The Experience Microsoft Programme (EMP) - an internship programme where Microsoft Malaysia takes in university graduates under its tutelage for 12 months.

Sounds like any internship? That's where you're wrong! It's more fun, you get more responsibilities (yes, that's a good thing) and there's a chance you'll get hired after the end of your internship.

But not any Tom, Dick or Harry (or Sue, Jane or Mary) can get in just like that. You've got to fit in, you've got to be competent and you've got to have a passion for technology (much like The Apprentice except you get to work for Bill Gates instead of Donald Trump).

"We're looking for people who have the requisite skills for the job they're applying for. They've also got to fit in. Adapt. Be one with the company and the people working in it," said Microsoft Malaysia Public Sector Strategic Engagement director Abdul Rahman Abu Haniffa.

"We don't want to waste our time and their time trying to make them fit into an environment that they're not comfortable with," he said.

Sounds scary? It isn't, really.

At Microsoft, the interns refer to Abdul Rahman as just 'Abdul' (such insolence!), have monthly breakfast get-togethers with the senior management and sometimes they even hang out after work.

All non-obligatory. Unbelievable? Well, it's true.

The reason for EMP

"We wanted to help groom Malaysian talents as well as build human capital, which is something our prime minister has always vowed. Human capital is the most sustaining capital," Abdul Rahman said.

"The programme is perhaps also our answer to unemployment in the country.

"We also hope to impart our corporate culture to our interns. This doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be boring or stodgy," he said.

"We hope to teach them Microsoft's new set of corporate values, which is the eagerness to take on big challenges, passion for whatever they do, self-critical of everything they take on, accountable for all actions, open and respectful to peers as well as integrity in all matters.

"We feel that on-the-job training is more impactful than other methods of learning like formal training or self-study," he explained.

"The problem with young graduates"

Are jobs really that hard to come by? Are accusations that "fresh graduates are too picky and lazy" misplaced? Maybe.

It's definitely unfair to generalise and taint the 'good name' of all graduates just because a few black sheep were being, well, black.

"There are some companies out there who employ interns or fresh graduates just for the sake of cheap labour," Abdul Rahman said. "In some bad interning experiences, the trainees only get to learn the art of photocopying, stuffing envelopes or coffee-making."

Which is why those looking for a job or an internship should snoop around to see what the company culture is, and try to bank yourself a spot in a company like Microsoft that lets you be as much as you can be.

Microsoft Malaysia's public relations intern Vanessa Miranda shares how she handles and 'overcomes' difficult interning experiences.

"I've been in numerous internships and I, too, have been stuck in impossible situations.

"You've just got to ask yourself 'what's the point and objective here,' and learn how to get around those problems and get what you set out to achieve. That in itself is a lesson," she quipped.

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. And when your boss tells you to make coffee, you darn well make a cuppa that's worthy of a Starbucks stamp of approval.

The Interns

Vanessa Miranda - 24 Department: Public Relations Graduate from: University Technology of Sydney, double major in Marketing & E-Business 1. What are some of your daily tasks at Microsoft Malaysia? Assisting my manager to prepare press briefings or special events organised by Microsoft (i.e. Tech SEA 2006), help prepare information materials and send daily news summary reports. 2. What were you doing before you joined the company? I was pursing my Master's in Charles Stuart University, which is facilitated locally by HELP University College. 3. What's the most challenging task or situation you've had to handle so far?The most challenging situation was during the Tech Ed SEA, where I had to coordinate press activities for local and foreign media with 120 foreign and local speakers. Talk about challenge! The entire exercise taught me a great deal about coordination.

Kennedy Goh Sung Yi - 23 Department: Server & Tools Product Marketing Graduate from: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Bachelor's (Hons) Degree in Management Marketing in IT 1. What are some of your daily tasks? My daily responsibilities include leading partner readiness, conducting promotions and follow-up on leads for Microsoft's Server and Tools products. 2. What were you doing before you joined the company? I was a student at USM and also working part-time as a photo editor in a photo studio. 3. What's the most challenging task or situation you've had to handle so far? The most challenging task so far is when I had to lead a discussion with Microsoft's partners. As an intern, that's quite a big deal!

Gunalan Manokaram - 23 Department: Technology Specialist Graduate from: University of Staffordshire, UK, Bachelor's Honours Degree in Computing (3+0 programme with APIIT) 1. What are some of your daily tasks? My primary role is as Pre-Sales Engineer focusing on Windows Server Systems. I'm involved in pre-sales activities such as Architectural Design Sessions and Proof of Concept application development to demonstrate certain customer scenarios and eventually to exhibit technical and business values for our customers (I'm lost, are you?). 2. What were you doing before you joined the company? I was a software developer for a reputable software house. 3. What's the most challenging task or situation you've had to handle so far? One of the biggest challenges was to exit from my comfort zone, which was my previous job as a developer. This is in line with Microsoft's belief in stretching every employee's potential by exiting from their comfort zones to take up big challenges.

Jolene Loh - 22 Department: Customer Partner Experience Graduate from: University of Charles Stuart, Bachelor's Degree in Business Marketing & Management 1. What are some of your daily tasks? Divisionally, I work on driving customer satisfaction by improving the process of current customer communication. On a daily basis, I work to increase awareness within each department about upcoming projects that improve customer satisfaction. 2. What were you doing before you joined the company? I was working in a lot of part-time jobs in the field of event management, retail coordinating and sales. 3. What's the most challenging task or situation you've had to handle? I would say it was when I had just joined Microsoft, and we had to adapt to the company and the other interning colleagues. We were all strangers and had to iwork as a group for one of Microsoft's events! Having to discover each other's unique strengths during such a short time was challenging for me.

Chia Sheng Sin - 23 Department: Technology Specialist Graduate from: Multimedia University, Bachelor's (Honours) Degree in IT (Major: Software Engineering) 1. What are some of your daily tasks at Microsoft Malaysia? During any fine day, I help in delivering pre-sales presentations as well as preparing proofs of concept solutions for customers. I also help customers in solving some of their technical issues on the SQL Server. 2. What were you doing before you joined the company? Prior to joining Microsoft, I was working as an IT Consultant for a while and then I got called up by Microsoft for the EMP programme. 3. What's the most challenging task or situation you've had to handle so far? If I had to pick one, I would say it was the time I was sent for a regional summit and was required to deliver my presentation in both English and Mandarin (for Chinese delegates) in front of a crowd of 500. I was just two months into my job!

Experience Microsoft Programme - Have you got what it takes?

Not to scare you off from applying, but here are some traits one needs to have to make it as an EMP intern:

• Passion
• Integrity and honesty
• Self-critical
• Academic excellence
• Participation in co-curricular activities
• Language proficiency
• Communication and listening skills
• Accountability
• Ambitious
• Team worker

I want to be in EMP!

• The second intake for the EMP will be around May next year.
• For applicant requirements and where to send applications to, visit Microsoft Malaysia's webpage at http://www.microsoft.com/malaysia
• Responsive in tough situations