Software Engineer Interview Experience - Redmond, Washington
October 1, 2017
Neutral ExperienceGot Offer
Process
Applied online. The first round was a phone interview, followed by an on-site interview. Recruiters were helpful.
The only unusual aspect was being required to fill out a visa verification form before the on-site interview.
Questions
OOP design for a Game of Cards. Write 2 methods to get rank and sort cards.
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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
47%
Pass 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
Positive77%
Neutral14%
Negative8%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Microsoft's Software Engineer interview process in Redmond, Washington.
Microsoft Work Experiences
4.0
Great Culture and Interesting Work
Software Engineer • Current Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
August 9, 2025
Pros: - Good work/life balance
- Fully remote options available
- Good team culture
Cons: - Lower pay compared to similar-caliber companies
- Low morale budget
- Somewhat slow promotion track due to limited promotion budget
2.0
Benefits Good, But Politics Bad
Software Engineer • Current Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
March 21, 2016
Pros: Benefits
Salary
Brand
Microsoft works on various technologies and areas, and you are bound to get interested in something.
Own office (Probably a con)
Cons: Politics
Microsoft is still in old-world, top-down thinking. The amount of influence you get to do things in other startup and competing companies is huge. Microsoft doesn't give you that kind of influence. It is improving under Satya, but it will take time to seep down. (Problem with top-down).
Good if you are a fresher (again, you are missing out on a lot of learning from the startup world or from competing companies with great collaboration).
3.0
Not the best for early in career
Software Engineer • Current Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
June 23, 2018
Pros: Work-life balance, Stock price
Cons: Compensation and benefits not as competitive.
- 4.0Great Culture and Interesting WorkSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesAugust 9, 2025Pros: - Good work/life balance - Fully remote options available - Good team cultureCons: - Lower pay compared to similar-caliber companies - Low morale budget - Somewhat slow promotion track due to limited promotion budget
- 2.0Benefits Good, But Politics BadSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesMarch 21, 2016Pros: Benefits Salary Brand Microsoft works on various technologies and areas, and you are bound to get interested in something. Own office (Probably a con)Cons: Politics Microsoft is still in old-world, top-down thinking. The amount of influence you get to do things in other startup and competing companies is huge. Microsoft doesn't give you that kind of influence. It is improving under Satya, but it will take time to seep down. (Problem with top-down). Good if you are a fresher (again, you are missing out on a lot of learning from the startup world or from competing companies with great collaboration).
- 3.0Not the best for early in careerSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesJune 23, 2018Pros: Work-life balance, Stock priceCons: Compensation and benefits not as competitive.
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