This interview process is for a Senior Software Engineer role at Microsoft, specifically for the '63' internal designation. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit within Microsoft.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·5 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$130000 - US$180000
Interview time·180 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) fundamentals. LeetCode Medium/Hard.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice implementing these in your preferred language. Solve LeetCode problems tagged 'Medium' and 'Hard'.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and practice. Read 'Designing Data-Intensive Applications'.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design. Study concepts like load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, and distributed systems. Practice designing common systems like Twitter feeds, URL shorteners, or e-commerce platforms. Read 'Designing Data-Intensive Applications' by Martin Kleppmann.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral questions preparation using STAR method. Research Microsoft values.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral questions. Reflect on your past experiences related to teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and handling conflict. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Research Microsoft's core values.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews and final review. Focus on weak areas.
Week 6: Mock interviews. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors, focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects. Get feedback on your communication, problem-solving approach, and overall presentation. Review any areas where you felt weak during the mock interviews.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Senior Software Engineer or Software Engineer II
This round focuses on your core technical skills. You will be presented with one or two coding problems that require you to implement algorithms and data structures. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your approach to problem-solving and your communication skills throughout the process. Expect to explain your thought process, discuss trade-offs, and consider edge cases.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find the lowest common ancestor of two given nodes.
Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
Design and implement a data structure that supports adding and retrieving elements in both ascending and descending order.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Principal Software Engineer or Architect
This round assesses your ability to design large-scale, distributed systems. You will be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific service or application. The interviewer will expect you to break down the problem, identify key components, discuss data models, APIs, scalability strategies, and potential bottlenecks. You should be prepared to justify your design choices and discuss trade-offs.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
Design a system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform.
How would you design a distributed key-value store?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager or Senior Team Member
This round focuses on your past experiences, behavioral competencies, and how you approach work and collaboration. You'll be asked questions about your career, how you've handled specific situations (e.g., challenges, conflicts, successes), and your motivations. The goal is to understand your working style, leadership potential, and how you fit within the team and Microsoft's culture.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you faced a significant technical challenge and how you overcame it.
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it?
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
Why are you interested in working at Microsoft?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Hiring Manager Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager
This is typically the final round with the hiring manager. It's an opportunity for the manager to assess your overall fit for the team, discuss your career aspirations, and answer any remaining questions you might have about the role, team, or Microsoft. It's also a chance for you to ensure this is the right opportunity for you.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What are your career goals for the next 3-5 years?
What are your thoughts on the team's current projects?
Do you have any questions for me?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Microsoft loops
Other guides
