Software Engineer Interview Experience - Redmond, Washington
Process
I applied online through a referral and was contacted a couple of weeks later for an on-campus interview at my school.
I heard back pretty quickly for an onsite interview. It included two 45-minute interviews with a 15-minute break in between.
Both interviews included both behavioral and technical questions. I heard back about 3 days after the final round of interviews.
Questions
Cannot talk about specific questions.
Included algorithms and some basic questions on OS concepts/coding practice.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 207 interview experiences for the Microsoft Software Engineer role in Redmond, Washington.
Success Rate
Microsoft's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in Redmond, Washington is fairly selective, failing a large portion of engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Microsoft's Software Engineer interview process in Redmond, Washington.
Microsoft Work Experiences
- 5.0Best work/life balance!Software Engineer • Current EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesAugust 11, 2020Pros: Great attention to health benefits. Best work/life balance in the industry, bar none. Immense diversity within the company; you can always work on something different.Cons: * Strong hierarchy, with lots of middle management. * Lower salary compared to competitors (Fb, Google, Amzn).
- 3.0Big Company, Stagnant StockSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesJune 12, 2008Pros: Good company, a Fortune 500 company.Cons: Too big. Stock prices dead in the water.
- 2.0Great experience until the unexpected layoffSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesJuly 22, 2025Pros: Collaborative team with smart, helpful engineers. Management often provided positive feedback and seemed engaged. Interesting technical challenges and meaningful projects. Good culture for growth and mentorship.Cons: Sudden layoffs with no warning or transparency. Mixed signals from leadership (e.g., praised one day, let go the next). Feels like upper management may not fully understand or value engineering contributions.
Microsoft Interview Questions
