Software Development Engineer Interview Experience - Redmond, Washington
February 23, 2016
Neutral ExperienceNo Offer
Process
The process involved a first online test and then four onsite interviews. The process was smooth and the questions were simple. The interviewers were looking for very clean code, and that is where I struggled.
Questions
Find the first common ancestor given two nodes in a tree, not necessarily a binary tree.
Clone a linked list with a random pointer.
Design a game of poker, focusing on the scoring function.
A variation of the merge procedure from merge sort.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 214 interview experiences for the Microsoft Software Development Engineer role in Redmond, Washington.
Success Rate
45%
Pass Rate
Microsoft's interview process for their Software Development Engineer roles in Redmond, Washington is fairly selective, failing a large portion of engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Positive75%
Neutral17%
Negative8%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Microsoft's Software Development Engineer interview process in Redmond, Washington.
Microsoft Work Experiences
4.0
Individual Contributor building great software
Software Development Engineer • Current Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
January 15, 2012
Pros: The scale of the products like Windows, Office, Xbox, etc., is very inspiring and challenging. You'll appreciate the process of designing, building, and testing.
Cons: Progress might not be as fast-paced as some startups or smaller companies. Your responsibilities might also be limited, and it takes hard work and a lot of time to gain recognition and move up the ladder.
4.0
Overall, great, but be wary of bureaucracy
Software Development Engineer • Former Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
March 30, 2017
Pros: The people at Microsoft are great. The benefits are outstanding. Seattle is an amazing place to live.
Cons: One of the big perks that Microsoft will try to sell you is mobility within the company, but this is not nearly as fluid as the recruiters would have you believe. Rolls within the really interesting teams at Microsoft are highly competitive. It is, however, easy to move around if you just want to try something new and aren't too picky.
4.0
Good if you don't mind big company politics
Software Development Engineer • Former Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
December 24, 2008
Pros: Lots of teams, some of which are filled with talented people and doing really interesting work.
Very good benefits and respectable base compensation for the industry.
Definitely a company built by engineers, so you get treated with respect as an IC. Direct technical managers are usually very good.
Cons: Big company bureaucracy and politics.
Upper management is frequently out of touch and doesn't communicate well on product direction.
- 4.0Individual Contributor building great softwareSoftware Development Engineer • Current EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesJanuary 15, 2012Pros: The scale of the products like Windows, Office, Xbox, etc., is very inspiring and challenging. You'll appreciate the process of designing, building, and testing.Cons: Progress might not be as fast-paced as some startups or smaller companies. Your responsibilities might also be limited, and it takes hard work and a lot of time to gain recognition and move up the ladder.
- 4.0Overall, great, but be wary of bureaucracySoftware Development Engineer • Former EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesMarch 30, 2017Pros: The people at Microsoft are great. The benefits are outstanding. Seattle is an amazing place to live.Cons: One of the big perks that Microsoft will try to sell you is mobility within the company, but this is not nearly as fluid as the recruiters would have you believe. Rolls within the really interesting teams at Microsoft are highly competitive. It is, however, easy to move around if you just want to try something new and aren't too picky.
- 4.0Good if you don't mind big company politicsSoftware Development Engineer • Former EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesDecember 24, 2008Pros: Lots of teams, some of which are filled with talented people and doing really interesting work. Very good benefits and respectable base compensation for the industry. Definitely a company built by engineers, so you get treated with respect as an IC. Direct technical managers are usually very good.Cons: Big company bureaucracy and politics. Upper management is frequently out of touch and doesn't communicate well on product direction.
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