Software Development Engineer Interview Experience
March 4, 2014
Positive ExperienceGot Offer
Process
First, an on-campus interview, and then I flew to Redmond for an on-site interview.
Questions
A huge graphics-related recursive question.
I had to think about each base case very carefully.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 634 interview experiences for the Microsoft Software Development Engineer role in United States.
Success Rate
29%
Pass Rate
Microsoft's interview process for their Software Development Engineer roles in the United States is very selective, failing most engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Positive57%
Neutral32%
Negative11%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Microsoft's Software Development Engineer interview process in United States.
Microsoft Work Experiences
4.0
Great employer where you can have a career
Software Development Engineer • Former Employee
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
September 5, 2017
Pros: Respectful environment.
Projects with a large, worldwide impact.
Great compensation.
Intelligent and diversified coworkers.
Cons: Large teams meant you were a cog in the machine. It also meant not using your full range of talents. You easily became a super specialist of a very specific area. You can't have the same impact on the product vision as with a smaller company.
3.0
Experiences at Microsoft
Software Development Engineer • Current Employee
Bellevue, Washington, United States
June 30, 2012
Pros: Vast variety in technologies and products one can work on.
You can usually switch teams after 18 months with the current one, though employees usually work at their job for 2-3 years before moving teams.
Good benefits.
Cons: You never really leave college. Performance reviews are peer-relative, and a fixed percentage (~20%) must receive a below-average review. It's a zero-sum game; no real teamwork is possible.
4.0
Challenging and stimulating work environment.
Offers a lot of learning opportunities
Software Development Engineer • Current Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
June 22, 2008
Pros: If you want to learn how software is built, there are few other companies that have as much history and experience as Microsoft.
Cons: Bigger companies come with their share of red tape.
- 4.0Great employer where you can have a careerSoftware Development Engineer • Former EmployeeVancouver, British Columbia, CanadaSeptember 5, 2017Pros: Respectful environment. Projects with a large, worldwide impact. Great compensation. Intelligent and diversified coworkers.Cons: Large teams meant you were a cog in the machine. It also meant not using your full range of talents. You easily became a super specialist of a very specific area. You can't have the same impact on the product vision as with a smaller company.
- 3.0Experiences at MicrosoftSoftware Development Engineer • Current EmployeeBellevue, Washington, United StatesJune 30, 2012Pros: Vast variety in technologies and products one can work on. You can usually switch teams after 18 months with the current one, though employees usually work at their job for 2-3 years before moving teams. Good benefits.Cons: You never really leave college. Performance reviews are peer-relative, and a fixed percentage (~20%) must receive a below-average review. It's a zero-sum game; no real teamwork is possible.
- 4.0Challenging and stimulating work environment. Offers a lot of learning opportunitiesSoftware Development Engineer • Current EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesJune 22, 2008Pros: If you want to learn how software is built, there are few other companies that have as much history and experience as Microsoft.Cons: Bigger companies come with their share of red tape.
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