by Laura Maclean
Partner Marketing Advisor
At Microsoft
Placement (10 Months+)
Marketing
What was the application process like?
Fairly straight forward and easy! I submitted a CV and then about a month later I heard back that I had a Skype interview. After I passed the Skype Interview stage, which was conducted by one interviewer, I was invited to an Assessment Centre in Reading.
What was the interview process like?
Quite fun, although nerve-wracking! It consisted of a ‘speed-dating’ of all the hiring managers, three individual exercises and finally a group task. Previous interns were also there on the day for us to network with.
What advice would you give to students applying for your role?
Do your research on the company, its culture and mission - and be yourself! Through doing your research of the company and preparing for possible interview questions, you will feel a lot more relaxed. There is no point pretending to be someone you’re not.
How much responsibility do you have?
You are treated like a Full Time Employee. For the first 3 months you are inducted thoroughly. By December time you will start to grasp your role more, however, you are encouraged to ask questions and be curious. It will help you to continually learn.
What do you most enjoy about your role?
As a Partner Marketing Advisor, I enjoy getting to help partners of Microsoft. Very often it involves a lot of problem solving and I find it rewarding to help partners in any way I can - and then see the positive outcomes of my advice.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Being so far away from my family and friends was hard at times - there is nothing like being able to see them to cheer you up when you’ve had a tough day at work etc. However, I’ve made friends within the intern community who have been a great support.
How has this experience exceeded your expectations?
Definitely. My wide range of experiences at Microsoft has taught me so many valuable workplace skills that I can transfer into any job in the future. Being pushed out of my comfort zone has also helped my confidence blossom.
What is the office atmosphere like?
Extremely relaxed – it’s great! If you want to grab a coffee with a colleague or go for a quick stroll outside to stretch your legs, it is encouraged (as long as you are keeping up with your work obviously).
What activities are there outside of work?
There are numerous sports clubs you can join at Microsoft. I am a member of the Microsoft Women’s Football Team which meets every Tuesday at 6pm. We also have the occasional intern social to keep the Early in Career cohort connected, which is good fun!
How promising are the graduate prospects?
As far as I know, graduate prospects are promising at Microsoft.
