Be Your Future

My name is Aoibheann Gleeson and I am a marketing graduate working in the Irish sales and marketing team. I am on the sales and marketing graduate rotation program currently working as the Irish Partner Marketing and Engagement Lead. Each year, for the next three years I will have the opportunity to change roles and deepen my understanding of how the sales and marketing organisations work and find out what area of the business I would like to further my career in.  I love working in Microsoft and could not think of anywhere better to start my career in.

I joined the marketing team for my first rotation in July. As already stated I am the Irish Partner Marketing and Engagement Lead so my big focus is on our partners. Very simply, Microsoft relies on its partners to sell the range of products we offer. My role involves communicating with our partners on a regular basis to help them up-skill and sell our products, ensure they uptake on relevant trainings and that they are aware of the benefits and resources available to them as a Microsoft Partner. Most of this is done through our partner communication channels (Irish partner newsletter, blog, twitter a/c, partner website) but we often engage with our partners via face to face partner events so event management is another key aspect of the role. Additionally I work on enterprise marketing for two days a week and own the marketing calendar and communications for the Irish sales and marketing organisation. The Sales and Marketing organisation is an extremely fast paced part of the business and made up of very extroverted and passionate people. We are continually competing with the market and no day is ever the same in here!! There is a great buzz and it feels great to be part of it.

How did I get into Microsoft? I Studied Commerce in UCD, majoring in international business and completed my degree in May 2010. Commerce is a well-rounded business degree that gives you a fundamental understanding of business.  Shortly after I graduated I was very lucky to get a last minute 10 month internship position in a project management role and started working in Microsoft Ireland in August 2010. I was in a unique position during my internship because unlike most interns I had already graduated and was able to apply for the graduate programme straight away. In late January I underwent 5 interviews and managed to come out the other side with a graduate job I could not have been happier to know I would be staying in Microsoft and furthering my career with this company!

Working in Microsoft is fantastic! This week Microsoft was officially named as the best company to work for in the world …it doesn’t get much better than that! In reality working in Microsoft is a lifestyle. It is more than just a job. It is about being part of something that makes a huge difference. My friends often ask me what it is like to work in Microsoft and they can’t get over that we have no clock in/clock out system or a day start and end time. We work around trust. From day one on the graduate programe you are a full time employee. You will not file. You will not make cups of tea for other people. You will be part of a team working on real projects from day one. Some of my favourite things about Microsoft are:

1. The people – we work with brilliant people!
2. The no uniform policy – shorts, flipflops, t-shirts – whatever you want!
3. Having access to the latest technology.
4. Being challenged continuously.
5. The benefits – knowing Microsoft has you and your families back is very comforting.
6. The travel – next July I’m going to the USA for the first time for a Microsoft conference

My advise to anybody applying to the graduate programme is…

(1)  Be yourself and only yourself!

(2)  Do not be nervous. The people interviewing you are people too. They were once in your position. They want to see you for you so try and relax and let that person come out.

(3) Research in advance – know your stuff!

Best of luck – Aoibheann