Giving talented developers a head start on their careers
Tags: Student, Student to Business, Turkey, workforce development
Through the Students to Business (S2B) program, Microsoft collaborates with universities and businesses to provide students with specialized IT training and help them find jobs and internships at local companies.
Program Fast Facts
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SITUATION
graduates lack experience and companies are faced with high costs to find and train them
SOLUTION
MS S2B connects young professionals and companies, bringing value to both sides
- 1500 Turkish students participated in the S2B program
- 100 local companies are part of the program
- 35 countries have S2B activities worldwide
BENEFITS
- young developers experience corporate work early
- local companies easily gain access to young enthusiastic developers
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Ali Servet Eyuboglu is a student in his final year at Gebze Institute of Technology, but he already has a head start on his career thanks to an internship at Netron, one of the Turkey’s largest IT services provider. He wants to gain some practical experience as well as gaining knowledge of the industry. Ali got his job through Microsoft’s Student to Business (S2B) program that is connecting talented computer science students with jobs at local level.
The program is a response to the fact that universities around the world are producing a large number of talented developers. However, the time and expense of finding and training new graduates is an issue that many companies encounter when recruiting.
Students participate in the program by registering at the S2B portal, to then submit their resume. Afterwards they can browse the portal and apply for positions that interest them. At the same time, companies may search the site for students with the skills and experience they require. If specific skills are demanded by employers, then Microsoft may offer additional training which could last from one-day workshops to intensive courses lasting several months.
This approach is a perfect solution for companies who need steady stream of motivated new employees to fuel its rapid growth.
Hasan Tuncer, a computer science senior at Koc University in Istanbul, recently completed his S2B internship at Digiturk, Turkey’s largest satellite television provider.Tuncer especially valued Digiturk’s willingness to let him work on ambitious projects that took advantage of what he’s learned. “When I started working there, they told me I would be implementing Web applications,” says Tuncer. “But after three days, they noticed that I had some experience with multimedia networks and wireless television, so they put me on a project to implement an Internet browser for televisions.”
Digiturk’s Banu Çelikkaya Ilgen says the S2B program fills an important need—helping her company find Microsoft-qualified people. “Working with students is a great advantage for us,” Ilgen adds. “They are eager, and they want to learn new things. This helps when you’re working with new technologies all the time. Students are open to everything. They just want to be part of something new.”
This approach helps local companies fill their short-term skills needs, as well as contributing to a sustainable local industry in Turkey. Eminay Yurtseven, Academic Programs Manager for Microsoft Turkey, says, “The S2B program helps local companies grow and thrive, while ensuring that our students have the skills and experience to support a strong software industry for many years ahead.”