Now that Pradeep has explained what the case competition was about, let me pick it up from "May/June - Interns join Microsoft" item on his list of events. Even before you start your internship, you will very likely receive at least a dozen emails welcoming you to Microsoft - right from the wonderful recruiting team to you manager to the senior management in your group.

 

This summer, we are part of 60+ strong MBA contingent from the top B-schools in the US. Of the 60, 5 of us came about as a by-product of Firenze, all 5 of us are interning at Microsoft Services. The whole internship program itself is extremely well structured so that you can make the most of your 10-14 weeks at the company.

 

Each intern usually has at least 3 main points of contact in the company. 

  1.  A manager who helps you learn the group's business, sets your commitments, provides resources, feedback and coaching to help you complete your project.
  2. A coach who provides tactical guidance to complete the project and who helps answer day-to-day questions you may have.
  3. A buddy who is an invaluable resource who is in a non-evaluative role, outside of your group and provides general advice about anything you care to ask about.

 

The MBA staffing team does a great job of facilitating events that help you network with the interns, their managers, buddies and coaches from the different business units and groups in Microsoft! Typically, by the end of the very first few weeks, you will start to leverage this network - be it for getting advice about concerts in Seattle or for giving them data you may have to help them with their project or for even setting up informational interviews with people in other teams to learn more about their groups.

 

Here's a snapshot of some of the activities we have had so far - Fortnightly MBA after-work socials, casino night, community service day, amazing intern races and kayaking on Lake Union, soccer matches, women's networking events, company picnic, spouses events and lunches with the senior leadership including Steve Ballmer (CEO), Chris Capossela (SVP, Information Worker product group), Lisa Brummel (SVP, Human Resources), Mike Risse (Vice President, Worldwide SMS&P), Kristin Johnsen (GM, Global Delivery, WW Services), Brad Goldberg(GM, Search Business Group), Andy Lees (SVP, Mobile Communications Business) and many more.

 

All in all, it's 12 weeks packed and bursting at the seams with things to do! Now that I am done writing about the mandatory "introductory blog" 2 weeks after I started blogging, I can go back to my random thoughts blogging from next week.

 

- Deepthi