Microsoft College Intern Perks (Seattle Times 2009)

t August 10, 2009 at 1:23 PM

Microsoft interns get perks, pay, play

In a year when Microsoft cut close to 5,000 jobs, the company continues to lavish money on its internship program, bringing about 1,000 college and graduate students from all over the country to the campus for the summer.

By Sharon Pian Chan

Seattle Times technology reporter

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STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows division, launches the first of many Microsoft intern-built model rockets at Vasa Park in southeast Bellevue. The event in July commemorated the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Just a few of the perks

XBOX CONSOLE

Opportunity to work on REAL PROJECTS at Microsoft

HOUSING STIPEND

COMPETITIVE SALARY, estimated at $4,600 to $6,000 a month

RELOCATION COSTS

MENTORS

SKY DIVING

PARAGLIDING

PRIVATE PARTY at Pacific Science Center and screening of new "Harry Potter" movie

"INTERN DAY OF CARING," a day of volunteering

PUZZLE DAY, 8 hours of 1,000 Microsoft employees working on logic puzzles

MOUNT RAINIER HIKE

DINNER AT FARESTART

MARINERS GAME

The same day Microsoft reported some of its worst financial results, a dozen buses left the Redmond campus. During rush hour, they headed toward Highway 520 as a phalanx of cops on motorcycles shut down the onramps ahead, clearing the path to the Pacific Science Center.

Microsoft had rented the museum for a private party and a screening of the new "Harry Potter" movie. After the screening, about 600 attendees received a free Xbox 360 video-game console.

The recipients of this VIP treatment? Microsoft's summer interns.

"You feel like royalty to be escorted by police," said Joriz De Guzman, a 19-year-old intern working toward his master's degree in business administration at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

In a year when Microsoft cut nearly 5,000 jobs, the company continues to lavish money on its internship program, bringing about 1,000 college and graduate students from across the country to the Redmond campus for the summer.

The goal, the company says, is to recruit future employees and to turn the interns into walking billboards for Microsoft back at school, chanting "Microsoft gave me an Xbox" or "I went to a barbecue at Bill Gates' house."

"We want to cultivate a pipeline of really, really strong employment candidates," said Kerry Olin, general manager for university recruiting.

"Objective No. 2 is to create the kind of experience and window into Microsoft that sends them back — whether they get offers or not — as people who can be advocates for Microsoft."

read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/200963059_microsoftinterns10.html  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2009630759_microsoftinterns10.html

Want an internship?

1. Microsoft University Careers

   careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/collegembahome.aspx

   Ready For an Internship? Get a head start on your summer plans! Your experiences as an intern at Microsoft will jumpstart your career. See Available ...

   Internships Internships. Jump in to find the opportunity that's best for you ...	Microsoft University Careers ... Microsoft Careers Logo. United States University & MBA. Saved ...
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2. Microsoft University Careers - Explore Microsoft Program

   careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/.../internships-explore-microsoft.asp...

   Explore Microsoft is a 12-week summer internship program that is specifically designed for college underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) and offers the ...

3. Apply for an Internship - Microsoft Research

   research.microsoft.com/en-us/jobs/intern/apply.aspx

   Intern applicants with strong academic achievement in fields such as ... While a large majority of Microsoft Research interns are currently pursuing a PhD ... MicrosoftSearch Lab · Center for Software Excellence · Microsoft College Careers.

4. college internships | Microsoft New England Research ...

   microsoftcambridge.com/blog/site/tag/college-internships/

   Mar 26, 2010 – My name is Kate Rafferty and I am a Staffing Consultant and HR Business Partner to a few of the great teams at NERD. The goal of my blog ...

5. Internship Opportunities - Microsoft Research

   research.microsoft.com/en-us/jobs/intern/

   Internship opportunities Microsoft Research offers internship opportunities at research locations around the world. The majority of our interns are PhD students in ...