I have recently given many Microsoft interviews across various groups, so I'm sharing the overall process.

1. Applied via Microsoft Career Site

2. Recruiter

   • Mostly emails for setting up phone interviews and sharing forms to fill out. Make sure the salary expectation range you provide is what you truly desire, as it makes later negotiation easier. Some recruiters also call and share the form by email. Occasionally, they may call directly to schedule a phone interview (though I'm not entirely sure on this detail, I've forgotten).

3. Phone Interview

   • This is typically with a manager, team member, or a developer from the group. If it's for the Core Services group, you might receive an invitation for an online test without a preceding phone interview. Similarly, for events, an online test invitation is usually sent.

4. Onsite Interview

   • This usually involves four interviews, plus one additional interview with a higher-grade individual (either their manager's manager or a prominent figure within the group). Based on my experience, if you are interviewed by a fifth person, your chances of getting the job are higher. However, I have been interviewed by a fifth person and secured a job, as well as interviewed by one and not received an offer. The fifth interview is not mandatory; if your performance isn't strong, they often opt out of this extra interview. This has happened to me as well.

   • 1st Interviewer: Will ask general questions about your current work environment and processes, and will also answer any questions you have about the process. This appears to be a high-level interview focused on assessing your fit within their system. They generally seem to prefer hiring developers who have experience in development, testing, deployment, monitoring, and support (including on-call duties). It's rare for them to ask algorithm questions, though I was asked once. This interviewer is usually a team lead or someone slightly higher within the team. You will have ample time during this interview to ask questions.

   • 2nd Interviewer: Will ask algorithm questions and request you to write solutions on a board.

   • 3rd Interviewer (Lunch Interview): Sometimes, the second interview might be a lunch interview. Therefore, I'm referring to whichever interview is designated as the lunch interview. You'll be taken to lunch, usually within the Microsoft cafeteria, and asked system design questions. You'll typically meet a senior developer here. System design questions may be posed during lunch, or you might be taken to a room afterward to discuss them. Occasionally, they ask about system design at lunch and then pose a brief algorithm question in a room after lunch. However, this interview is primarily focused on system design.

   • 4th Interviewer: Will ask algorithm questions and request you to write solutions on a whiteboard.

   • 5th Interviewer (Optional): If you have this interview, your probability of being hired is high. This has happened to me twice; once I received a job offer, and once I did not.

I have not attended an event in Microsoft, so I am unsure about that specific process.

If you practice LeetCode questions well, you should be good. I did not practice much, so I had to fail many phone interviews before finally getting an offer.