Sales Operations Program Manager Review

I work within the Marketing and Operations Department and my role is to support the UK Sales Organisation (roughly 1000 people) through internal processes such as Account segmentation, customer alignments, revenue disputes, internal tools access and permissions. I also coordinate our annual planning process for Small, Medium and Corporate companies.

Throughout my time at Microsoft I've had huge opportunities to gain qualifications in office programs, Azure, Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Microsoft 365. Additionally, I've also seen improvements in my project management, stakeholder management, Prioritization and communication skills which has developed naturally throughout my job role at Microsoft.

I love the opportunities that are offered to me within my current role within the team. I'm treated as an equal and given as much responsibility as any other employee, This gives me further room to grow and develop new connections which will lead me to future career opportunities.

I do feel that there could be a stronger connection between Microsoft and Aston University. There tends to be work on the Microsoft side and learning criteria on the Aston side which I have to fill in the gaps. More deliberate connections throughout the program would be beneficial to me.

I have a fantastic support network within Microsoft with a great manager and many mentors that I meet with regularly, there is a well structured performance review process which keeps me aligned to manager expectations. Again, This is disconnected to Aston Uni so I often have to merge the two.

I have worked with a variety of lecturers within my training provider and consistently have the same feedback for Aston. The university lacks a consistent format for the online delivery of it's courses between different modules. Assessment Criteria, Online Learning Content, Reading Lists are all unique and need aligning.

The current program has a range of interesting topics across: Sales, Marketing, Strategy, Finance, Project Management and Operations Management. I enjoy the flexibility on offer by Aston as module content is easily accessible through an online learning plaform which has more than enough information to support my growth in Microsoft Activities.

I've been invited to many company events which have given me a greater connection between my colleagues as well as improving my understanding of the companies culture, Mission, Vision and Strategies. There are also many extra-curricular activities across professional and non professional interests which I've taken part in.

Yes

Microsoft provides a significant opportunity to any early in career who manages to land a role in the company. The organisations prestige alone can act as a stepping stone towards greater career opportunities, the company culture, learning opportunities and experiences also contribute towards a great environment for any new apprentice.

The technology industry is huge, working for Microsoft doesn't demand technical expertise. There are hundreds of roles across sales, marketing, HR, Finance which can be suitable to any audience. Roles are competitive though, so make sure you put in the time and effort to ensure you secure a position.