Summer Internship with Microsoft Corporation — Dolly from Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Wildcard Entry for: – 15th August 2012
Name of the intern: – Dolly
Institute: – Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Organization interned with: – Microsoft Corporation, India
Dolly Arora, Microsoft! Just as the Placement Committee announced this, my happiness knew no bounds! At 22, landing an internship with one of the most prestigious companies on campus was a feeling unmatched. What followed was another semester of gruelling assignments. But one thing that kept me going was the experience I was looking forward to at Hyderabad. The build up to the internship included sending in our preferences for projects, discussions with seniors as to what is it that we should and should not do and finally, the nervousness of ‘first day at work.’ But all said and done, when we reached Hyderabad, all set, it truly was a feeling unmatched!
The Microsoft Campus at Hyderabad, houses three divisions of the organization. I was working with the India Development Centre. First day at work, we entered into the tall imposing blue class building, in chic formals, dressed in our best. The first thing that caught my eye was the dress code! From a gentleman walking in a gym gear, to a lady moving around in shorts! The place was a ‘no formal wear’ organization! What better! It was more of a campus than a workplace. Even the interiors spoke volumes about the fun and friendly work culture. Nap rooms, X-Box on every floor, foosball tables! During the course of the eight weeks I spent in Hyderabad, there was tremendous learning in the HR domain and experiences which will be etched in my memory.
For a fresher, with no work experience in a corporate set up, the high of receiving a first pay cheque, the endless meetings and discussions over the scope of my project, the applauds for a job well done, the calls made across the globe, all of these will remain very special to me. I presented my project to the leadership team and landed an interview for a final offer. Even though I could not convert it, I am extremely grateful to the organization for the support they extended and the responsibility entrusted in me. The cherry on the cake, my project will be implemented in FY 13 by the organization! But, as they say, ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,’ there are three people I bonded with, over the course of my internship, I will never forget. My mentor was a constant source of encouragement. I look up to her for not only her professional milestones, but her individuality which stood out in her personality. During the first month, she ensured that I received support and was accepted into every team. She attended meetings and took keen interest in the developments of my project. Over the next month, she let me execute my tasks with greater independence and authority having gained experience in the organization. She nurtured, took care of me, knowing that I had no corporate experience and at the same time, and pushed me to believe that I could do better. From sensing when I was in doubt, to answering my questions without the slightest hint of impatience, she truly made my first work ex fantastic!
At Microsoft, we were five interns, from three top colleges of the country. The spirit of competition did not stop us from bonding with each other. We were lucky, that four of us, were putting up in the same residential complex. So the midnight chai sessions, discussions over our projects, the weekend movies and dinners, the nervousness before the final presentations, the constant encouragement when any of us reached a deadlock situation and above all, the celebrations for each other and with each other, is what made it so special! With one of us, finally joining Microsoft, as a full time hire, we are sure that we would go back to Hyderabad, and live that time again! Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away! Hyderabad truly did do that!
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