Microsoft rounds of interview | Here’s EXACTLY How I Got an Offer

Hey there! 👋

So, you want to work at Microsoft? Awesome! But let’s be honest: the Microsoft rounds of interview can feel like climbing a mountain. Where do you even start? Don’t worry—I’m here to break it down like we’re chatting over pizza.

Think of the Microsoft interview rounds as a video game with levels. Each round tests different skills, and I’ll show you exactly how to beat them. By the end, you’ll be ready to tackle the Microsoft rounds of interview like a pro. Let’s go!

Level 1: Resume Screening (Your First Microsoft Round of Interview)

Your resume is your golden ticket to the Microsoft rounds of interview. But here’s the secret: Microsoft’s hiring team gets thousands of resumes. Yours needs to scream, “Pick me!”

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How to win this round:
Imagine your resume is a movie trailer. Keep it short, exciting, and packed with your best moments. For example:

• Instead of “Worked on software projects,” write: “Built a weather app used by 500+ people!”
• Use keywords from the job ad. If the role says “Python” or “team collaboration,” add those words!

Microsoft also uses software to scan resumes first. Sneak in phrases like “problem-solving” or “Agile” to make the robots happy. And if you know someone at Microsoft, ask them to refer you—it’s like skipping the line!

Pro Tip:
Microsoft loves results. Write numbers: “Saved 20 hours a month by automating reports” sounds way better than “Did coding tasks.”

Level 2: The Phone Screen (Your Second Microsoft Round of Interview)

This is a 30–45 minute call with a recruiter or engineer. They want to see if you’re ready for the next Microsoft rounds of interview.

What happens:

• Coding puzzles: They’ll ask you to solve a simple problem, like sorting a list of names.
• Behavioral questions: “Tell me about a time you fixed a mistake.”

How to prepare:
Pretend you’re explaining the answer to a 10-year-old. For example:

• “To sort names, I’d arrange them alphabetically, like organizing books on a shelf!”
• For mistakes, say: “Once, I forgot to save my code and lost hours of work. Now I save every 5 minutes!”

Smile while talking—it makes you sound friendly, even on the phone!

Level 3: The Onsite/Virtual Rounds (The Big Microsoft Interview Rounds)

This is where most people get nervous. You’ll face 3–5 rounds, depending on the role. Let’s break down each part of these Microsoft rounds of interview:

A. Coding Round (Like Building LEGO Towers)

Microsoft wants to see how you think. They’ll ask questions like:

• “How do you find duplicates in a list?”
• “Design a calculator app.”

What to do:
Talk out loud! Say, “First, I’ll loop through the list. If I see a number twice, I’ll flag it.” Even if you’re stuck, say, “Hmm, maybe I can try this…” They care more about your process than perfection.

B. System Design Round (For Senior Roles)

You might get asked to design something big, like a music app for 1 million users.

Simple trick:
Compare it to something familiar. For example:

• “Storing user data is like using a giant filing cabinet. Microsoft Azure could be the cabinet!”

C. Behavioral Round (The “Are You Nice?” Test)

Microsoft wants friendly teammates. They’ll ask:

• “Tell me about a time you helped a coworker.”
• “What’s your favorite Microsoft product?”

Example answer:
“My teammate was stuck on a bug. I stayed late to help, and we fixed it together!”

Level 4: The Final Microsoft Round of Interview (Team Matching)

If you pass the technical rounds, you’ll chat with a hiring manager. This isn’t a test—it’s a chance to see if you’ll enjoy working with the team.

Ask questions like:

• “What’s the team’s biggest challenge right now?”
• “How does the team celebrate wins?”

This shows you’re curious and care about fitting in.

5 Easy Tips to Ace the Microsoft Rounds of Interview

1. Practice coding daily (use free tools like LeetCode).
2. Tell stories, not facts. Instead of “I know Python,” say, “I built a Python game for my niece!”
3. Study Microsoft’s values (check their website!). Use phrases like “growth mindset” in answers.
4. Wear comfy clothes (nobody cares if you’re in pajama pants for virtual rounds!).
5. Be yourself. Microsoft hires humans, not robots!

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What If You Fail a Microsoft Round of Interview?

It’s okay! Even geniuses mess up. One friend failed the coding round twice before nailing it. Learn from feedback, practice more, and try again.

FAQ: Microsoft Rounds of Interview

Q1. Is there a “Microsoft rounds of interview PDF” guide available?

While Microsoft doesn’t publish an official PDF, many candidates create or share unofficial guides summarizing their experiences. For reliable resources:

• Check Microsoft’s Careers Blog for tips.
• Use platforms like Glassdoor or LeetCode for free downloadable interview prep sheets.
• Visit jonesposts.com for structured guides (we’ll publish one soon!).

Q2. What are common “Microsoft rounds of interview questions”?

Questions vary by role, but here’s a general breakdown:

• Coding Rounds:
  • “Reverse a linked list.”
  • “Find the longest palindromic substring.”
• System Design (experienced roles):
  • “Design a URL-shortening service like Bitly.”
• Behavioral Rounds:
  • “Tell me about a project where you mentored others.”
• Leadership Rounds:
  • “How would you handle a disagreement between team members?”

Pro Tip: Practice on LeetCode’s Microsoft Tagged Problems or InterviewBit.

Q3. What is the “Microsoft interview process for experienced candidates in India”?

For experienced hires in India, the process includes:

1. Resume Screening: Tailor your resume to highlight leadership and technical depth.
2. Technical Phone Screen: Focus on coding and domain expertise (e.g., cloud, AI).
3. Virtual Onsite Rounds:
   • 2–3 coding interviews.
   • 1 system design round (e.g., “Design Ola’s ride-matching system”).
   • 1 behavioral/leadership round.
4. Hiring Manager Round: Discuss team fit and long-term goals.

Q4. How do “Microsoft interview rounds for experienced” differ from entry-level?

Experienced candidates face:

• Harder System Design Questions: Focus on scalability (e.g., “Design Netflix for 10M users”).
• Leadership Evaluation: Questions like, “How would you improve our Azure DevOps pipeline?”
• Domain-Specific Tests: For roles in cloud/AI, expect deep dives into Azure, ML, etc.

Q5. Where can I find “Microsoft interview questions”?

• LeetCode: 300+ Microsoft-specific coding questions.
• Glassdoor: Real interview questions shared by candidates.
• YouTube: Channels like “Tech With Tim” break down solutions.
• Books: Cracking the Coding Interview has a Microsoft section.

Q6. What is the “Microsoft hiring process timeline”?

• Entry-Level Roles: 4–6 weeks (resume → offer).
• Experienced Roles: 6–8 weeks (may include extra team-matching rounds).
• Delays Happen: Teams sometimes pause hiring, or feedback takes longer.

Q7. What is a typical “Microsoft interview experience” like?

Candidates describe it as:

• Friendly but Challenging: Interviewers guide you but expect clear problem-solving.
• Collaborative: They care about how you think, not just answers.
• Real-World Focus: Questions often mirror Microsoft products (Teams, Azure, etc.).

Example Experience:
“My coding round felt like pair programming—the interviewer helped me optimize my code!”

Q8. “How many rounds of interviews does Microsoft have?”

• Entry-Level: 3–4 rounds (resume → phone screen → virtual onsite → offer).
• Experienced: 4–5 rounds (resume → phone screen → virtual onsite → hiring manager → team matching).
• Leadership Roles: 5+ rounds (may include executive interviews).

Q9: How many rounds are there?

A: Usually 4–5: resume screen, phone call, onsite/virtual rounds, and team chat.

Q10: Does Microsoft ask trick questions?

A: Nope! They focus on real problems, like fixing code or designing apps.

Q11: How long does it take to prepare?

A: 4–6 weeks if you practice daily. Think of it like training for a marathon!

Q12: Can I apply again if I fail?

A: Yes! Microsoft encourages candidates to reapply after 6–12 months.

Final Checklist for the Microsoft Rounds of Interview

• Update your resume with keywords and numbers.
• Practice coding out loud (even to your pet!).
• Prepare 3–5 stories about mistakes and wins.
• Research Microsoft’s latest projects (AI, cloud tech, etc.).

You’ve Got This!

The Microsoft rounds of interview aren’t about being perfect—they’re about showing you can learn, collaborate, and solve problems. Remember: even Bill Gates started somewhere.

Go out there, take deep breaths, and have fun!

Reader Success Stories

Maria’s Win:
“I used this guide to prep for my Microsoft rounds of interview! I talked through my coding answers like I was teaching my little brother. Got the offer last week!”

Jake’s Tip:
“I failed the system design round once. But I practiced designing apps for my dog’s ‘business’ (don’t ask 😂). Nailed it the second time!”