This is why apprentices are so important. They give students both the soft and digital skills needed to pursue kick-start a career while getting training and accreditation. Apprentices are also good for business – 92 percent stay with the company they started with. They also provide organisations a cost-effective way to develop talent and get the right skills businesses need to stay competitive.

We speak to two Cloud Solution Architect Apprentices at Microsoft to discover why they took this career path, and how they’re planning to develop the skills needed to create technology that helps empower people.

Orla Fletcher-Dowd, Level 6 degree apprentice, Cloud Solution Architect 

Why did you choose to become an apprentice?

I chose to do an apprenticeship because I would be able to gain relevant, real-world experience while boosting my career prospects. Plus, I get to work for a world-class organisation all whilst gaining a degree.

However, at school the opportunity to learn about apprenticeships and the benefits they bring was not always there. By the time I had finished my A Levels I already had a place to study at university.

Despite this, during my gap year I decided to look into apprenticeships and what they had to offer. I was amazed to see the variety of opportunities that were out there, and as a result I applied to the Microsoft Apprenticeship Programme.

A day in the life of a Cloud Solution Architect Apprentice

As a fairly new apprentice, I am currently focusing on working towards my degree while exploring all aspects of the company. I’m aiming to get a better understanding of how an organisation like Microsoft works. As well as this, a lot of my work revolves around familiarising myself with Azure.

I’m also training in the Azure Portal, which is web-based, unified console that provides an alternative to command-line tools. It allows you to build, test and deploy applications and services.

Having the flexibility to study part-time, work as part of a team and get involved with stretch projects gives me the opportunity to not only improve my technical skills, but my soft skills as well.

What do you want to do in the future?

I am keen to explore the cognitive aspects of AI and machine learning. I’m particularly interested in conversational AI, image recognition and natural language processing – all of which mimics the way the human brain works. I want to help discover how these services can innovate solutions that can benefit both people and the environment.

A career as a Cloud Solution Architect will provide me with the relevant skills and experience needed to create these solutions, with the help of the cloud, and introduce new strategies/applications into the market.

I believe the cloud applications we’re seeing today are just the tip of the iceberg. As technology advances further, who knows what will be possible 10 years from now, but this is definitely something I want to be part of.

Davina Loures, Level 6 degree apprentice, Cloud Solution Architect

Why did you choose to become an apprentice?

I spent my youth engaged in extra learning – spending one-on-one time with teachers and at the age of 10 I moved straight from year 4 to year 6.  By 15, I was attending gifted and talented academic programs at universities like UCL and KCL every Saturday. The word ‘university’ was repeated by family members and teachers alike, to the point where this idea of attending daily lectures and exhausting myself with essay writing for the next three years of my post-sixth form life was firmly embedded in my mind.

But it didn’t excite me. As an avid tech enthusiast, I spent my days messing around and experimenting with my Raspberry Pi. I wanted to get stuck in ASAP and start making my mark in the digital world, which is why I opted for a gap year first before applying to university.

After scouring the internet for a placement to fill the year, I came across the Microsoft Apprenticeship Program. Upon passing my interviews and being offered a place at Microsoft, I proceeded immediately to break the news to my parents. They were over the moon once they learnt more about the program.

I am now a Cloud Solution Architect Degree Apprentice at Microsoft. This means I don’t have to wait three years before getting real-world experience and making an impact. I also still get the learning opportunity and support and a degree at the end to satisfy my parents. I couldn’t have thought of a more logical solution to my dilemma.

A day in the life of a Cloud Solution Architect Apprentice

There is no typical day. Every day is completely different from the last which aligns perfectly with the ever-evolving tech space.

The number of things to get involved in here at Microsoft are endless. In the short three months that I’ve been in the company, I’ve been involved in a number of hackathons which are fun, hands on team events run by Microsoft for employees and partners alike to skill up in specific technical fields. I’ve been able to build-up my technical skills, such as Azure. This has meant that I’ve already been able to gain a certifications for Azure

As well as this, I’ve also been exposed to numerous shadowing opportunities, allowing me to sit in on customer meetings and calls and learn more about the role in-person. The numerous tech huddles and team engagements that occur on a monthly basis opens the door for me to be able to network with people with people and learn with them.

Microsoft also has a massive early in careers community, meaning one can always relate to others in the same position. My favourite part of being an apprentice is being thrown into this learn-it-all, not know-it-all culture that embodies the company.

Everyone is so willing to give their time to explain things and help out when needed that it’s definitely accelerated my learning. The culture has to be the highlight of the company, which is why I love working here so much. Everything done here is literally helping to change the world, as well as making meaningful impacts on peoples day-to-day lives.

What do you want to do in the future?

As for what I want to do in the future, it’s still unclear. The exposure to the different opportunities you get as an apprentice are limitless. I know that as I journey through my next 4.5 years, my mind will be changed a hundred times as the technological generation continues to advance.

My hopes, however, are that my work can help out those less advantaged through the use of technology, and as stated in Microsoft’s mission statement to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more.

Different apprentices for different roles

Not all apprenticeships are for technical roles. Apprenticeships can encompass a wide range of roles in your organisations – from sales to marketing all the way to finance and business. We’ve also chatted to three apprentices who work in business management and find out more about their experiences.

Futureproofing employees and organisations

By considering apprenticeships, Orla and Davina are futureproofing their careers. While they build vital early-in-career skills, technical accreditations, and even a degree, they’re developing into employees that are empowered to create and support the next generation of technology to help empower.

Organisations that bring in apprentices can help develop employees with the skills they need to stay competitive. Not only that, apprentices are more likely to stay loyal with the company they started with and remain there after their apprenticeship ends.

Find out more

 Learn more about apprenticeships

Read about our business apprentices

The post Meet the tech-enabled problem solvers of the future appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for young people to earn-while-they-learn, as they step into the first role of their digital technology careers. Read about why our business apprentices chose this path to kick-start their careers.

Lily Mears, Customer Success Business Manager, Level 4 Apprentice 

Why did you choose to become an apprentice?

I choose to become an apprentice because I knew the practical working and hands on experience suited my learning style better. I have never been one for soaking up knowledge in a classroom based environment so I needed an opportunity that allowed me to learn, on the job but also give me the opportunity to continue learning and gain qualifications.

The apprenticeship allows for you to take what you learn in the theory based content of your qualification and apply it to your day to day job role. From an early age, I’d had an interest in working in the business world, so being able to work for one of the largest organisations has been a real eye opener and a massive learning opportunity.

Can you explain a day in the life of your role?

A day in the life of a business management apprentice can change depending on the asks of the business area. I am a level 4 business management apprentice, working within the Customer Success department at Microsoft. My role is primarily internal with the opportunity for customer interactions on a peer to peer level. Day to day, I get involved in areas such as communications, events, travel and expenses, public speaking and strategic initiatives which contribute to the pillars of success for our business area.

No two days are the same and having a mix of responsibilities has given me a lot contextual insights into how a business runs to support my qualification. As an apprentice, you are also given 10% off the job hours which can go towards social impact and the apprentice community. With the social impact time, I like to visit local schools to talk through my journey and the things I’ve learned along the way with the hope to inspire other students to pursue the apprenticeship route.

What do you want to do in the future?

As a business, Microsoft have been hugely supportive of my early in career journey, helping me to reach my full potential and I’d love to secure a full time role here in the future. After completing my level 4 management consultancy qualification, I’m keen to continue developing my skills and my goal is to progress onto the business management degree.

Joel Roach, STU Degree Apprentice

Why did you choose to become an apprentice?

I’d heard about apprenticeships throughout sixth form, but I never paid much attention to them. I had decided early on that I wanted to be a therapist, which involved getting a psychology degree. After A-levels I stuck to the plan and went to university to study psychology. While I was at university, the reality of becoming a therapist became clear: there would be a lot of research and several years of studying before I ever sat down with a client. I was now studying a degree, and accumulating large amounts of debt, for a career I didn’t want.

I started to explore graduate schemes, to figure out what else I could do with my degree. This process involved looking up the names of big companies and seeing what they offered. Big companies like Microsoft. On the same page as the overview of Microsoft’s graduate scheme was information about their apprenticeship program. It said that I could be getting a degree while I worked full-time for one of the world’s most well-known companies, gaining four years of work experience, earning a salary and with no debt at the end of it. So why was I at university?

I applied for the apprenticeship at Microsoft and decided to finish university at the end of my first year. Eighteen months later I’ve settled into my role, and I’m really enjoying it. I get to work on and run projects that have a major impact at the company, and I’m learning things in my apprenticeship that I can use every day.

Can you explain a day in the life of your role?

My role has a broad scope, so everyday is different. Some of the areas I focus on are communications, department-wide events and diversity and inclusion. I’m also involved with the apprentice community at my organisation, this meant that I took part in the planning and running of an onboarding week for a new group of apprentices. I take one day each week away from the office to study for my apprenticeship. This involves reading, attending online lectures and working on assignments. I also attend workshops where I put the things I’m learning about into practice and gain feedback from tutors.

What do you want to do in the future?

After I’ve completed my apprenticeship, I’d love to transition into human resources, where I can actively help shape the workplace and improve the apprenticeship program from a higher level. I’ve got a few years to go before I finish but for now I’m really enjoying my current role.

Madeleine Ricci, STU Degree Apprentice

Why did you choose to become an apprentice?

Apprenticeships were not promoted or part of conversation at my school, so I began researching all possible options alongside the UCAS process. I found that the opportunities were endless and covered a much broader range of roles and industries than I had first imagined. Narrowing the search down to ‘business’ orientated roles in blue-chip organisations I started applying. The application process was a great learning curve and gave me exposure to different interview and questioning styles, and it made me reflect on what I wanted out of an apprenticeship against university.

It was a difficult to choose between two unknown worlds, and despite being accepted to 4 universities, I knew that if I was successful at getting an apprenticeship role, specifically at level 6, I would accept this over university – not just for the obvious reasons of having my degree paid for, learning on the job and no debt! But because I was keen to get into the world of work. The thought of another 3-4 years of a school-like environment with exams didn’t appeal to me. I also learned from my experiences in different summer placements that a high energy office environment helped me share my opinions and grow in maturity.

So far, my degree apprenticeship has made me become more self-motivated as I can see the impact of my learning in a real-life working environment which is really rewarding. It can be challenging to balance my role and study but learning to communicate and manage my time are invaluable life skills. The best thing about being an apprentice is the confidence you gain from being invested in as a person and being given the opportunity to succeed and add value to the business.

Can you explain a day in the life of your role?

Being an apprentice certainly doesn’t mean you will be assigned coffee runs and photocopying, in fact, you will find that many people want to meet with you over a coffee to discuss your future aspirations and how you are settling into the working world.

My role as a business operations associate in the management team of our sales department means that no two days are the same. I have found this role means I am a problem solver, a point of contact for over 300 employees, a data analytics reporter, an event organiser and much more. I love this role for its variety and ‘get stuff done’ atmosphere as my team works together to change processes, manage our brand reputation and control the day to day running of a department the size of most small businesses.

Outside of my team I love working with other departments across the business to share best practise to improve our business management functions as well as collaborating on different projects and events.

I love getting to work with like-minded people who are also ‘early in career’ as we can motivate and support each other with all aspects of developing a career in a world of industry professionals – something that can be daunting at first.

What do you want to do in the future?

I have learned over the last year of my apprenticeship that just because I am in a set business management role now, doesn’t mean this is for life.

Getting exposure to, and meeting people across the many departments at Microsoft has taught me a lot about myself and the business – and that it is often easier to know what you don’t like than what you do!

By creating lists of aspects of my role that give me energy and those that don’t, I have been able to narrow down a shortlist of criteria that I would want a future role to meet. For me, I am keen to find a role that incorporates operations, people management and events. These are areas I excel in and feel most confident with in my current role. At this stage in my career, I’m keen to keep doors open and explore all avenues.

Developing the skills for future technology

Lily, Joel, and Madeleine are working to become part of a future workforce that is collaborative, communicative, and supportive. With their training and skills, they’re getting ready to help empower people and organisations of now and in the future to be the best they can be.

We also spoke to two Cloud Solution Architects apprentices, who are getting ready to help create the technology that will empower us in the future.

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Find out more

 Learn more about apprenticeships

Read about our Cloud Solution Architect apprentices

The post Making impact: the value of apprenticeships as a route into the working world appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

This year is an exciting year for the Surface business, one I am wholly grateful for. With seven new product announcements recently, I feel incredibly proud of the company I work for.

A different challenge every day

As a Surface Specialist Intern at Microsoft my role manages the front-line commercial and technical aspects of sales opportunities. Whilst it sounds cliché, no two days are the same. Every customer and every opportunity is different and while it can be a challenge to feel comfortable in front of a customer – it is extremely rewarding. With each day comes a new challenge and that is precisely why I enjoy it so much. My biggest challenge to date was one I was least expecting: hosting a VIP event for our enterprise customers.

Presenting the digital workplace

The Microsoft Store is a fantastic place, where we can entice and educate our customers and partners – from market-traders to multi-nationals, no matter how big or small, all of our customers are welcome. For the launch of the devices, a room was developed in the Oxford Circus Store comprising a modern apartment with a variety of modern workplace set-ups. The modern concept of work is something we do, not somewhere we go, and the loft room captured this perfectly. There’s a Surface for every user and every role, no matter where they work.

On October 21^st, we welcomed over 30 customers from a range of public sector and commercial enterprises to our event. They received 25-minute presentations on Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Managed Desktop, Surface Hub 2S and the Surface PCs which they were able to play with at the end. I was able to host the morning and then present a demonstration on the Surface Hub 2S. This was particularly exciting as it was my largest audience to date, full of customers as well as over 15 Microsoft staff.

In terms of the products showcased, it was a fascinating day. Microsoft Teams is transforming communication in firms across the globe. While customers move over from Skype, it is great to see features like private virtual teams, background blur on video calls and the cross-device compatibility really excite and empower our customers. Microsoft managed desktop enables organisations to spend less time setting up and securing devices and more time empowering their employees with great, premium devices. Surface devices give users unrivalled productivity as well as the feeling of value – a premium device signals the organisation has invested in its employees. As an employee, there is nothing better than feeling valued. As a business, an engaged workforce is a productive one and you’re more likely to retain your top talent.

Collaborating across teams

As an intern, it was really exciting to work with different stakeholders to bring this together and I have learned a lot about teamwork and collaboration across teams. For the event to work, I had to co-ordinate the goals of the Marketing/PR, Surface and Store team to make the event a success.

It was challenging at first to make connections and it was difficult to initially identify the correct stakeholders. As an organisation, Microsoft is very supportive of those who are  early-in-career so after a few polite requests I was able to pull a plan together.

Developing resilience

But no matter how perfectly you plan something there will always be something that goes wrong. In my case, the bacon sandwiches for breakfast got trapped in the lift! Amusing in hindsight but very stressful at the time.

The ability to look at problems without emotion is often hard but being able to see an end goal, having to alter your course and changing your approach to get there taught me a lot about the way people work. What I am most thankful for is the amount of people I have connected with to help set-up the event and they have continued to stay as close comrades since.

It’s all about thinking on your feet and taking advantage of all the opportunities available to you.

Here’s my top pieces of advice for new starters in any business based on learnings from my own journey:

1. Ask for help when you need it

Don’t be afraid to ask for help or explain that you don’t understand – no one is expecting you to understand everything, but people will respect you more for asking than making it up. It’s not a problem if you need to come back to a customer or colleague at a later date if you don’t know the answer.

2. Develop connections across the business

Take the chance to meet your team and people you work with face-to-face at the start of role. It will really help improve team relationships later if you understand how your team fits into Microsoft and you’ll be able to understand the goals of different teams.

3. Maintain your network

Message colleagues you would like to engage with and ask if they would like to grab a coffee. Structure the conversation by having thoughtful questions – this will result in conversations you can both learn from. Be interested not interesting.

4. Think before you type

Take emotion out of email conversations, you might be stressed about an event or project you are working on but with email there is a lack of syntax which may cloud your message negatively in stressful times.

5. Identify a mentor early on

My advice to anyone starting at Microsoft, or any company for that matter, would be to secure a mentor figure early on. Make sure this mentor isn’t a ‘work-giver’ and they can approach your problems with pragmatic and unbiased solutions. Using a mentor as a sounding board for actions helps coach you into a better colleague and can also help a colleague with their teaching skills – a valuable trait.

I would like to give a special thanks to all of those involved in my onboarding process at Microsoft and creating a great employee experience – especially for somebody who is early on in their career. You know who you are.

Find out more

Find out more about a career with Microsoft

Discover what it takes to create an engaged workforce

Read more about early in career roles at Microsoft 

About the author

The post 5 tips for new starters: learnings from my own journey appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

Hiring the right talent is critical to success and businesses mustn’t forget about those who are early in their career. Apprentices, interns and graduates can bring a wealth of value to a business, offering fresh perspectives and creativity.

Our Microsoft Aspire Experience gives graduates a pathway into the working world to shape them into the digital leaders of tomorrow. And you can be part of that experience too.

Discover what it means to be a Microsoft UK graduate as we go behind the scenes with our Microsoft Aspire Experience grads to find out their highlights, the skills they’ve learnt along their journey, and advice on how you can excel as a graduate at Microsoft.

Meet…

Chester Broad, Marketing and Communications Manager

Hi! My name’s Chester – I’m 22 and from Brighton. After graduating from the University of Bath, studying Management with Marketing, I joined Microsoft’s Experiential Marketing team, delivering events and brand experiences. Even in the small amount of time I’ve been here, finding my feet, I’ve already got one highlight: at Future Decoded, I got the opportunity to host two live-streamed interviews, discussing creativity in AI with WPP and chatting to OceanMind about how they use AI to combat unsustainable fishing around the world.

Chester’s tips to success as a Microsoft graduate:

• Make sure you really understand Microsoft’s culture and values and weave them into the work you do on a daily basis.
• Look for opportunities to learn new things in the business – and be vocal about your eagerness to learn.
• Always say yes to a good opportunity – even if it makes you nervous. Going outside of your comfort zone is key to development.

Meet…

Freddie Saunders, Technical Specialist

Since joining Microsoft last year, I’ve been continuously challenged to get out of my comfort zone. I began working as Surface Technical Specialist, joining a team of Surface sellers to increase our hardware and device footprint. I was even responsible for proving the technology, and guiding our customers with their technical decision-making.

This experience has led to learning new skills, as well as being valued for the opinions and ideas I have when tackling the role and serving my customers best. However, my biggest highlight has been visiting Seattle and Las Vegas for training. This included my first solo presentation and workshop with a customer, and talking at a partner event about how the industry could best make use of Surface.

Since then, I’ve been given the exciting opportunity to move into our new Power Platform team as a Technical Specialist.

Freddie’s top tip:

• Be yourself. At Microsoft we value people based on who they are, their passions and their potential. You don’t need to have all the answers, you just need to have the hunger to always learn and never stop.

Meet…

Holly Boothroyd, Software Engineer on Cortana for Windows

My journey started back in Seattle, the home of Microsoft’s HQ, before I moved to England five years ago to study Computer and Information Technology. I previously worked on Microsoft Paint 3D and Xbox – in fact, my code is currently on over 900 million devices world-wide! In my role as a software engineer on Cortana for Windows, I develop features on the client side that enhance the user’s productivity and interactions with Windows.

Collaboration is a key skill here: I work closely with designers to make sure designs are feasible from an engineering perspective. For me, it’s all about creating the best user experience.

My top highlight at Microsoft has been attending the Grace Hopper Celebration conference in Orlando. For years, I’d dreamt of going, so it was a real wish come true to join other STEM-ettes at the event.

Holly’s 3-step guide to make the most of your experience: 

1. Seek out new communities – don’t get locked into communities strictly focused on your ‘day job’; go beyond that to broaden your skills and network.
2. Find a mentor – when you’re early in your career, it’s important to find someone with experience who can not only teach you new skills, but provide inspiration and drive.
3. Lock into your USP – Find a gap in your team’s skillset and fill it. Identify a cross-section between the technologies you love and the skills your team needs. Make it your unique selling point, as it’ll push you to learn new things, make you an invaluable asset, and give you expertise, which leads to personal development and career growth.

Meet…

Lucy Bloodworth, Enterprise Channel Manager – Health

I joined Microsoft last September. Now, I’m an Enterprise Channel Manager in the One Commercial Partner program. Prior to this, I studied Business and Management at the University of Reading, where I also completed a one-year internship at General Electric.

My first year at Microsoft has been an invaluable experience. You’re given real responsibility from day one, and encouraged to take on a ‘fail fast’ mentality. However, you’re fully supported at the same time and people are always happy to help. For me, just being at Microsoft is a highlight. I love working here because every day is different and you get a real sense of accomplishment.

Learnings from Lucy’s journey:

• Always ask questions – there’s always support and resources available
• Never stop learning
• Be proactive and jump at any opportunity that comes your way

To find out more about what it’s like to receive training alongside Microsoft UK professionals and the amazing opportunities you can get involved in as a Microsoft graduate, visit the Microsoft Aspire Experience site and our Student and Graduates career page.

The post Secrets and skills: Behind the scenes with Microsoft UK graduates appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

Never in a million years did I dream I’d be working in a technology company. Not given my degree in the distinctly non-techy field of Political Science.

When I first started at Microsoft, I was only 19, scared to enter the workforce, and unsure how I could positively impact my team. Now, after being here over two months, I understand that a university degree alone doesn’t give you the skills you need to develop for the future digital workplace. Past experiences and the encouragement at work is vital for personal development.

And developing new skills in employees is a wonderful way to keep them engaged – after all, engaged employees aren’t just more productive; your business becomes more profitable, too.

1. Encourage volunteering

People often undervalue volunteering, seeing it as an after-thought. But there’s so much more to it than that. It’s an important way to gain invaluable and – importantly in the world of work today – transferable skills. These tasks also help with personal growth, too.

As such, this is an ideal way to help your staff develop new skills (or improve existing ones). Look for opportunities both within your company and beyond, and help shake that notion that volunteering is largely just ‘something to do’ or a way to boost a CV.

Volunteering has a side-benefit: it makes people feel like they’re making a difference. That has an incredible effect on how your staff will view themselves, impacting morale, esteem, and their overall productivity. In short, it gives people an often much-needed purpose.

Before I joined Microsoft, I was actively volunteering and enthusiastically saying ‘yes’ to any work opportunity that came my way. This gave me fantastic experiences working alongside lots of communities and across different environments and industries. I met people I never would’ve had otherwise, and they taught me invaluable new skills.

Don’t restrict your people. Do anything. Everything.

2. Introduce an early in career programme

Most large companies today offer an early in career programme, which takes on interns, apprentices and new (or soon-to-be) graduates. These programmes are designed to nurture young people’s independence, and put them on the right path as they begin their careers. To ease them into a new culture. To give them real responsibility. To offer the chance to work on projects they’re passionate about.

It’s precisely the start that young graduates need. Fresh employees – brimming with ideas and innovation – are needed for the continued success of any company. Yours is no different.

For instance, Microsoft’s early in career programme lets bright young people join as an apprentice, interns, or graduate depending on experience. They then have the chance, seeing all levels of the business. It’s a chance to work in a proper work environment, allowing them to network with colleagues, and learn new skills. It’s the perfect opportunity to test out new roles and encourage further development.

And while you’re busy strengthening skills in these younger employees, they’re bridging that generational divide and bringing new skills into your business.

3. Identify your workplace culture and values

A workplace culture and easily communicated values are integral to a modern business. It’s a way of creating a sense of community, ensuring everyone’s working towards a common goal.

As an example, Microsoft’s culture is themed around a simple premise: to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. And what could be more empowering that helping people develop new skills?

Ask yourself:

• Who are you (as a company)?
• What do you stand for?
• What do you want employees to get out of working for you?
• How will this manifest itself?

For me, workplace culture involves being part of – and supporting – a team, where you feel comfortable to be yourself without judgement.

Today, a core part of many company cultures is the idea that time should be used, during working hours, to boost the skills and knowledge of employees. Or, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says, “Don’t be a know-it-all, be a learn-it-all.”

Encourage this concept of a ‘learn-it-all culture’ by allowing time for employees to work on skills that help them, and can benefit the business. You may not realise it at first, but you’re now creating an even more productive (and potentially more loyal) workforce – and one that’s grateful for the opportunities you provide.

4. Focus on that work-life balance

In the modern workplace, the employee experience comes first. It affects how your people perform, how they view your company, and where they fit in.

It’s important to know…

• Do your employees have the right tools to perform their jobs?
• Does your employee experience negatively impact your customer’s experience?
• Do you encourage people to maintain a good work-life balance?

Exhausted employees, burnt out from overwork and frustrated by the lack of vital tools, won’t remain employees for too long – or, if they do, won’t be able to perform to the best of their abilities. Nor do you want to tip it in the other direction. An undisciplined company emphasising life over work won’t have much of a business in the long run.

Look at changes you can make across your workplace – such as introducing learning hours that let employees grow – to keep your workforce stable, skilful, and engaged.

However, it’s not just about ensuring the well-being of your employees – although this will undoubtedly be your top priority. Being at Microsoft has already taught me the importance of so much outside of my job role. I’ve also become better at time management. I’ve learned valuable skills I never knew I needed, and ones I’ll never forget. I’ve been empowered.

5. Create accessible, considered support

If there was a phrase that sums up absolutely any workplace, it’d be ‘horses for courses.’ Everyone on your team is different. Diverse workplaces tend to be far more open and innovative – just don’t try to uniformly develop skills for your employees; taking a one-size-fits-all approaches won’t bring out the best in them.

Take older workers, for instance. It’s likely that they’ll need more support and time to master new digital skills that younger employees take for granted.

Or consider how women are represented in STEM, and how you can help your female employees develop in this area. It’s a factor that initially played heavily on my mind when I came to Microsoft. But encouragement and empowerment, and having confidence in my own unique skills has shown me that the technology sector is for everyone; not just the male workforce.

Offer support that’s accessible, tailored to the individual. That way, they can build on the skills they need to grow.

About the author

Komal is a Services Solution Strategist Intern in the Services department. Her role includes helping the team generate leads from 0 to 20%, which involves understanding Microsoft’s solutions and their go-to markets. Her passion for working with people all over the business has seen her involved in planning events, being part of the Campus 101 project, and running the Services interns’ Roundtables. These monthly sessions are aimed at adding to every intern’s personal growth.

The post 5 employee engagement tips to help your team upskill and prepare for the future workplace appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

Name: Aksaya Thayaseelan

University: Birmingham City University – Business and Economics

Role: Customer and Partner Experience Intern

Description of Role:

Within the Marketing and Operations department, I sit in the Customer and Partner Experience team, which focuses mainly on the operations element. The team supports many different aspects across the business which concern the experience of our customers and partners throughout their journey with Microsoft. These include the quarterly survey from our customer and partners, developing successful customer stories, handling the operations of our internal customer account transitions, and more. My role is mainly supporting these different aspects by providing the correct data and resources, creating Power BI dashboards, and running programs such as the Champion awards. This award recognises exemplary employee work, management of the survey, and the cadence of the Voice of the Customer forum.

What does an average week look like?

Each week differs depending on what my focus is. However, I do ensure that I split my time between my job role and extra early in career project responsibilities as well as making time for personal development. I do this by allocating parts of my week to specific tasks. For example, the first few days I focus on delivering my role work. Half a day is dedicated to my early in career project and attending those meetings. Fridays are mainly spent developing my learning by using the resources provided by Microsoft to prepare for the Microsoft Office Specialist exams and the Microsoft Certified Professional exams. I am based in the Reading office, with some days spent in Paddington. I’ve had some exciting opportunities to go offsite for major Microsoft-hosted events such as Future Decoded.

Could you tell us about the highlights of the role?

One highlight is the freedom and opportunity to explore and pursue in different areas that I’m interested in outside of my role. Support from my manager and team has allowed me to dedicate part of my week to getting involved with other teams and looking at a customer and partner journey through a different perspective. This has included learning about how we implement our new products and services to our partners, which they can then use further for their business and customers. This, in turn, has led me to develop my technical knowledge through learning with bots, participating in and facilitating hackathons, and being able to sit data exams. Another amazing highlight has been my involvement in the DigiGirlz core team to inspire young girls across the country to take on STEM subjects, allowing me the opportunity to be part of a program with great social impact.

What has surprised you the most working at Microsoft?

At first, I was surprised by how much Microsoft values those who are early in career. This is promoted through the culture of continued learning and self-development. They give real responsibility and ownership of projects to interns and apprentices. For example, I project manage a quarterly program where I coordinate employees from different departments to bring together tangible outcomes that make an impact in the business. This assignment is something you might not expect from such a big corporation, showing just how much trust and investment Microsoft has in providing the best possible opportunities for interns and apprentices.

What has the transition from university to Microsoft been like?

I found the transition somewhat overwhelming at first. Getting used to the daily 9–5 working schedule compared to a few contact hours per week at university was difficult, but we all settled down quite quickly. My role is quite internally focused, so I spent my first few weeks really learning and focussing on the business structure, our products, and the value of the projects I would be working on. This was an overwhelming and exciting period for me, but the assistance from my team really made me feel at ease and supported during this transition.

What have been your personal highlights of the year?

One personal highlight has been the intern and early in career community, as it has created a comfortable place for me to grow and also work on aspects of myself that require more development. Another was being able to co-host six DigiGirlz events across various Microsoft UK offices and really maximise the impact to a wider range of year 8 girls to inspire them to take on STEM subjects. Not only did this fulfil my desire to create a social impact, it also allowed me to develop a different range of skills such as people and project management.

About the author

Aksaya Thayaseelan is a Customer and Partner Experience intern in Marketing and Operations. She is currently undertaking a placement year and is midway through a Business and Economics degree at Birmingham City University. Aksaya is interested in the experience that customers and partners face throughout their journey and anything related to inspiring women to get involved in tech.

The post A day in the life of a Customer and Partner Experience Intern appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

The aim of my stretch project, Campus 101, is to reach out to as many universities as we can and try to give people the confidence to apply to Microsoft. Sometimes people think they’re not from the right school or the right background to have a chance at being an employee here, but that’s just not the case. Microsoft thrives on diversity. Whether it’s neurodiversity, ethnic diversity, different backgrounds, experience, or gender. I wanted to help encourage everyone to challenge themselves to do more than they believe they can.

Giving students confidence

Campus 101 has several stages to encourage talented people and provide opportunities to empower them. Talented doesn’t always mean confident, so this is where the inspiring and empowering comes in. When I applied to Microsoft, I never thought I would get in. Now that I’m here, no one wants to see me leave!

We started off the year organising four events: Digital Transformation, Careers in Tech, Women in Tech, and Placement Insights. Each event was designed not only to showcase Microsoft culture and encourage people to apply, but also to let people from diverse backgrounds know that technology companies have a place for them. It was a great opportunity for me to able to teach people about technology and its culture. For example, we encouraged those who have studied business degrees that they could learn to program.

After that, we transition into visiting universities, going to campuses and talking with them on their home turf. This is a great opportunity for many of the interns to return to their universities and give back to the people and institution that got them here. I went to University of Reading where I made some great contacts and gained some incredible new friends.

Mentoring to help people succeed

Around three quarters of the way through our internships, we move into the next phase of Campus 101—helping with assessment centres. This is where we meet the new candidates, try to make them feel at ease so they can give their best, and help them start to feel like they are a part of the Microsoft family.

Regardless of whether you succeed at getting an internship, by the time you get to our doorstep you’re already a winner in my eyes. I not only tell the candidates that, but I often stay in touch with them and help guide them and their careers on LinkedIn—even if they go on to other great things besides Microsoft. I naturally have an energy and desire to help other people to succeed, and I’m boring enough to lecture them until they do.

“A simple act of kindness can create endless ripples.”

– Pushkar Saraf

The last part of Campus 101 is the Buddy Team, where we team up the successful applicants with a current intern in the same role. That way we can prepare the newbies for the jobs that they’ll be doing for the coming year. Plus, this helps them to start building their own community, which will be invaluable support for them during their year here.

What I’ve learnt about leadership

As we progressed through this year, I learnt that a leader isn’t someone who does all the work. If you do that, you’ll burn yourself out trying and not enough will get done. Instead, your job is to focus peoples’ efforts and get each task done as needed. When extra effort is required, it’s time to pitch in and make it happen. Being a part of the senior leadership in Campus 101 was a real pleasure. Helping all the teams and watching an army of talented interns running around organising everything was an incredible group effort. I now understand more about the managers that I’ve worked with over the years that I respect, more than I ever could have without Campus 101.

This is why I joined Campus 101—to give back to the institutions that got me where I am, to empower people to strive for the dreams they don’t know they can achieve yet, and to make sure the next lot of interns get to have the same Microsoft family that I’ve enjoyed while being here.

About the author

Adam is a Premier Field Engineer Intern. He studies Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity at Coventry University. At Microsoft, he sits within the secure infrastructure department. As part of his engineering role he helps advise some of Microsoft’s largest customers about their infrastructure and help keep them secure. He also enjoys teaching digital skills that we all need for a brighter future, through both coaching sessions and big event days.

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As an intern at Microsoft, I’m lucky enough to work in an organisation that inspires us all to achieve more – not only in business but within the community too. Because they’re so passionate about this, part of my internship includes a ‘stretch project’. This is a project where we look for ways we can use our passion, skills, and knowledge to positively impact society.

The first step of starting a stretch project is to identify who you are and what kind of person you’d like to become. No stretch projects are bad by nature, nor any of them perfect by design. The most important thing is that most of them are empty vessels, moulded into something positive by your team. This gives room for you to make the change you’d like to see, step by step, and to begin flexing your leadership, collaboration skills, and creativity.

As part of Generation Z, I grew up alongside technology so working for Microsoft was an easy decision. But I have always been distinctly aware that not everyone gets to go on this same journey. Alongside a few others, we started Tech Pathways to ensure everyone can.

Tech Pathways is our stretch project. Our group of Microsoft interns work with young people to drive change. We help show that a career in technology is for everyone.

Bridge the gap

Our mantra is ‘bridge the gap‘. We want to ensure no one is left behind as the world embarks on a digital journey. This journey is as new to us—Generation Z—as it is to industry leads and those propelling this paradigm shift.

As I mentioned, the problem is that not everybody is invited on this digital journey. We have many fully capable young people who are seldom given the opportunity due to individual differences, including:

• Those who do not directly conform to mainstream education
• Families that fall under lower income brackets
• People who were not given the opportunity for behavioural reasons
• Those who are moving closer towards anti-social behaviour
• Those suffering from a debilitating physical or mental illness

As society begins to move forward and we rely more on digital technologies, it is important that we both personally and corporately give equal opportunity to all young people. We need to give them the confidence to adapt, rethink, and consider technology as a suitable industry to grow their skills and begin excelling in.

60 percent of future jobs haven’t been created yet. We should not underestimate the technology shift that is currently happening and how this might affect millions nationally. Nor should we underestimate how intimidating a corporate environment might be for someone who has never been in one.

How we drive change

Our aim is to turn young people’s notions of thinking a career in tech isn’t for them into something that’s possible – and exciting.

We run events through UK. They all have a fast-paced and action-packed agenda. It also includes plenty of chances for people to get hands-on with new technology. It keeps them (and us) as engaged as possible.

In past events, we’ve even held debates and product pitches that require creating inventive solutions. It’s plenty of fun, and that’s the point – a career in tech can be creative and exciting and we want to showcase this.

For those who are unable to visit us in person, we also use Microsoft social pages to livestream events. We aim to keep these as informal as possible, usually having a fireside chat about early-in-career routes or discussing technology myths.

One recent event saw a mixture of 16–24-year-olds enter our doors to learn all about apprenticeships. The idea of the day was not to only talk about Microsoft apprenticeships, but to speak objectively and remind young people that this career route is possible. In fact, it can be an even more effective route than university. The day included sessions on digital identity, a talk by Microsoft UK’s apprenticeship lead, experimenting with the HoloLens, and learning about the new digital revolution.

As a team, it’s important that we remind ourselves why we enjoy doing our work so much. It’s importance that young people find fulfilment in their work and, more importantly at their age, can envisage themselves enjoying work. Since I joined, I’ve enjoyed trying my hand at completely different roles within Microsoft. Everyone should be able to feel this way.

Would I have done anything different?

We live in a world where those who need help are often the hardest to get in contact with. My advice for anyone joining this team or any form of initiative would be to think creatively and try out some unique ways to drive the outcomes you are looking for.

No project will be without problems and the key word is communication. This has to be a core pillar when undertaking any project internally and externally. Set expectations, set ambitions, and work towards these whilst speaking up if you’re having problems and helping out others where it might be needed. Also, listen to what other people are saying when they talk to you, and take feedback and constructive criticism onboard.

Tech Pathways has helped me increase my skills in communication, collaboration, and creativity. I’ve immensely enjoyed working with a passionate group at Microsoft to help drive change in society and reach out to show young people that there are different pathways into exciting and fulfilling careers in technology.

A future for all

We need to ensure we all get involved in this journey to ensure we are all equally prepared for the future. This isn’t something that is only a stretch project. This is something we can all work together towards daily. By doing so, not only will we ensure everyone has the digital skills, but we’ll open up a career in tech to more people, creating a more diverse and innovative future for all.

If you want to get involved with Tech Pathways, drop a line to eduadvocate@microsoft.com. We’d love to find more ways we can help bridge the gap and get more young people considering a career in technology.

About the author

Jake is currently an undergraduate studying Media and Communication at Bournemouth University. Taking a year out to support the Commercial Legal team, Jake has a passion for technology and envisages its use for social change. During his day-to-day, Jake manages Microsoft’s Legal and Compliance Community, ensuring that our customers trust Microsoft as we develop our cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and work around data in this post-GDPR period.

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A blog by Tom Light, focusing on apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships at Microsoft and his experience in Microsoft’s Early in Career community.

I owe a lot to the Microsoft apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships programme. Driving past the Microsoft sign and into the Reading campus on a Monday morning in September 2017, I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement and achievement. I was a tech-savvy 23-year-old, and this moment felt almost like a dream. Having not yet received my employee badge, I did briefly have to explain to security that it was my first day. But that didn’t bother me one bit – I was proud to be one of the newest members of the Microsoft family.

It wasn’t my first time visiting Microsoft UK headquarters, but it was my first time arriving as an employee – and if I’m honest, I almost took my little hatchback off-roading towards the campus lake because I was so absorbed in that slightly surreal moment. They say it’s always important to make an immediate impression. I don’t think tyre tracks over the immaculately-cut grass would have been the best stamp to leave on day one.

I had been working in a sales team at a professional football club since leaving school after completing my A-Levels when I was 18. University never felt like the right path for me. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve always been hardworking and driven, but at that time in my life that drive had steered me down a path towards starting my career as soon as possible, to have an impact on a business, to earn money, and – as I saw it – to be ‘an adult’.

Have I ever reflected on where I’d be now if I’d taken an alternative route? Most definitely. Do I regret the choice I made back in 2012? Absolutely not.

An opportunity presents itself

It had often crossed my mind that my aspiration of working for a tech giant could have passed me by. I’d always had a keen interest in Microsoft in particular, having been brought up surrounded and empowered by their everyday applications like Office and having gone through the education system immersed in a Windows ecosystem. And the fact that the main Microsoft UK offices are pretty much on my doorstep only sharpened my interest. I’m extremely lucky to have a 10-minute commute to the Thames Valley Park campus here in Reading, but I’d have travelled countless miles and sat in endless traffic for this opportunity.

That’s exactly what I saw one day – an opportunity. Looking at the Microsoft careers website, I spotted the advert for apprenticeships within the UK. At first, I clicked it more out of curiosity than anything else, but that single click was the moment that completely transformed my career.

Five years before, when I was preparing to leave school, there was a stigma attached to apprenticeships. The range of industries that offered them were limited, and they were broadly viewed as an option for people who ‘didn’t have the grades’ for university or a job that was seen as a ‘proper career path’. Sadly, my sixth form wasn’t particularly helpful for those of us who weren’t applying to universities – there was a definite feeling of isolation and a lack of support there.

The evolving apprenticeship path

I was surprised at what I found online five years later in 2012. The scope of apprenticeships had clearly evolved, and Microsoft offered a range of roles in both business and technical environments, while affording the chance to work towards Level 3, 4 or 6 (degree) qualifications.

For a while, I’d wanted to get into marketing, but the majority of roles out there were understandably aimed at university graduates. I knew I didn’t want to go back to being a full-time student, but further digging led me to the discovery that Microsoft offered a number of marketing positions as part of their apprenticeship scheme – tick!

I had recently turned 23, and the scheme was open to applicants aged between 16 and 24 (this has since been made completely open) – tick! I took a punt…

My application journey

Within a few days, I received an email thanking me for my application. As I read further, it became apparent that my application had in fact been unsuccessful as I was ‘underqualified’, despite having the relevant GCSE grades required.

Naturally I queried this, and it turned out I had submitted my four A-Levels into the GCSEs box. Microsoft kindly rectified my administrative error. They must have thought “We’ve got a right one here!” – but despite this, I was delighted to be offered a video interview. Just thought I’d throw that little story in. We all make mistakes, but we’re only human and people get that. It’s how we rectify them and learn from them that really counts.

After completing the video interview, I was thrilled to be offered a place at an assessment centre held at the UK headquarters in Reading. I was one of 10 individuals and the eldest, as I expected, but that didn’t bother me. I was part of a group of young, hungry individuals – myself in more sense than one as I’d been too nervous to eat breakfast – and we were all there for the same reason. We all knew what an incredible opportunity we had to make a positive impression and earn a role at one of the world’s largest companies.

One of the key parts of the day was an individual interview. There were a variety of hiring managers there, but it just so happened that I was interviewed by Danielle Crayton. Danielle was a Senior Product Marketing Manager for the Surface product portfolio. Although I was open to marketing opportunities anywhere within the very broad Microsoft business, being a hardware lover, my dream role would have been working in the devices team. This was my opportunity to show my passion and knowledge to an influential person within that field – and the rest, as they say, is history.

The following week, Danielle offered me a role within her team. To say I was ecstatic would be a huge understatement. After further discussions with her following the assessment centre, it became even more apparent that the stereotypical view of apprenticeships was sorely outdated. Apprentices are not tea and coffee makers. They are not assistants. They are real members of real teams with even realer responsibilities and unimaginable opportunities ahead of them.

My role at Microsoft

Over the past 18 months, I have represented Microsoft and told our Surface and Modern Workplace story to both existing and new customers at huge events like Future Decoded and BETT, as well as at many smaller first- and third-party events. I’ve also led our internal communication and readiness streams, focusing on how we can further empower our internal sales teams and partner community.

My favourite part of my position has been playing an important role in the preparation and execution surrounding new product launches. The trust and faith put in me, as an apprentice, to know things such as our product roadmap and to be able to be a part of launch planning months in advance of announcements – well, it’s most certainly not the vision of an apprentice role that I had in my head beforehand. It’s overwhelmingly beyond that.

Add all of the above and more to the fact that Microsoft have invested in my development with marketing-centric qualifications (including a Level 4 Award from the Chartered Institute of Marketing) to complement my day job. I am unbelievably grateful for everything this company has allowed me to achieve. If I had any words of advice for somebody thinking about applying to become a Microsoft apprentice, I’d limit myself to four: Just go for it!

Taking this path has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve built a great network, both internally and externally; become more qualified than I was 18 months ago; and am now stepping off of my apprentice programme to join our UK Public Relations team as a Communications Manager.

When I was 23 and thought a career in marketing within the technology industry was starting to appear to be beyond me, I had no idea that it was just around the corner, ready and waiting for me.

Apprenticeships at Microsoft

Please find more information below on the types of apprenticeships we are offering, based in Reading and London, from October 2019:

• Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship – Digital Solutions Technology

4.5-year programme designed for those looking to start their careers in technology.

Digital Technology Solutions Degree Apprentice (Cloud Solutions Engineer)

Digital Technology Degree Apprentice with (Cyber)

• Level 4 Commercial Supply

2-year programme designed for those looking to start their careers in procurement in our online Microsoft Stores. You will be learning with a team of industry experts who will nurture and support you every step of the way.

Commercial Supply and Procurement Apprentice

• Level 4 Data Analyst

2-year programme designed for those who are looking to start their careers in the world of data, as part of the dynamic online Microsoft Store.

Data Analyst Apprentice (EMEA Planner)

• Level 4 Junior Management Consultant

2-year programme designed for those looking to start their careers working in a fast-paced project environment supporting, consulting and delivering projects.

Junior Management Consultant Apprentice (Customer Evidence & Advocacy)

Junior Management Consultant Apprentice (Worldwide Learning Business Management)

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About the author

Tom is a Product Marketing Manager for Surface for Business at Microsoft UK where he focusses on digital content and customer journey strategies, as well as internal communications and readiness. He is passionate about empowering others to learn and grow, using modern workplace devices as a catalyst. In 2018, Tom also received the Microsoft Early in Career Award for Marketing.

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Name: Sophie Marriott

University: Loughborough University – Communications & Media studies

Role: Marketing Communications Intern

I sit within the Central Marketing Organisation of Microsoft which is the hub of all the main marketing activities that occur for Microsoft’s products like Office 365, Azure and Surface. Our marketing campaigns can either be targeted towards consumers, commercial businesses, or technical audiences. I focus mainly on commercial marketing which includes targeting various business decision makers within the technology industry to help them understand how they can leverage technology to deliver better business outcomes. I work with my manager to plan, create and execute various campaigns that will help people see how Microsoft can help them achieve their business objectives. This involves working with a wide variety of stakeholders from creative agencies to our social media team and events managers. I also work with the analytics teams to report back on the success and engagement of the campaigns to see how we can optimise our campaigns for success.

What does an average week look like in marketing communications?

For me, every week looks different to the last. This is something that I really enjoy about the role because you never know what exciting project may come up that you can get stuck into. Most of the time I will be working with various stakeholders within the business and external marketing agencies to get the campaigns briefed and executed. I am mainly based in Reading, but also attend events relating to the projects I am working on all around the country. It’s a great way to network and meet customers. Alongside this, I like to keep on top of my learning with the endless amount of resources available to us at Microsoft, for example doing my Microsoft Office Specialist exams.

Could you tell us about one of your highlights of the role?

A highlight of my role was working on Bett in January 2019. Bett is the largest education tradeshow event in the UK and we were the head sponsors at the event. I had the opportunity to help with the planning of Microsoft’s presence at the event, and got to attend for 4 days. Being given the responsibility to help organise such a large event was very rewarding because I could see the impact that my hard work had on the successful running of the event. I also had the opportunity to network with a wide variety of people within different jobs, opening my eyes to the diverse career paths that people have taken. To top it all off, I even got to meet Cindy Rose, Microsoft UK’s CEO, at one of the breakout sessions that I helped host!

What has the transition from University to Microsoft been like?

The transition to working life from university was initially quite difficult as your working hours increase quite dramatically. Considering this, I enjoy the routine that working at Microsoft gives me and it didn’t take long to adjust. I am looking forward to going back to university and implementing what I have learnt this year working in a fast-paced and corporate environment to make the most of my last year in education.

What has been your personal highlight of the year?

One of my personal highlights of the year has been partaking in DigiGirlz, an intern led programme that brings Year 8 girls together at the Microsoft offices and exposes them to STEM subjects and coding. It is so important today to get young girls into technology. Volunteering for DigiGirlz made me feel like I was really having an impact and making a difference to their future. To see the students’ budding passion for technology, along with the excitement while taking part in the coding activity, was inspiring. It was an experience that I won’t forget, and I am grateful that I took the opportunity to volunteer.

Find out more

Discover what it’s like to be a Technical Account Manager

Develop your digital skills to prepare for the future of work 

Inspiring young girls to pursue STEM careers

About the author

Sophie Marriott is a Marketing Communications intern at Microsoft. She attends Loughborough University doing a Communications and Media Studies degree. At Microsoft she enjoys working in marketing, attending events and helping to create campaigns that show the value technology can have across various industries.

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