A Full Guide for How to Pass the Microsoft Interview
Updated November 20, 2023
Common Microsoft Interview Questions
Behavioral:
- Talk to me about a time when you succeeded in a goal.
- Tell me about a project that you led and it failed.
- What draws you to work at Microsoft?
Technical:
- Find the number of rotations in a circularly sorted array.
- Store a list of numbers as a single number.
- Write the back end of Cortana.
Other:
- What is your favorite software product?
- What do you think is the best thing about VR?
- How would you optimize a coffee shop?
Microsoft is one of the most popular and innovative companies in the world. With jobs available worldwide in almost every role and excellent employee benefits, the recruitment process is both thorough and competitive.
The only way to ensure you secure a job offer is to prepare. This article is designed to give you information about the Microsoft interview process and includes:
- Tips on how best to prepare
- The hiring process
- Examples of common Microsoft interview questions
What Is the Microsoft Hiring Process?
Statistics show that Microsoft receives around two million job applications each year so it’s no surprise that it has a very rigorous selection process.
The main stages of the Microsoft hiring process include:
- Your initial application where you submit your resume
- Phone screening to discuss your resume and get a better understanding of your skill set
- Aptitude tests including logical reasoning, situational judgment and any role-specific tests such as mechanical reasoning
- Video interview
- In-person interview or assessment day
During your recruitment process, Microsoft will also conduct a background check to confirm your employment and education history and to check you haven’t committed any crimes.
The Microsoft Interview Process
When applying for roles at Microsoft, you’ll notice that the Microsoft interview experience is very different to other recruitment processes. This is mostly because of the several interviews you have to complete.
These include:
- Microsoft phone screen interview
- Technical phone interview
- Virtual on-site interviews
- As-Ap interview
- HR interview
Recruitment Screening Call
Depending on the role you have applied for, there will be differences in the type of screening call you receive.
For all roles, you can expect the recruiter to discuss your resume to gain a better understanding of your skills.
During this call, the recruiter will be assessing how well you communicate, so it is important to prepare, even at the earliest stages of the recruitment process.
For the Microsoft software engineer interview process your screening call will include a coding test, where you will have to complete a coding task with the recruiter watching. Other technical roles can expect this assessment also.
You will have 30 minutes to complete it and the assessment usually includes:
- Arrays and string
- Queues and lists
- Linked lists
- Trees
- Hash maps and hash sets
- Graphs
You will also be expected to show and discuss the algorithms you used.
The initial screening call can last anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes.
Technical Phone Interview
For those applying for technical positions, you will have to complete another phone screening interview seven to 14 days later.
This call can be quite intense as it assesses your technical knowledge, expects you to offer multiple solutions and requires you to defend your choices.
Your recruiter will provide you with the topics and questions a few days before the interview so you have time to prepare.
Virtual On-Site Interviews
This part of the Microsoft hiring process used to be face-to-face.
However, Microsoft now prefers to do these interviews remotely.
Taking up most of the day, this is a full-on interview process.
You will sit through four or five back-to-back interviews.
Your interviews will be conducted by senior management from the department you have applied for. You might also be interviewed by different departments or teams; this is to give Microsoft more options regarding where to place you.
The questions are a mixture of behavioral and technical and get progressively harder the more interviews you complete.
For the Microsoft intern interview process you can expect similar technical questions, but your behavioral questions will be less specialized and based on life experiences rather than just work.
After each interview, the interviewers will award you “hire” or “no hire”.
If you receive three “no hires” you will be asked to leave the recruitment process.
There will also be a group interview with other members of the team you aspire to join. Its setting is much more casual than the other interviews, but your performance is just as important.
As-Ap Interview
The next interview you might be asked to attend in the Microsoft recruitment process is known as the As-Ap interview.
This stands for 'as appropriate' and is held by senior management.
This is the interview that will determine your recruitment outcome.
The interviewers have access to all your previous interviews and will ask questions based on what they need more information about.
Depending on how much the senior management liked you, you will either receive:
- An immediate job offer
- A job offer one to two weeks later depending on the Microsoft interview response time for that position
- An invitation to an HR interview
HR Interview
The HR interview is not mandatory for all applicants in the Microsoft job offer process.
However, if you are completing an HR interview, the chances are high that the company wants to employ you.
At this interview, you can expect more behavioral and technical questions designed to confirm if you are the right person for the role.
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Example Microsoft Interview Questions
While the Microsoft hiring process timeline is longer and more thorough than with many other tech companies, the questions asked are fairly standard.
You will be asked a series of behavioral and technical questions, as well as some that don’t fit into either of those categories, but give the interviewer an idea of the type of person you are.
Behavioral Questions
1. "Talk to me about a time when you succeeded in a goal."
Using the STAR method, you want to describe a time that you achieved a goal. Ideally, you would have achieved it through an innovative process, or the goal itself was to produce something innovative.
If it was a team effort, focus on your input rather than the team’s and back your results with a statistic or figure such as 'improved output by 34%'.
Example answer:
One notable success story comes from my previous role as a project manager at XYZ Company. We were tasked with launching a new product within a tight deadline, which was crucial for the company's growth strategy.
To ensure success, I meticulously planned the project, set clear objectives, and collaborated closely with cross-functional teams. Despite facing a sudden change in product specifications, we quickly adapted, held a team meeting to brainstorm solutions, and revised our plan without compromising the overall timeline.
Through effective project management, collaboration, and adaptability, our team successfully launched the product ahead of schedule. The outcome exceeded stakeholders' expectations, resulting in increased sales and market share.
This experience reinforced the importance of leadership, communication, and the ability to navigate challenges. It also showcased my dedication to teamwork, adaptability, and achieving organizational goals.
2. "Tell me about a project that you led and it failed."
In this question, the interviewers are looking to see how you work in a team, how you lead and how you handle failure.
Everyone has setbacks and failures. The desired skill is being able to own up to your mistake and turn it into a success. As one of Microsoft's values is accountability, this is the perfect question to demonstrate that.
No matter the example you use, always steer the conversation back to your successes. In this instance, a lesson learned, a new skill acquired or a better outcome than originally expected.
Example answer:
One project that I led, which unfortunately didn't meet its desired outcome, was during my previous role as a software development team lead at ABC Company. Our goal was to implement a new software solution to streamline internal processes and enhance productivity.
Despite meticulous planning, unforeseen technical challenges during the implementation phase resulted in delays and difficulties in achieving the desired functionality. We promptly communicated setbacks, analyzed the issues, and explored potential solutions. However, it became evident that the original scope and timeline could not be met within the available resources.
While the project didn't achieve its goals, it provided valuable insights. I took responsibility, openly acknowledging challenges, and discussing lessons learned. It reinforced the importance of risk assessment, adaptability, and continuous communication.
This experience taught me the significance of resilience, problem-solving, and leveraging failures as opportunities for growth.
3. "What draws you to work at Microsoft?"
This is a very common Microsoft interview question and simply lets the interviewer know what you like most about Microsoft.
In this question, you want to reflect Microsoft’s culture and values as much as possible.
Avoid generic answers such as “I want to work with a company that allows innovation”.
Be specific. What innovative product/service/software did you wish you had a part in developing?
The more specific, personal and unique you make your answers, the more you’ll stand out as an ideal employee.
Example answer:
What draws me to work at Microsoft is its global reputation as a technology and innovation leader. Microsoft's mission to empower individuals and organizations resonates with my desire to make a meaningful impact through technology.
The company's culture of continuous learning, diversity, and inclusion, along with its commitment to sustainability, further solidify my admiration. The opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies, collaborate with brilliant minds, and contribute to global initiatives is both exciting and fulfilling.
Microsoft's ability to create positive change and shape the future of technology makes it an irresistible choice for me.
Technical Questions
Depending on the role you have applied for, you might also have to answer technical questions.
These will be tailored to your role and are mentioned in the job description.
During the Microsoft program manager interview process you will be asked questions about coding and system design.
What makes Microsoft questions different from other companies is that it looks for scalable and efficient solutions and your knowledge of specific technology and infrastructure.
Example questions include:
- "Find the number of rotations in a circularly sorted array."
- "Store a list of numbers as a single number."
- "Design the back end of Cortana."
Other Questions
The following Microsoft hiring event interview questions are a little more light-hearted but allow the interviewer to get to know you better.
Use these questions to show your personality and passion. Of course, try to mimic Microsoft’s values and culture, but don’t be afraid to be expressive.
The kind of questions you can expect are:
- "What is your favorite software product?"
- "What do you think is the best thing about VR?"
- "How would you optimize a coffee shop?"
How to Prepare for the Microsoft Interview Process
The Microsoft interview process for experienced candidates and interns alike is incredibly thorough so preparing is important.
Below are several things you can do to help you feel more confident.
Step 1. Research the Role
Recruiters interview hundreds if not thousands of people each year and the candidates who stand out are those who directly relate their experiences to the role.
Use the same words and phrases found in the job description as a guide for finding the best examples from your past to use in your answers.
Step 2. Familiarize Yourself With Microsoft Values and Skills
Knowing and understanding Microsoft’s values and work culture will help you tailor your answers. The interviewers are looking for those candidates most suited to the role and company.
Microsoft's cultural values are:
- Growth mindset
- Diverse and inclusive
- One Microsoft (all working towards one goal as one team)
- Customer obsessed
- Respect
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Manager expectations – be a role model and enforce these values
Demonstrating these attributes in your answers makes it easier for them to identify you as an ideal employee.
Step 3. Practice Interviews With Friends and Family
While role-playing can be uncomfortable, practicing your answers out loud will help develop your communication skills.
Ask whoever you are preparing with to take note of your body language, what you do with your hands and how you speak. If you feel comfortable enough, record yourself so you can see how you present yourself.
You want to practice open body language, with minimal hand movements and very little stuttering or stammering in your words.
Hearing your answers out loud will also help you change and adapt them to sound more confident and professional.
Step 4. Consider Your Strengths and Weaknesses
The primary skills Microsoft looks for are:
- Problem-solving through innovation
- Analytical thinking
- Technologically capable and passionate
- Communication
You will naturally be better at some of these than others. Recognizing the areas you need development in shows maturity, a willingness to learn and self-awareness.
There is nothing wrong with answering a question by demonstrating that skill with the best example you have, and ending with “I recognize this as an area that needs development and I am currently working on it” or “I hope to develop this skill further at Microsoft”.
When answering Microsoft internship interview questions, having this self-awareness is even more valuable as you won’t have as much work experience to refer to.
As internships are designed to develop skills and knowledge, sharing the areas you want to develop during your interview shows you have considered your personal and professional development.
Step 5. Learn the STAR Answer Method
The STAR method is a tool that Microsoft recruiters recommend all candidates use to answer the behavioral Microsoft interview questions.
The letters stand for:
- S – Situation
- T – Task
- A – Action
- R – Result
The goal of this tool is to have you answer your questions in a concise format that prioritizes key information.
When answering a question using STAR, you would state:
- Situation – Company, role and an overview of what was happening
- Task – The job or role you were assigned with the desired outcome
- Action – What you personally did to reach that goal
- Result – What the outcome was, preferably with statistics or figures to back your success
What to Remember During a Microsoft Interview
No matter how much preparation you do, you will more than likely still be nervous during your Microsoft interview process but try to remember:
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You can ask for clarification if you need it – It is better to ask for a question to be rephrased or repeated than to answer completely wrong.
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Pause to gather your thoughts before answering – You don’t need to answer immediately after the question is asked. Take a few seconds to gather your thoughts and take a deep breath before you start talking.
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Be specific with your answers – If you’ve done enough preparation and you’ve learned the STAR method, your answers should be specific. Be careful not to let your nerves take over to the point where you start going off-topic.
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Keep it short but informative – The interviewer only has a limited amount of time with you so keep your answers to a minute or two and only include essential information.
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Look at the interviewer – Keeping eye contact shows confidence. Of course, you don’t have to stare at them the entire time but try to avoid looking down or away when you talk.
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Keep notes handy – One of the benefits of having a Microsoft phone screen interview and virtual interviews is that you can have as many notes around you as you want and no one will know. You can have bullet point notes of all your favorite experiences, and the STAR acronym to remind you how to answer. If you have the space, you can even have bullet point notes for specific questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The interview process at Microsoft involves a series of interviews including an initial phone screening that will include a coding assessment for technical roles, a second technical phone interview, a virtual on-screen interview consisting of four to five interviews with management, an As-Ap interview with a senior manager and an HR interview for final confirmation of a candidate’s suitability.
Without preparation, Microsoft interviews can be difficult. However, if you have done enough preparation then the interview process will be much easier.
You can prepare for the Microsoft job interview using any career-focused website such as Psychometric Success, WikiJob and the Microsoft career site, which has lots of advice and preparation tips.
The Microsoft interview process can take anywhere from two weeks to a month depending on the role you have applied for.
The number of interview rounds during the Microsoft recruitment process will depend on the role you have applied for and your performance. However, there are five possible interviews that you might have to attend.
The two that all roles must complete are the initial phone screening and the virtual on-screen interview. The optional ones are a technical phone screening interview, an As-Ap interview and an HR interview.
The Microsoft hiring process ends when you either receive a job offer or have been informed you have not been successful. This can take anywhere from two weeks to a month.
The two main interview question types are behavioral and technical. For a higher chance of success, the best way to answer is by keeping your answers short and only sharing important information. You want to use the STAR method where possible and back up your answers with statistics or figures.
Depending on the role you have applied for you can expect a series of behavioral and technical questions. The behavioral questions are similar across all companies. The technical questions will be tailored to Microsoft and your role.
It is believed that Microsoft has an acceptance rate of under 2%. However, this can vary depending on the role, level, location and quality of the other candidates.
The salaries at Microsoft vary depending on the role. The lowest-paid employees earn less than $99,000, while the highest earn $172,000 or more. The average salary is $131,100.
You will know if you have passed the Microsoft job interview because you will receive a job offer. Some candidates receive an offer immediately after the final interview, while others might have to wait one to two weeks.
You can find an online guide for the Microsoft interview on career-focused websites such as WikiJob and Psychometric Success or on the Microsoft career site, which has lots of advice and preparation tips.
Final Thoughts
The Microsoft job offer process can take a long time and contains multiple stages.
When beginning your recruitment journey, ensure you have enough time to prepare thoroughly. Research the company and role as best as you can and prepare your questions ahead of time.
If you are applying for a technical position, dedicate time to learning the specifics of your job description. Microsoft loves details and it expects you to know every element of your craft.
Finally, take care of your health and well-being and remember that you applied for this job because you believe you have the skills, so show them to your recruiters.
