The Microsoft interview process
Microsoft typically runs a recruiter screen, then a loop of several interviews (technical for engineering roles, behavioral throughout), sometimes with an “as-appropriate” senior interviewer. Culture fit around learning and collaboration — Satya Nadella’s “growth mindset” — runs through all of it.
Common Microsoft interview questions
These are the kinds of questions candidates report most often — prepare a strong answer for each and practice it out loud.
- Tell me about a time you learned from a failure or mistake.
- Describe a time you collaborated across teams to ship something.
- How do you approach a problem you don’t immediately know how to solve?
- Tell me about a time you received critical feedback and what you did with it.
- Why Microsoft, and why this team?
- Describe a time you had to influence others to adopt your idea.
What Microsoft looks for — and how to prepare
- Embody growth mindset: Frame failures as learning; Microsoft explicitly values a “learn-it-all” attitude.
- Show collaboration: Cross-team stories resonate with how Microsoft works.
- Prep the technical loop: For engineering, expect coding and system-design; practice out loud.
- Be curious: Thoughtful questions and genuine interest in the team stand out.