch projects are all voulentary and not required.

For my role in particular I was given a lot of responsibility, it began with a small amount and grew throughout the year as my experience and confidence grew. I was encouraged to take as much responsibility as I was comfortable with. I was great full for this responsibility as it allowed me to develope and mature a lot over the year.

My job role was relevant to my business and management degree which enables me to have real life experience to draw upon for my final year of uni and case studies for my modules. I also feel this will benefit me in my career after uni as I will graduate with a degree and a years experience, from my placement I have also secured a graduate scheme at Microsoft which takes a lot of pressure off of applying to graduate roles in my final year.

Although it a a corporate company there is a very relaxed atmosphere as it’s a completely open plan office to encourage collaboration. Microsoft prides itself of inclusivity and diversity and I always felt like I belonged there. Everyone is willing to help even if they have nothing to do with your role.

The placement programme at microsoft has been running for many years now with my manager now on her 15th cohort of interns therefore it is tried and tested and well organised. There is an early in career team dedicated to interns and ensuring they are getting the most out of the year as well as being a support network if needed.

10% of your internship is dedicated to personal development and encouraged. The internship Programme encourages development doing the insights course to find out how you work with others etc. There is also strong training for the role and often a cross over period for both cohorts of interns to ensure the new interns are trained up before the old interns leave.

Very appealing. Throughout my internship I quickly knew that Microsoft is the company I want to begin my career at and they encourage interns to apply for the grad scheme. I was fortuanate enough to have secured a grad scheme at Microsoft before the end of my internship along with numerous other interns.

Yes, interns are all very social at microsoft and it is encouraged to go out and do events together with the intern committee (ran by interns) regularly organising social events. As well as organised event we often went out as a group and a lot of interns live together in student houses.

Cost of living is relatively high in reading (not as high as London) but definitely livable based off of the intern salary even if you’re renting within the centre of town. With the salary it is easy to live comfortably and have a social life in reading. As reading is quite a student based a town due to the university socialising can be relatively cheap and often has student deals.

There is a good nightlife with lots of pubs and bars but reading isn’t the biggest place so it’s not the same as a city night life, however, we often joined the London interns and went out in London after working from the offices there and there was often work events in and around the offices

Yes there are many societies within the microsoft employee community such as a football club which compete against other companies and other Microsoft countries. There’s a gym within the office which is subsadiesed for interns and other groups such as a photography society that have monthly winners for each catagory.