Software Development Engineer II Interview Experience
January 1, 2016
Positive ExperienceGot Offer
Process
Two phone interviews were conducted.
One interview was technical.
I flew out for an on-site interview at Redmond.
The campus is beautiful.
The recruiter was professional, and the team was friendly.
I really had to ask a lot of questions to gain a real understanding of the project. That's my only complaint about the interview.
The accommodations were nice, and the interview day wasn't as intense as at other companies.
I think moving around between offices helped relieve some stress between sessions.
All questions were technical, although a couple of the interviewers did ask non-technical questions about my resume.
The lunch interview was strange; it was definitely not just a sit-and-eat with light conversation.
Questions
Technical questions.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 60 interview experiences for the Microsoft Software Development Engineer II role in United States.
Success Rate
53%
Pass Rate
Microsoft's interview process for their Software Development Engineer II roles in the United States is on the easier side as most engineers get an offer after going through it.
Experience Rating
Positive62%
Neutral22%
Negative17%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Microsoft's Software Development Engineer II interview process in United States.
Microsoft Work Experiences
4.0
Awesome company to work for
Software Development Engineer II • Current Employee
January 21, 2011
Pros: Microsoft is a very nice company to work for. You get to work with good people, with a good salary. Work in most of the teams is good. Microsoft has the best performance review system and a breadth of products & technologies.
Cons: In some groups, there is a lot of internal politics. IDC management imposes silly rules in order to prevent attrition to Redmond.
4.0
Great Place to Work
Software Development Engineer II • Current Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
August 28, 2010
Pros: You get to work on things that everyone in the world, including your friends and family, use. If you are working hard and are excited about your project and customers, you will be rewarded. Just like Google's 20% time, if you are getting your work done, you are encouraged to find "relevant" extra work that you get to choose and are rewarded greatly if you do.
Cons: Compared to Google, it appears that Microsoft is too focused on making money. Microsoft management does not seem to inform employees of their long-term vision, why a change in direction occurred, and more importantly, why they chose that direction as opposed to some of the other possibilities.
3.0
Smart Team, Tough Politics
Software Development Engineer II • Former Employee
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
August 26, 2016
Pros: * Lots of smart people
* Exposure to lots of projects and tools
* Good job out of college
Cons: You need to be able to manage your career. Figure out which projects are going to succeed and not. Which opportunities will be good for you and not.
Not all bosses are good. Generally decent people, but not all equally competent at helping you further your career. You need to take ownership of your career.
Lots of politics, which will affect your rise, opportunities that you get, and if the products you work on will hit the market. I was on a project that was restarted 3x in 2.5 years and moved between groups.
Pay is definitely under market.
- 4.0Awesome company to work forSoftware Development Engineer II • Current EmployeeJanuary 21, 2011Pros: Microsoft is a very nice company to work for. You get to work with good people, with a good salary. Work in most of the teams is good. Microsoft has the best performance review system and a breadth of products & technologies.Cons: In some groups, there is a lot of internal politics. IDC management imposes silly rules in order to prevent attrition to Redmond.
- 4.0Great Place to WorkSoftware Development Engineer II • Current EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesAugust 28, 2010Pros: You get to work on things that everyone in the world, including your friends and family, use. If you are working hard and are excited about your project and customers, you will be rewarded. Just like Google's 20% time, if you are getting your work done, you are encouraged to find "relevant" extra work that you get to choose and are rewarded greatly if you do.Cons: Compared to Google, it appears that Microsoft is too focused on making money. Microsoft management does not seem to inform employees of their long-term vision, why a change in direction occurred, and more importantly, why they chose that direction as opposed to some of the other possibilities.
- 3.0Smart Team, Tough PoliticsSoftware Development Engineer II • Former EmployeeVancouver, British Columbia, CanadaAugust 26, 2016Pros: * Lots of smart people * Exposure to lots of projects and tools * Good job out of collegeCons: You need to be able to manage your career. Figure out which projects are going to succeed and not. Which opportunities will be good for you and not. Not all bosses are good. Generally decent people, but not all equally competent at helping you further your career. You need to take ownership of your career. Lots of politics, which will affect your rise, opportunities that you get, and if the products you work on will hit the market. I was on a project that was restarted 3x in 2.5 years and moved between groups. Pay is definitely under market.
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