Software Development Engineer Interview Experience
October 20, 2014
Positive ExperienceGot Offer
Process
Received an email from a recruiter. Spoke to a recruiter at a career fair. Had an interview on campus. Had four back-to-back interviews on campus at Microsoft during the afternoon. Heard back within a week.
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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
5.0
Software Development Engineer
Software Development Engineer • Former Employee
September 5, 2017
Pros: Great culture, amazing opportunities, and great work-life balance.
Cons: Legacy tool chains: developer productivity is in the improving stage.
5.0
Great place to work unless you have a bad manager
Software Development Engineer • Former Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
November 3, 2009
Pros: Super medical benefits.
Chance to move to a different group after a couple of years. If you work in Redmond, this benefit is very attractive.
Lots of smart people.
You will get your own private office room (you might need to wait 1-3 years sometimes). I was lucky to get my own office after 6 months, and having that privacy was great for focus.
Cons: A bad manager can ruin you. In my case, my manager in the second group was over-demanding, and it made life difficult.
Bureaucracy can be a damper, depending on your group.
3.0
Free-for-all politics, not company goals, make you successful
Software Development Engineer • Former Employee
Seattle, Washington, United States
July 21, 2013
Pros: There are some smart people. You can find teams to work comfortable 35-hour weeks and still get paid well.
Cons: Product/company success is secondary. Everyone ambitious is out for themselves. Since review is curved, you need to come out ahead of your peers first and foremost. Managers would actually mentor me in those terms. Toxic environment!
- 5.0Software Development EngineerSoftware Development Engineer • Former EmployeeSeptember 5, 2017Pros: Great culture, amazing opportunities, and great work-life balance.Cons: Legacy tool chains: developer productivity is in the improving stage.
- 5.0Great place to work unless you have a bad managerSoftware Development Engineer • Former EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesNovember 3, 2009Pros: Super medical benefits. Chance to move to a different group after a couple of years. If you work in Redmond, this benefit is very attractive. Lots of smart people. You will get your own private office room (you might need to wait 1-3 years sometimes). I was lucky to get my own office after 6 months, and having that privacy was great for focus.Cons: A bad manager can ruin you. In my case, my manager in the second group was over-demanding, and it made life difficult. Bureaucracy can be a damper, depending on your group.
- 3.0Free-for-all politics, not company goals, make you successfulSoftware Development Engineer • Former EmployeeSeattle, Washington, United StatesJuly 21, 2013Pros: There are some smart people. You can find teams to work comfortable 35-hour weeks and still get paid well.Cons: Product/company success is secondary. Everyone ambitious is out for themselves. Since review is curved, you need to come out ahead of your peers first and foremost. Managers would actually mentor me in those terms. Toxic environment!
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