FAQs

Q. Who is eligible for the Scheme?: A.
Student Placements
Anyone attending a UK higher education establishment whose course includes a requirement for spending time in employment. The programme offers undergraduate placements for 48 weeks (July to June).

Graduate Scheme
We welcome applications from candidates who have graduated with a minimum 2.1 degree. We can only consider you if you’re eligible to live and work in the UK. This includes all citizens of the EU, work permit holders and Commonwealth citizens who have been given leave to enter the UK on the basis of a grandparent being born in the UK. It also includes spouses of the above. If you are interested in careers outside of the UK please visit your local Microsoft careers site.
Q. What salary do you offer?: A.
The projected starting salary for graduates joining in 2008 is £26,000 (subject to change), including a joining bonus. The projected starting salary for students joining in 2008 is £14,500 (subject to change).
Q. What does the selection process for the graduate and student programmes involve?: A.
A core group will be invited to an initial interview which will be run by Stepstone Obvious (see below for more information). If successful you will then be invited to attend a Microsoft assessment day which will consist of a series of group exercises, presentations and interviews. Initial interviews will be held around the country and assessment days will be held at the Microsoft Campus in Reading.
Q. Who are Stepstone Obvious?: A.
Stepstone Obvious will be handling the initial responses to applications for the graduate and student programmes and you will receive communications from them after you have applied. Obvious is a professional recruitment selection organisation that uses innovative audio-visual techniques in a selection process that aims to balance employer and candidate aspirations. As an agent, Stepstone Obvious are bound by the same terms of confidentiality and professional conduct as Microsoft and give assurance that no information supplied by candidates will be disclosed to any external party or used for any activity other than the consideration for the Microsoft graduate and student programmes.
Q. Can I receive feedback on my performance at each stage of the selection programme?: A.
If requested, feedback will be provided after your initial interview and then after assessment days. We will not provide feedback if you are unsuccessful at the application stage.
Q. What should I wear to interview/assessment events?: A.
For initial interviews and assessment days, business dress is suitable.
Q. What's the company policy on work permits?: A.
For both our graduate and student programmes, we can only consider applications from those who are eligible to live and work in the UK. This includes all citizens of the European Economic Area, work permit holders and Commonwealth citizens who have been given leave to enter the UK on the basis of a grandparent being born in the UK. It also includes spouses of the above. Please check your eligibility before applying, as we aren't able to apply for a work permit on your behalf.
Q. Where can I expect to be located on the graduate and student programme?: A.
We have graduate and student roles both at our campus in Reading and in Central London.
Q. Are there opportunities to work abroad?: A.
Throughout your career with Microsoft you will have opportunities to apply for overseas jobs and placements, but initially your focus would be the UK business.
Q. Do you have a separate MBA programme?: A.
We don't currently have a separate MBA programme. Please visit www.microsoft.com/uk/careers for details on other roles that are available.
Q. I made an application last year – where has it gone?: A.
Each application is only valid for the specific year's graduate or student programme. At the end of the selection process we remove the applications from our database as a matter of policy. You should submit a new application for this year's programme.
Q. Who should I contact if I have a question?: A.
If you wish to contact us about the graduate programme, please send an email to graduate recruitment. If your query is regarding student placements, please email student recruitment. You will receive a response within 48 hours.