What it does: Microsoft is into the design and development of computer systems, software applications, book publishing, provision of email services, video games as well input and output computer accessories. This firm also created and owns the Windows operating system, the most common computer operating system.
Mission: Microsoft is committed to empowering every individual and company worldwide to achieve more.
Size and presence: Microsoft has over 200 employees in Nigeria.
Best known for: Microsoft is one of the most significant information technology companies in the world. It reigns in the IT and software industry alongside big names such as Apple and Google. This company is known for actively contributing to digital innovation, inventing the popular Windows operating system, and producing several high-quality computer systems and accessories.
The good bits: Great work culture, good work-life balance, numerous employee benefits, job security, and great pay.
The not so good bits: Intense work pressure and high work stress.
In 1975, Paul Allen and Bill Gates founded Microsoft. Gates became the head of the organization, while Allen named the company. Two years later, Microsoft had an agreement with Japanese media outfit ASCII Magazine to establish the first international office of ASCII Microsoft. In 1979, this form relocated its headquarters to Bellevue in Washington.
With time, Microsoft established itself as the top vendor of personal computers on the market. In 1983, the firm expanded into emerging markets when it created and launched the Microsoft Mouse. They also established Microsoft Press, their publishing arm. That same year, Paul Allen resigned from Microsoft after contracting Hodgkin's disease.
In 1985, Microsoft invented the Windows OS, a graphical upgrade to MS-DOS. 1986 was a notable year for the company because it relocated its headquarters to Redmond and was publicly listed. The rise in its stock turned the fortunes of many of its employees.
In 2019, Microsoft established its first operations center in Lagos, Nigeria, to push digital innovation in Nigeria and Africa by extension.
Microsoft didn't climb to the position of an industry leader based on financial or commercial success alone. The company also has a great work culture that other firms envied and even modeled. Its work culture embodies diversity and a growth mindset. By believing in the unique potential of its employees, the company has welcomed innovation and ideas from its employees.
The company believes a collaborative work culture will enable it to churn out better ideas and manufacture better products. Microsoft considers itself a family of like-minded people. Naturally, a fresh graduate will feel at home at Microsoft.
Microsoft adopts a hiring process that involves several stages to get the most qualified fresh graduates and experienced professionals. The process typically involves an online screening and some physical interviews. After completing these stages, Microsoft offers the job position to the candidate.
Microsoft has a unique career culture. It's not necessarily about getting promoted or rising to the top of the organizational hierarchy. It's about gaining expansive and extensive work experience in your job role and related job roles.
It's about taking advantage of the company's training programs to prepare oneself for a more advanced role and performing excellently in it when the opportunity presents itself. Microsoft rewards hard work and performance, so career progression is guaranteed here.
There's even an irresistible perk; young interns and fresh graduates will be surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the software and IT industry.
The average annual salary for a fresher at Microsoft is ₦9.3 million.
Through the 4Afrika Initiative, Microsoft has actively contributed to digital innovation in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Since 2013, Microsoft has enabled affordable access to the web, training programs for digital skills, and a healthy entrepreneurial atmosphere for start-ups to thrive.
According to news reports, Nigerians debated the effectiveness of Microsoft's partnership with the Federal Government to train not less than 5 million Nigerians through various digital upskilling programs.