Cloud Solution Architect Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the placement experience. I had no idea what to expect other than that it was a technology role. I have been blown away by the amount of opportunities that have been provided to me since I began the internship. Microsoft really take care of their employees, particularly their early in career.

Although I was "just an intern", I was often made to feel valued beyond my expectations. It wasn't an overnight switch, however, as time passed, my team and I became very close not just from a professional perspective, but also from a personal perspective. Feeling valued is imperative, as otherwise there's a risk of decreased energy and consequently, productivity.

The managers at Microsoft are very supportive of early in career. There's also an emphasis on networking and finding mentors who you feel can help you. Personally, I have found it exceptionally useful to have different mentors for different areas of growth, as you still get to grow your network while also getting the support you need.

I was quite busy on a daily basis as there's often many ongoing projects, be it intern focused projects or role specific projects, there's always something to do. Given the emphasis on learning, even if I had a quiet period, there's always something to study for!

To begin with, there was not a huge amount of responsibility placed upon you. After a while, once you were given more training and you had shadowed the relevant people, there's a higher degree of expectation and responsibility.

The internship gave me the opportunity to put into practice a lot of disciplines I had previously only studied conceptually at University. It really has broadened my horizons and given me a better understanding of why we study certain things and their relevance in industry. Without a shadow of a doubt, this internship has helped consolidate many things I had learned at University and will continue to help me in final year.

There was a very positive atmosphere in the office. With an open space plan, the office felt quite relaxed and welcoming. Full time employees often dropped by tables early in career individuals at and spoke to us to see how we were doing.

The internship was set up very well. From the onboarding to the actual job itself, there's lots to get yourself stuck into. There's never a dull moment.

There's heavy investment from both HR and from a managerial/departmental perspective. As interns we've been sent on many different training courses, something that makes us feel valued as employees.

This year really gives you a better understanding of your career aspirations. Sufficed to say, graduation positions here at eagerly sought after.

There's a relatively large intern community at Microsoft, with around 50/60 interns, meaning it's fairly easy to find people with similar interests.

The cost of living can be on the pricier side as the office is based in Reading, a commuter town near London. However, you can get good deals depending on your luck.

For many, the nightlife scene in Reading was very enjoyable.

Yes, absolutely. It entirely depends on you and your interests but working for a global corporation means endless opportunities.