Your story: the Microsoft interview
This posting details a candidate´s experience interviewing with Microsoft. Our guest poster, Joe, has further recorded his insights at his blog My Technical Interview Experience, where he offers advice on how to be successful in the programming technical interview/recruiting process. Take it away, Joe...
Much has been made of how generous Microsoft is to its employees and how it´s consistently ranked as one of the best companies to work for. What a lot of people don’t know is how well Microsoft treats its interview candidates. During my programming job search, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to interview with many companies. Below, I’ve listed some ways that Microsoft stood out from the rest with its generosity:
Information Sessions
Microsoft information sessions are very well thought out and usually feature 2-3 employees on hand to sell the company and answer questions. Free food is served and at the end of the presentation, expensive prizes like Zunes and Xboxes are raffled off to the audience.
On-campus Interviews
When Microsoft interviews on-campus, they’ll hold a pre-interview event for those invited to interview. In it, food will be served and the interviewers will talk about the structure of the interview, give advice on how to prepare, and also answer any questions you may have.
On-site Interviews
Before the interivew, Microsoft will invite you to attend a web cast entitled “How to Survive the Technical Interview." The web cast will be presented by a current Microsoft manager and will contain an extremely informative slide show which gives advice on how to be successful during your on-site interview. At the end of the presentation, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions.
Transportation
If you’re flying in to interview, Microsoft will give you the option to rent a car and will pay up front for it (you don’t have to worry about being reimbursed).
Allowances
If you’re flying in to interview, Microsoft will grant you a very generous $75 daily allowance for food and a $30 daily allowance for internet / long distance calls and will also pay up front for it.
Extra Sight Seeing Time
If you’re flying in to interview, Microsoft will schedule you to stay an extra day and night so that you can go sight seeing. A Microsoft representative will meet with you before your interview and put together a packet containing information on things you might be interested in doing / seeing. This is also done for internship interviews.
7 Comments
UP said:
Dear TA, I was wondering when would be a good time to re-apply for a college-grad Program Manager (US)position after having the phone interview in November '09? March or April '10? Also, when I re-apply should I have to submit my CV again? Thank you!
eight said:
i'd love to fly out for an interview! :)
jobsblog said:
Hi UP - Typically, our US college recruiting team conducts interviews with a specific applicant once per school year for all positions open that year. So if you had a phone interview in Nov 09, I would suggest reapplying (and submitting a new CV) at the beginning of the 10-11 school year. (Our US college teams continues to work with recent graduates up to a year after graduation.)
gretchen
UP said:
Thanks, gretchen. If I'm graduating this Spring, I guess I'll be still considered for a 10-11 school year college position as a RCG? The job description says "Pursuing a B.S./M.S. or Ph.D.", with emphasis on "pursuing." It's somewhat confusing for RCG candidates.
YG said:
Hi,
I received a email yesterday saying i will have a phone screening and my timings, i applied for a intern position i would like to know if there are any resources which would be of some help before i have this interview.
jobsblog said:
Hi all - Just a reminder that we have recruiters available to answer off topic questions on our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/MicrosoftCareers. We try to use the JobsBlog comment area to discuss the most recent post.
Thanks!
Gretchen
ClubPenguinCheats said:
Hi all, it's really a good news.