Tips for Microsoft Interviews
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
I'm fairly sure it won't actually be Bill who's interviewing you ;) It won't be single 6hr interview - it will be a series with a bunch of different people. To prepare for it get plenty of sleep, dress neatly and be yourself. You either have the experience and knowledge or you don't - last minute studying isn't going to help. Typically an interviewer will want to see the type of person you are (how you present, whether you will fit in etc) and will also ask you some questions ranging from general knowledge through to specific problems in order to get an idea of how your brain works. cheers, Chris Maunder
-
I'm fairly sure it won't actually be Bill who's interviewing you ;) It won't be single 6hr interview - it will be a series with a bunch of different people. To prepare for it get plenty of sleep, dress neatly and be yourself. You either have the experience and knowledge or you don't - last minute studying isn't going to help. Typically an interviewer will want to see the type of person you are (how you present, whether you will fit in etc) and will also ask you some questions ranging from general knowledge through to specific problems in order to get an idea of how your brain works. cheers, Chris Maunder
Thanks chris for your advice,:) But actually i do have some time.. its not like last minute studying.. I have about 12 days. So atleast i can practise the stuff rigourously which they focus more. anyways, Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
6 hours try to get enough food :laugh: Try to write-down your points before you start the interview Something likes "what you will say if he asks you about web future" You should tell us what happened with you after 12 days Good luck and make "SALAT AL ISTIKARAH صلاة استخارة " If you don't want to do any mistake don't do anything
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
There was an article on MS interviews in Reader's Digest not too long ago. I remember them talking about throwing in oddball questions like "How do they make M&Ms", and "What would you add to Bill Gates bathroom".
:suss: Pssst. You see that little light on your monitor? That's actually a government installed spy camera. Smile and wave to big brother!
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
Study a few of the puzzles here : http://www.techinterview.org/[^] to get an idea of some of the 'brainteaser' type questions that may come your way. Good luck. :)
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
It's said that Microsoft's interviewing strategy changed significantly in the course of the last few years; the whole 'How do I move mount Fujji?' case seems a thing of the past. I recommend watching these movies: (Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft? - not even a year old) http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=18472[^] And: (Gary Daniels and Evan Goldring - Mock whiteboard problem) http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=19350[^] According to those videos and the interviewers themselves you can expect a whiteboard problem if you apply for a technical position. Good luck!
-
Thanks chris for your advice,:) But actually i do have some time.. its not like last minute studying.. I have about 12 days. So atleast i can practise the stuff rigourously which they focus more. anyways, Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
I agree that preperation is absolutely essential for some people. Let me put it this way. When I used to interview, I would study rigorously for the interview. Going over things like what I had done, how I did it, how it could have been better and so on. The funny thing is that 99% of what I "studied" leading up to the interview was never asked. However, just the fact that I had studied put me in a positive state of mind such that I was much more relaxed and confident. Cheers, Tom Archer - Archer Consulting Group Programmer Trainer and Mentor and Project Management Consultant
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
I cannot speak for Microsoft, but in our company of only 500 people, a 5 hour interview is possible, and preferred. It depends on how much time can be arranged. We have been known to do the "group interview" but it feels too much like a firing squad, where there are questions instead of bullets, but the feeling is the same. The decision making after interviews are always shorter when there is a longer interview process. When we have the long interview process, which we prefer, there is a one on one interview process through several people. You go, get the tour of the facility, get the historic references, all to relax you, then you get top management interviews and department head interviews, and staff interviews. In the staff interviews you always get at least one or more white board problems, either obviously or subtly. The specifics of the process is always different, even for us, I agree with the people who say be yourself, know what you have done, if only for the confidence it gives. I always ask about what they did, digging deep in the processes, that is my whiteboard problem, have them show me what they have done. but looking for details of the inner workings from someone who wrote it as apposed to someone who "just worked on it" in a group. And even if the latter, to assess the knowledge of what everyone did and the level of cooperation. Be positive, be yourself, be honest. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
Firstly, as has already been stated... don't expect to interview with BillG. Interviews are conducted via a formula. You will have two in the morning... a lunch hour (almost always accompanied by one of the interviewing staff), then two interviews in the afternoon. The final interviews are for the Dev. Managers and Program Managers. You are likely to get an programming question from the Dev. Manager, but not the Program Manager. Next, I've created an on-line book of ACTUAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN ASKED AT MICROSOFT INTERVIEWS: http://b.jonasson.home.comcast.net/Questions.html[^] This is in a book control, so simply flip the pages to review the questions and answers. This "book" was requested by an old friend of mine whom is currently the technical recruiter for a local contract agency that uses these questions/answers to prepare candidates for Microsoft development interviews. *Truth in disclosure statement: I have in the past, and currently work at Microsoft.
-
I agree that preperation is absolutely essential for some people. Let me put it this way. When I used to interview, I would study rigorously for the interview. Going over things like what I had done, how I did it, how it could have been better and so on. The funny thing is that 99% of what I "studied" leading up to the interview was never asked. However, just the fact that I had studied put me in a positive state of mind such that I was much more relaxed and confident. Cheers, Tom Archer - Archer Consulting Group Programmer Trainer and Mentor and Project Management Consultant
I tend to prepare for interviews not by studying what I'm being interviewed for, but by studying the company/product. I think that gives me an overall idea of what I'll be working on, and allows me to ask questions that show I have taken an interest, and more to the point, that will give me a real idea of what the job will entail. But of course, it's not likely this guy needs to bone up on what Microsoft sells, or how their products look :-) Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
-
I tend to prepare for interviews not by studying what I'm being interviewed for, but by studying the company/product. I think that gives me an overall idea of what I'll be working on, and allows me to ask questions that show I have taken an interest, and more to the point, that will give me a real idea of what the job will entail. But of course, it's not likely this guy needs to bone up on what Microsoft sells, or how their products look :-) Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
Good point. Most of my interviewing was done before the Web and during its infancy. Therefore, information on a company wasn't nearly as prevalent as it is today and came in the form of a briefing from the recruiter. Cheers, Tom Archer - Archer Consulting Group Programmer Trainer and Mentor and Project Management Consultant
-
Good point. Most of my interviewing was done before the Web and during its infancy. Therefore, information on a company wasn't nearly as prevalent as it is today and came in the form of a briefing from the recruiter. Cheers, Tom Archer - Archer Consulting Group Programmer Trainer and Mentor and Project Management Consultant
The best part of my last interview was the look on their consultants face when I told him his employment history, having read it on the web. :-) I dunno if I would have got the job, I got a second interview, then I got a better offer to stay where I am ( I asked my boss for a reference at that point ). Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
-
Firstly, as has already been stated... don't expect to interview with BillG. Interviews are conducted via a formula. You will have two in the morning... a lunch hour (almost always accompanied by one of the interviewing staff), then two interviews in the afternoon. The final interviews are for the Dev. Managers and Program Managers. You are likely to get an programming question from the Dev. Manager, but not the Program Manager. Next, I've created an on-line book of ACTUAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN ASKED AT MICROSOFT INTERVIEWS: http://b.jonasson.home.comcast.net/Questions.html[^] This is in a book control, so simply flip the pages to review the questions and answers. This "book" was requested by an old friend of mine whom is currently the technical recruiter for a local contract agency that uses these questions/answers to prepare candidates for Microsoft development interviews. *Truth in disclosure statement: I have in the past, and currently work at Microsoft.
Thanks a lot! :) Your site is cool.. and book is pretty impressive. Is there any kind of multimedia projector or computer with interviewer (if i wat to show him some project outcomes or brief presentation)? Should i take notes of various things i have made for interview with me during interview? i mean, is it allowed? Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
-
Guys, i cleared my telephonic interview and written test for SDE and SDE-T positions in Microsoft and Bill Gates has invited me to come over to Dubai from Pakistan for face-face interview. Though my stay inDubai would be too short (just 1 day). They say it would be 5-6 hour interview.. Just want tips for this upcoming interview. + I am wondering what would they ask in 5-6 hour interview.. i mean 5-6 hours is too much time. How should i prepare for it? + Anyone here who had some similar experience, would you please share? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
M.Shoaib Khan wrote: invited me to come over to Dubai Hmmm, I thought they always flew in people into Redmond for these day long interviews. Nish
-
M.Shoaib Khan wrote: invited me to come over to Dubai Hmmm, I thought they always flew in people into Redmond for these day long interviews. Nish
Well, not exactly. They usually fly to nearest Microsoft offsite office. And for Pakistan, it is Dubai. So Nishant i.e. THE Programming GURU :) any tips? Ok just post me some tough programming question u have in ur mind? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
-
Firstly, as has already been stated... don't expect to interview with BillG. Interviews are conducted via a formula. You will have two in the morning... a lunch hour (almost always accompanied by one of the interviewing staff), then two interviews in the afternoon. The final interviews are for the Dev. Managers and Program Managers. You are likely to get an programming question from the Dev. Manager, but not the Program Manager. Next, I've created an on-line book of ACTUAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN ASKED AT MICROSOFT INTERVIEWS: http://b.jonasson.home.comcast.net/Questions.html[^] This is in a book control, so simply flip the pages to review the questions and answers. This "book" was requested by an old friend of mine whom is currently the technical recruiter for a local contract agency that uses these questions/answers to prepare candidates for Microsoft development interviews. *Truth in disclosure statement: I have in the past, and currently work at Microsoft.
Pretty cool - so are you working for MS now? If not, the loss seems to have been theirs. Nish
-
Well, not exactly. They usually fly to nearest Microsoft offsite office. And for Pakistan, it is Dubai. So Nishant i.e. THE Programming GURU :) any tips? Ok just post me some tough programming question u have in ur mind? Thanks Muhammad Shoaib Khan http://geocities.com/lansolution
M.Shoaib Khan wrote: any tips? Hey Shoaib Just be as relaxed as possible and you should do well :-) Nish