How do I apply for an internship at Microsoft (India Development Center)? I want to apply off-campus, as Microsoft does not visit our campus for internships or recruitment.
It’s a very classic struggle for students like us who are not from the premier institutes where such opportunities seem insurmountable.
This is not something elusive, some of these tech giants do provide us with opportunities.
To answer your question, every year Microsoft has a program called the Microsoft Student Partner/Associate Program. Where Microsoft will select around 400–600 students as MSP’s and MSA’s (More on this later).
As a MSP (Microsoft Student Partner) or MSA (Microsoft Student Associate) you function as a student evangelist and represent the organization on your respective campuses. You get to visit numerous events, organize events along with other MSA’s and MSP’s in & around your city, you receive merchandises, get to participate in elite contests like the Imagine cup and other online activities, you also get free courses on Microsoft Academy. Tantalizing isn’t it?
Now the information of paramount interest: Every year during the winter, Microsoft will organize a meet up for all the MSP’s and MSA’s in some conveniently located city like Bhopal or Nagpur. Here you get an opportunity to score an interview after you clear a very basic test. Upon successfully selection post interview, you get a summer internship opportunity in India or the United States depending on your performance during the interview.
Now, admittance into the MSP and MSA program is arduous. The applications usually come out in the month of June/July. Until last year the selection process included shortlisting based on the application form, a recommendation letter from college HOD/Principle and ex-MSP/MSA (I could provide you that), an essay and a video of your self describing your pertinence as a MSA/MSP and propensity towards technology and Microsoft.
MSP’s are the students who are from computer science and like coding. MSA’s are the students not from the computer science stream and for non-technical activities.
Prepare yourself, wait for a month or two until they start accepting applications from India. Keep checking the link I hyperlinked. Let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Source of all this Wisdom: MSA 2014–15
Good luck!
