Got any Interviewing at Microsoft Questions? | The Coffeehouse

Hey folks,

We're doing a multi-part video series (updating the old series) with our good friends in recruiting to walk through every step of the interview process, from clicking Submit to send in your resume, all the way to MS 101 and your first days at Microsoft.

Here's the important part, Gretchen and team want you to leave questions that you would want answered, so chime in and ask away!

Cheers,
-Dan

Bass

Hard ball questions
------------------------
Serious question: What's the considered an average salary of an entry level Microsoft employee?

Google is rated the #1 "Best Company to Work For" according to Forbes. On the same ranking Microsoft trails distantly. If someone were to get job offers at both Google and Microsoft, why should someone accept the Microsoft position?

Related question: Is there any unique advantages or benefits to work for Microsoft versus the competition?

Softball questions
-----------------------

If someone had two weeks to prepare for a Microsoft interview, what would be the best way to do so?

What single aspect of computer science does Microsoft care about most?

Maddus Mattus

Hey Dan!

Question: What's your best method of making canidates enthousiastic about Microsoft?

Question: I imagine Microsoft has a lot of job openings in a lot of departments, how do make sure you get the right person for the right job?

edit:

ohhhh,.. chime in! I get it now,... DOH!

blowdart

I thought Gretchen had left. How cool.

I dare you to ask "How would you move Mount Fuji" Smiley

Dan

In reply to Bass

#Jul 1st @ 10:32 PM

LOL, these are good questions...I'll be interested to hear what they say!

Keep 'em coming Smiley

jason818_253.33

Two part question: What are the top 3 quality’s you look for in a candidate? And how would you vary those qualities if you were staring down a level 52 Flesh Giant?

Is Steve B still in charge of recruiting at Microsoft?

How does staffing facilitate recruitment for a company with nearly 90,000 employees? Sounds like a big task. How much more does Microsoft plan on growing? What are the hot jobs?

Gretchen

These are great questions. Keep the coming!

blowdart: I did leave, but I came back about a year ago. I can't stay away from this place ... what can I say? Smiley

Dan

In reply to jason818_253.33

#Jul 2nd @ 12:31 PM

Hmm, I can only answer the Flesh Giant question Smiley

Assuming I'm "recruiting" a Warcraft player, I would want to know:

1. Their values: Are they one of those rude Wow players that ganks lowbies, and spams trade chat with profanities or Chuck Norris jokes? Do they use in-game cheats? Are they a ninja? Will they be a good fit for the guild culture (progression vs casual), etc?
2. Their aptitude: Even if they are undergeared, Would they be willing to learn new boss fights and do they have the raw skill that will make them great players once they get great gear. Do they listen or is it clear that they won't improve as players?
3. Their experience: What class, level, spec they are, what guilds they've been in and if they left, why did they leave?

VB Man

My questions:

Do I get free lunch.
Do I get free PDC tickets + all expenses paid?
Company car and company cell phone?
Free MS Software?

What can I say? I'm a freeloader.

But seriously,

What is the % rate of entry level employees that stay at MS.
% of them that get promoted within a year?
Average lifespan of a Microsoft employee?

wisemx

In reply to Dan

#Jul 2nd @ 1:57 PM

Aaron Kyle and I worked with a few Msft developers on a Voice Recognition system for Ford and Mazda.
Back in the late 80's early 90's.
One of the Msft guys there with us at the Flat Rock location told us he had sand on his office floor.
I've heard that sort of thing several times.
Does Msft still allow this kind of flexibility? Just curious...It's a fun fact if true. Wink

HumanCompiler

In reply to wisemx

#Jul 2nd @ 8:10 PM

I haven't heard of the sand one before, but how you get your job done is pretty much up to you. I'm sure there are certain limits, but each manager is different. Getting your job done well is the focus, not on how you do it. This is good because everybody works differently.

Gretchen

In reply to wisemx

#Jul 2nd @ 8:10 PM

I can vouch for sand in the office first hand. Although he didn't keep it for very long, Mr. Gretchen returned from our wedding in 2002 and found his office was transformed into a beach, complete with 6 inches of sand covering the entire floor. That's pretty extreme and I'm not sure he could have kept it like that forever - but yes, in general, there is a lot of flexibility in how your decorate your workspace.

blowdart

OK sensible question; how do you track your CV in the US system? (As you're aware the UK system is rather different; I emailed you Gretchen a while back about it).

Having had someone in the US specifically ask for my CV to put me forward it's always awkward to bug them to see what's happening.