What Interviews To Expect
Now, let’s drill down further into the different stages of your software development engineer interview process with Microsoft. Specifically, this will take us deeper into steps 2-4 above, which are:
- HR Recruiter email or call
- First round: phone screen, on-campus or online test
- Second round: onsite, four interviews
In most cases, the interview process starts with an HR recruiter call to discuss your interests and to see what group or team would be best for you. Your recruiter will also use this conversation to confirm that you’ve got a chance of getting the job at all. You should be prepared to explain your background and why youre a good fit for Microsoft.
1.1.1 Microsoft’s first round
If things go well with the recruiter, then you’ll move on to the next step of the process. What happens at this stage varies depending on what team and role you’re applying for.
But, you can usually expect a phone screen if you’re an industry hire, an on-campus interview if you’re a new graduate, or an online test instead of an actual interview in some cases. We’ll review each format below.
Technical phone screens
This step is called the “phone screen”, but it can also sometimes happen over video using Skype. Each interview will last 45 to 60 minutes. You’ll speak to a peer or a potential manager and they’ll ask you a mix of technical and behavioral questions.
On-campus interview
Online coding assessment
1.1.2 Onsite interviews
Question types
The “as appropriate”, AA or ASAPP interview
Microsoft Software Engineer Salary
According to Comparably, a Microsoft Software Engineer earns $136,877 annually.
This includes a base salary of $121,962 and a $14,915 bonus. The annual salary can range from $74,000 to $188,000. The offer you receive will be based on many factors, such as your skillset, experience, and the value you bring to the organization. Your final package will depend on how you perform during the interview and how well you negotiate.
What Roles Do Software Development Managers Perform
Here, your familiarity with the roles performed in this role is being assessed.
Tip #1: State some roles performed by software development managers
Tip #2: Give the impression that you clearly understand your roles
Sample Answer
Software development managers oversee all activities performed by the software development team. They set attainable goals for the team members, offer guidance and advice to encourage productivity, manage multiple projects, and make sure that appropriate processes and procedures are followed in software development. They also monitor and assess timelines and deadlines and ensure they are complied with, lead product reviews and revisions as well as train and coach personnel.
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What Are The Advantages Of Evolutionary Prototyping
Evolutionary prototyping has the following advantages:
a) With the help of evolutionary prototyping, the delivery of the working system becomes very fast.
b) The engagement of the user with the system increases while developing the system.
C) The system is becoming more effective to meet the satisfaction of the customers.
d) The specification, design and implementation all work in the same manner.
Software Engineer Hiring Process:
The recruitment process of a software engineer basically comprises of three stages. Though every company has its own defined recruitment process for selecting employees, here we will be discussing the generalized form of a hiring process.
Stage 1- Basic questions about yourself along with past work experience involved in this stage.
Stage 2 Complete technical round, here the questions will be asked to assess the developers skills and abilities.
Stage 3 Here employees can ask questions to the interviewer about the company as well as the job role.
The interview process should be very straightforward and up to the point. We have listed a few important interview questions for software developers which you can prefer to ask.
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In Software Development What Role Does A Software Project Manager Play
The interviewer wants to assess whether you understand the role played by a software project manager in the development process.
Tip #1: State the role of a software project manager
Tip #2: Show that you are familiar with different roles in software development
Sample Answer
A software project manager is charged with driving a software project systematically. The role involves project planning, tracking project progress, resource management, risk management, overseeing execution of different development activities, and delivering a project on time and within budget.
Have You Ever Failed As A Software Development Manager What Do You Learn
Everyone can fail at some point but the important thing is to learn from failures. The interviewer tests whether you learn from your mistakes.
Tip #1: Describe a failure that you experienced
Tip #2: State the lesson you learned
Sample Answer
During my last assignment, I got a new client who wanted a particular software product for his business. I promised the client that the software would be ready in a month. When the development process began, we realized that some modules were a bit complex to develop and consequently they took time. After a month, the software wasnt ready yet. I realized I had underestimated the project completion time. The client got annoyed by the failed promise. But I reassured him that we were on course. Eventually, we deliver a great product. I learned that it is essential to assess the requirements of a project carefully to know exactly how much time will be needed to deliver it.
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Why Did You Want To Be A Software Developer
There might be certain reasons why the interviewee wants to be a software developer, but the most common answer would be, Because I love coding. A real developer would be passionate about his work and have a deep focus on his ongoing projects. If someone is being a developer just because they are paid high, then its better to ignore him.
Top 100 Microsoft Software Engineer Interview Questions
Software Engineering is an important area in the IT sector. That is to say, with managing the technical areas as well as performing complex system tasks, software engineer gets priority in the technology department of all types of organizations. However, with the growing level of technology, this role not only provides a high range salary but will help you to promote yourself to a more advanced level.
But, fitting into this role requires a good level of technical and interpersonal skills. You can do this by taking advantage of Microsofts different training programs, which will assist you in improving your skills to the point where you can apply for this position. Moving on to the interview process, you may begin preparing and practicing with the top Software Engineer interview questions we will discuss in this blog. So, lets begin!
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Define Microservice Approach And Monolithic App
Microservice Approach. It is an approach where a single application is developed as a suite of small services. Each running in its process and communicating with lightweight mechanisms, often an HTTP resource API.
Monolithic App. A monolithic application can be defined as a single-tiered software application in which the user interface and data access code both are joined into a single program from a single platform. However, this is one type of self-contained and independent from other computing applications.
How Do You Stay Up
The interviewer aims to test whether you stay current with developments in software development.
Tip #1: State how you remain current
Tip #2: Be honest and clear with your answer
Sample Answer
To stay informed about the rapid advancement in the software development industry, I have subscribed to several newsletters that are published by leading software developers and innovators. I am also a member of the local software developers association where we regularly discuss current matters through the associations social media networks. Sometimes, I read articles published by software development journals.
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Describe Web Workers In Html5
Since JavaScript is single-threaded therefore concurrency and simultaneous operations are hard to execute and must be simulated with functions like setTimeout and setInterval.
To help in this, Web workers in HTML5 run background scripts in a web application without blocking changes in the UI.
They help in simulating multi-threading in JavaScript to provide access to simultaneous scripts to run.
What Qualities Should A Software Development Manager Possess To Be Effective
The interviewer tests your familiarity with the attributes that make software development managers successful.
Tip #1: State some qualities that are key to the success of software development managers
Tip #2: Show that you understand the attributes that will make you effective
Sample Answer
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to aweb browser thatsupports HTML5 video
Strong communication skills are essential to be able to communicate effectively to the development team and clients as well. He or she should have good organization, planning, and problem-solving skills to perform effectively in this role. Other vital qualities include good time management, the ability to troubleshoot issues, proactive thinking, and good leadership skills.
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What Language Do You Prefer While Writing Complex Algorithms
Every developer would have a different viewpoint when it comes to the technical questions. Like the preferred language for complex algorithms, the choice might vary. For example, if a developer prefers extremely super high-level languages those are dynamic, and then he wont need to worry about the low-level details.
In Which Scenarios Would You Or Have You Used Dependency Injection
The interviewer may ask this question to assess your understanding and application of the SOLID principles of software architecture. Use your answer to highlight additional instances when you relied on your knowledge of real-world applications of the SOLID principles to incorporate this method of coding to reduce continuous updates.
Example:”Dependency injection allows me to implement the SOLID principles much more effectively by decoupling object usage and creation from each other. This action allows me to reduce the frequency at which I update program classes when dependencies change, giving me better control over the coding in programs I did not develop. Additionally, I’ve completed several projects recently that required dependency injection as an approach for resolving high-frequency updates that caused system lag. By adhering to the dependency inversion principle, dependency injection allowed me to reprogram system classes to update manually.”
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Briefly Differentiate Quality Assurance From Quality Control
Here, the interviewer what test your familiarity with quality control and quality assurance.
Tip #1: Describe quality assurance and quality control
Tip #2: Show the difference between the two terms
Sample Answer
The quality control process ensures that product quality is maintained in the long run. On the other hand, quality assurance makes sure that the delivered software has very few defects.
Besides, quality control is performed by a dedicated support team that is responsible for product quality while quality assurance is conducted by a project testing team.
Dont Forget The Behavioral Aspects
For a Microsoft Software Engineering Manager Role, you may be asked questions such as describing past experiences of leading a project, collaborating with cross-functional teams, handling difficult associates, and more such behavioral questions.
When answering open-ended questions, use the STAR or CAR method to structure your responses. We have covered these methods in detail in the article.
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What Exactly Does Microsoft Look For In Software Engineers
Whether you are interviewing for the position of a Software Engineer, Software Developer, or a senior role like an Engineering Manager or a Senior Software Engineer, some core value expectations from you will remain the same.
Microsoft is looking for software engineers who will bring more to the table than just coding skills. Microsoft believes in finding excellence in simplicity, and therefore looks for the following two qualities in their hires:
Top 26 Coding Questions To Crack The Microsoft Interview
Aiming for a career at Microsoft is a worthy challenge given the companys excellent track record for technological innovation, generous compensation packages, and flexible work-life balance.
As the largest and arguably most influential software company in the world, prospective applicants may find the technical interview process daunting. However, familiarizing yourself with the type of technical questions that will be presented to you and learning to recognize coding patterns will help you navigate these interviews with greater confidence.
Well start with an introduction to 26 common coding questions, move on to an overview of the complete interview process for software engineers, move on to frequently asked technical questions, and then wrap up with additional guidance and resources to maximize your chances of receiving an offer.
Topics covered:
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How Do You Measure The Performance Of Your Software Development Team
Here, the interviewer seeks to test whether you can assess and track the performance of your team.
Tip #1: Describe how you would measure your teams performance
Tip #2: Demonstrate your ability to assess and track performance
Sample Answer
I will begin by setting goals for the development team right from the beginning of every project. Then, I will communicate these goals to ensure all members understand them and what is expected of them. This will enable them to work effectively towards achieving them. I will also set long-term goals and develop ways to assess them. Thus, setting clear goals will help to assess and track employee performance.
Microsoft Behavioral Interview Questions
Next in this Microsoft Interview Questions blog, lets look at the Microsoft interview technical questions which will be asked to you when you are applying for a technical role!
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Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years
This question helps the interviewer determine if you’ll stick around for a while and if your goals match what the company can provide. Answer this question as honestly as possible.
First, you need to know what your long-term goals are. Then, find a connection between those goals and the job description. If the company has different levels of Software Developers, you might say that you want to work toward a mid or senior-level position.
How To Prepare For The Interview
Microsoft develops a holistic view of you as a candidate using competency-based questioning in addition to your resume. They want candidates with strong technical skills that align well with the company values.
| Corporate Values |
|---|
| Ability to deal with ambiguous and uncertain situations or problems with agility. |
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What People Are Saying About Microsoft’s Interview
Here are some positive snippets from interview reviews from Glassdoor:
- “I got referred to a specific team at Microsoft as New Grad hiring was halted for 2016. Talked to a manager on the phone for an hour, and was asked about my resume and did a interview question. Was flown to Seattle 2 weeks later and had an onsite interview with the team at Redmond. It consisted of 5 interviews with coding and culture-fit questions. I was at the Microsoft Campus from 9AM to 4:30PM. The process was nice, and the interviews were more conversational than say Google onsite interviews. I got a call 2 days later with an offer to join the team.”
- “Everyone was super friendly and super excited about future of Microsoft under new CEO leadership.”
- “Took part in an interview event which lasted about half of the day. Four rounds of approximately one hour interviews with short breaks in between. The questions were based on algorithms and Big-O notation for run-time and space complexity. Questions were either straight from or similar to questions in Cracking the Coding Interview. Make sure you understand the complexity of the code you are writing or at least be able to walk through the calculation of it. Practice solving problems from Cracking the Coding Interview and you should do fine.”
Want more coding interview help?
Check out interviewcake.com for more advice, guides, and practice questions.
How To Prepare For Microsoft Interview
Some of the tricks to remember to ace the MICROSOFT interview are:
- Do your research : Dont stop at understanding the position youre interviewing for. You should understand whats happening in the tech industry, what Microsoft is doing well, and how we can make ourselves stand out from the competition. Make sure to prepare questions to ask during your interview. This is also a chance for you to make sure that the opportunity is what you are looking for.
- Know Microsofts core competencies : The interviews will include competency-based questions, as well as questions about your resume. Keep the core competencies in mind. Think of examples you can share or incorporate into your conversation.
- Accelerate the culture: At Microsoft, they believe that living their culture is key to achieving our mission. Selecting people who have the right skills and mindset is important, not only for the company it is today, but also for the company it aspire to be. Their growth-mindset culture is designed to drive innovation and collaboration. Being a learn-it-all instead of a know-it-all fosters curiosity and prompts them to be inclusive and seek new and diverse perspectives.
- Envision your future: Microsoft encourages you to have a vision beyond the role youre applying for. At Microsoft, you can build a career across a variety of teams and disciplines. It has helped employees make a difference in their lives, communities, and careers.
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