My Microsoft LEAP experience
One of the top questions that I get from LinkedIn messages is…
“What was your experience with Microsoft LEAP?”
This is a valid question but definitely depends on the person because each leaper’s experience is different and their own. Today I want to take some time to share what my time was like being in the first user experience design cohort for LEAP. Hopefully this will help those thinking about applying to the program make a decision or prepare those who are going to be in the next cohort.
Before I dive in, I want to provide some background for those who aren’t familiar with the program. The Microsoft LEAP Apprenticeship program is “designed to accelerate job-readiness for careers in technology.” The program originally started with a software engineer pathway and has now expanded to include paths for program managers, data analysts, and user experience designers. To learn more about each pathway and their requirements check out the “Pathways” section on their website. If you are thinking about applying, make sure to check in with Microsoft LEAP’s LinkedIn page because they will let you know when applications for each path is open.
Now that we have the basics covered, let’s talk about my experience.
The interview
The on-site was completed in one day with 2 back to back 45 minute interviews. For each of these interviews, I had a portfolio walkthrough followed by the standard behavioral questions. Although I was really nervous, both of the interviewers I had made me feel really comfortable.
What really helped me through the portfolio piece was making sure I thoroughly understood the projects I wanted to present. What also helped was knowing a few different work experiences that I could relate to the questions they asked. One of the highlights for me was meeting fellow candidates who eventually became my fellow leapers :)
Classroom portion (4 weeks)
The classroom portion was different from my expectations. Overall, I had a positive experience with the support from our instructors and the bond I made with my cohort. There were also a lot of great things to learn from the guest speakers that were related to what we do at Microsoft, training basics on the tools, and an opportunity to do a design sprint in groups. However, it would have been helpful to have more training that would prep me for working with my sponsored team.
With that being said, I am grateful that the LEAP program was very receptive to feedback from me and my fellow cohort for making some improvements with the curriculum. My hope is that the future cohorts will have the tools they need to be successful with the work they do after the classroom time.
Team and projects (12 weeks)
This experience will definitely vary from team to team so take mine with a grain of salt. Overall, I had a pretty good time working with my sponsoring team. They were supportive and happy to have me onboard. Unfortunately, the pandemic started in the middle of my second week which led to remote work and ultimately impacted my future with the team. Take this into account as you read the next paragraph where I describe my project experience.
I was assigned one project that I could work on from end-to-end. My team was pretty hands-off when it came to my project work which had it’s pros and cons. I like that they gave me the ability to lead the design work but it would have been nice to have more guidance on how the team approaches projects. Things like communication with our program managers and engineers, choosing which design or research method to use based on project requirements/timelines, and what to do when you reach a road block with the project.
Closing thoughts
I think joining the Microsoft LEAP Apprenticeship program will provide a great opportunity to get your foot in the door as a junior designer. Since I was part of the first cohort, we definitely felt the growing pains but I am hopeful that the program for design will continue to improve.
Make sure to do your part by researching the program and seeing if it’s the right fit for you. My experience isn’t everyone’s experience so let it guide your decision but not make your decision.
