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Interview with MS today: now updated after

Reel

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2001
4,484
0
76
I have my first interview with Microsoft in just over 2 hours. I went to the career fair at my school a week or two ago and I thought the guy I spoke to really disliked me and would put a big red X on my resume. Apparently, the recruiter that reviewed my resume later decided that I was qualified enough for a first interview and offered me one. I am told to expect a lot of difficult technical questions particularly about data structures. One plus is that is a casual interview clothing-wise so I don't need to get real dressed up.

This is my first real interview for a full-time job for when I graduate so I am a little nervous and a little excited.

AFTER
This was a really fun interview. I wouldn't mind doing it again. They started off with "Why do you want to work at MS?". The guy had a similar background from his previous job as research I did while in high school and so we discussed that briefly. Then, he asked if I had any questions for him or should we begin the technical questions. I told him I prefer to save my questions until the end. We then did 3 technical questions.

#1: You have 8 balls, 1 is lighter than the others but not visually obvious which. You have a balance scale and are only allowed to weigh them twice. How do you figure which is the lighter one?

#2: You have a lock box and need to ship me some diamonds. Anything shipped in the box must be locked or it will be stolen. You have n locks + keys and I have n locks + keys. Any of your keys works on any of your locks and any of my keys work on any of my locks but not each other's. You can ship the box back as many times as you need. How do you get the diamonds to me?
Bonus: relate it to something in computers.

#3: Define the objects (as in OO Programming) that you would need to create the game pac-man.

We ran out of time there but I felt like he wanted to spend more. I asked my question which was "what brought him to microsoft and how he liked it". His answer paralleled my answer to "Why I want to work at MS?". I think overall it went really well. I offered him a transcript and he said that he doesn't need it but I would need it for the next step of interviewing. I don't know if that was just his way of speaking or a slip about how he felt on my interview.
 

TubStain

Senior member
Apr 19, 2001
935
0
0
There are tons of microsoft interview questions out on the web, it would serve you well to look them up and solve some of the logic stuff.

Expect small programming assignments, and think loudly. They wanna know how you solve the problem more than the solution itself.

good luck!
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
You have every right to be nervous! Try to think of some questions they'll ask and answer them. Take a deep breath, try to relax, and don't fidget/bite your finger nails, etc.

Good job on getting the interview and good luck!
 

ggavinmoss

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2001
4,798
1
0
Remember, it's a weeder interview. They want to both see if you're quick witted and what your thought process is. Don't get discouraged, but remember they *are* trying to trick you.

And remember, the MS interview is one of the most difficult -- it'll only get easier after this. ;)

-geoff
 

XZeroII

Lifer
Jun 30, 2001
12,572
0
0
Let me know how it goes, I would like to work at MS someday. They never come around here though :(
 

theNEOone

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
5,745
4
81
ouch, MS on your first interview! i would've applied other companies and set up "practice" interviews....cough cough. did you do any mock interviews at your career center or at least prepare some responses for typical questions?

i hate to freak you out, but at least there's still time to get something done!



=|
 

Reel

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2001
4,484
0
76
Originally posted by: theNEOone
ouch, MS on your first interview! i would've applied other companies and set up "practice" interviews....cough cough. did you do any mock interviews at your career center or at least prepare some responses for typical questions?

i hate to freak you out, but at least there's still time to get something done!



=|

Its ok, I won't be freaked out. I have done other interviews for jobs in my lifetime but this is my first for my "life" job. I am not to worried as far as the generic BS questions go or talking about myself in relation to my resume. Thanks though!
 

rutchtkim

Golden Member
Aug 2, 2001
1,880
0
0
College buddy of mine has his last and final interview with them on friday. He is being flown out to the MS campus, all expenses paid.
 

Electric Amish

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
23,578
1
0
I hope you have better luck than I did......

That being said, the department I was applying for here in Utah is laying off 75% of their staff. :)

I did get an offer to interview in Redmond, but I wasn't willing to move.
 

Ameesh

Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
23,686
1
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the 1st campus interview is pretty easy, if you did well expect to be flown out to redmond for a full loop with 2 groups ie 3-5 interviews spanning 8-10 hours

those are pretty tough. Sounds like you did well on the first rounds which is good but be prepared for the <scary voice> hardest interview you will do as a developer </scary voice>

what position did you apply for? PM, STE,SDET or SDE?

let me know if you have any questions and good luck
 

richardycc

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
5,719
1
81
is question #1 supposed to see if you can "think outside the box" question? ;) #2 is pretty straight forward and easy.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: richardycc
is question #1 supposed to see if you can "think outside the box" question? ;) #2 is pretty straight forward and easy.

I don't think question #1 is an "outside the box" question. It's pretty easy to solve, but not by doing anything out of the ordinary. #2 seems more difficult than #1 to me.
 

Ameesh

Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
23,686
1
0
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: richardycc
is question #1 supposed to see if you can "think outside the box" question? ;) #2 is pretty straight forward and easy.

I don't think question #1 is an "outside the box" question. It's pretty easy to solve, but not by doing anything out of the ordinary. #2 seems more difficult than #1 to me.

:Q
 

richardycc

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
5,719
1
81
for #1, you place 4 balls on each side, and then divided the the group of 4balls that has a lighter ball into 2 groups again, once you are down to 2 balls, then just use your hands to see which one is light. it didn't say you can't do that. ;)
 

dc

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 1999
9,998
2
0
#1, start with 3 balls on each side. pretty straight forward from there

the second one was a bit tougher for me.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: richardycc
for #1, you place 4 balls on each side, and then divided the the group of 4balls that has a lighter ball into 2 groups again, once you are down to 2 balls, then just use your hands to see which one is light. it didn't say you can't do that. ;)

Umm, except that it said you have two weighs. By your logic, there's nothing precluding me from giving them to someone else to weigh.

The 3 on each side is the correct, and most logical method.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: richardycc
is question #1 supposed to see if you can "think outside the box" question? ;) #2 is pretty straight forward and easy.

I don't think question #1 is an "outside the box" question. It's pretty easy to solve, but not by doing anything out of the ordinary. #2 seems more difficult than #1 to me.

:Q

rolleye.gif
 

Reel

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2001
4,484
0
76
Originally posted by: Ameesh
the 1st campus interview is pretty easy, if you did well expect to be flown out to redmond for a full loop with 2 groups ie 3-5 interviews spanning 8-10 hours

those are pretty tough. Sounds like you did well on the first rounds which is good but be prepared for the <scary voice> hardest interview you will do as a developer </scary voice>

what position did you apply for? PM, STE,SDET or SDE?

let me know if you have any questions and good luck

Thanks for the insight. I got the feeling from someone else's comment that you worked there. What do you do? Please PM me if you prefer. I put down in order of preference: PM, STE, SDE, SDET (not too sure about the last two). What surprised me was that many of the interviewees that I recognized (about 1/3) were masters students. I didn't see a single undergrad name that I recognized on there besides my own. 1 week until I find out the result and I have another interview on Friday with Raytheon but I expect that one to be more of the typical sort.