- The Intern to MACH (Microsoft Academy of College Hires) program is aimed at building a strong talent pipeline for Microsoft Malaysia, and adding to the diversity of the organization.
- As part of the Intern to MACH program, the interns organized TechFemme – an annual, APAC-wide event to celebrate gender diversity and inspire young women to pursue a career in technology
- TechFemme’s line up of distinguished speakers included Datin Rowena Florece, HR Director, Microsoft Malaysia; Jasmine Begum, Director of Corporate, External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft Malaysia and Emerging Markets; Sulin Lau, Head of Marketing Services, Maxis Berhad; Kym Lim, Managing Director, HP PPS Sales Malaysia and Jessica Li, co-founder of Dah Makan, speaking to a crowd of about 150 participants.
Kuala Lumpur, 13 September, 2016 – Microsoft Malaysia’s (“Microsoft’s”) Intern to MACH (Microsoft Academy of College Hires) organized its third annual TechFemme event, to celebrate gender diversity in technology and inspire more young women to pursue a career in IT. Held on 10 September at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, the Malaysia version of the APAC-wide event saw distinguished speakers such as Datin Rowena Florece, HR Director, Microsoft Malaysia; Jasmine Begum, Director of Corporate, External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft Malaysia and Emerging Markets; Sulin Lau, Head of Marketing Services, Maxis Berhad; Kym Lim, Managing Director, HP Malaysia and Jessica Li, co-founder of Dah Makan, speaking to a crowd of about 150 university students.
Organizing TechFemme is an example of how Microsoft creates a customized learning experience for its interns through its robust Intern to MACH program. During a 12-week long comprehensive module, these lucky undergraduates will receive an in-depth induction, on-the-job and professional skills training and supportive mentoring from some of the best minds at Microsoft.
This internship module falls under the aegis of the global MACH program, which allows interns an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and develop valuable skills in the disciplines of marketing, technical and sales fields in the technology industry. Following their graduation, these interns will then have the opportunity to become MACH hires – therefore, becoming full-time employees within Microsoft Malaysia.
On the internship program, Datin Rowena Florece said, “Microsoft is an organization that provides every one of its employees, customers, and people whose lives we touch achieve more – being able to positively impact others is really what inspires us in our work every day. This internship program is one example as it sets the foundation for the youth to always find meaning in their work – to regard work as a place for innovation, personal growth and an opportunity to positively impact others. Working on business projects allows our interns to get a handle on real-world scenarios, while in turn allowing us to identify the best talent, and build a strong pipeline for future hiring for Microsoft.”
Applying for Microsoft’s Intern to MACH program
The Intern to MACH Program and application process is tailored to the digital generation. Applicants apply online and submit either a written or a video profile of themselves for screening, which is submitted to the APAC University Recruitment team who vets through thousands of submissions before the top 30 to 50 are brought in to Microsoft for a full day assessment.
During this assessment day, they are then given a case study to work on, and broken into groups to devise solutions which cover three disciplines – marketing, technical and sales. This group work allows them to demonstrate skills such as collaboration, confidence, inclusion and an opportunity to lead a team.
Once the case study presentations are made, six to eight finalists are chosen and given a position as an Intern to MACH in Microsoft, undertaking the 12-week long program to work on an entirely new set of business projects. At the end of their internship, these individuals will present their business projects with Microsoft’s Senior Leadership Team.
Jo Anne Ooi, who recently finished her internship at Microsoft reminisces about her experience, “I got the opportunity to work with the sales and marketing segment and it taught me about creativity, openness, and teamwork – especially when it came to organizing road shows, and events such as TechFemme. What I also realized is that Microsoft actually imbibes the true spirit of an open culture. During my project, I found great guidance from other employees. Initially, I was a bit nervous to approach them, considering I was just an intern, but they were extremely forthcoming and that helped shape my project tremendously.”
Besides having access to all global Microsoft resources, the program also brings together interns from all across Southeast Asia to share their experiences, network and brainstorm on their projects during a Summit on their first month. Chester Chin shares his insights, “I have been coached by some of the best people during my Microsoft internship. They allowed me to explore the various aspects of technology in my segment. I actually put myself in their shoes and this mentoring helped sharpen my skills. Also, meeting the other interns at the Summit in Bangkok was extremely helpful as I learned about collaboration, diversity, and inclusion. It was a memorable experience.”