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jagga · May 29, 2002, 04:43 PM

Hi
As some of you may remember, I recently conducted a phone interview with Microsoft. They calle dback and told me that they wanted to fly me out to their Redmond, WA campus to conduct an interview for a Full time Software Design Engineer in Test. I was wodering if anyone here has gone through this process or know anyone who has can offer me some tips.

Thanks!

juanvaldes · May 29, 2002, 04:45 PM

Sounds cool what job are you applying for? Windows group, IE, MSN, IIS, mac group etc? Or no clue yet?

MikeM32 · May 29, 2002, 04:52 PM

You do realize that simply revealing that information could get you killed. I mean "accidents happen" everyday. I suggest writing-up a will, just in case.

Remember, "they" are watching you. I would be very careful from here on out. Don't forget your codename and serial number and remember if anyone asks you work at "McDonalds" <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Welcome aboard.

Mike

wataru · May 29, 2002, 04:54 PM

Oh yeah, and if there's a hot female coworker that you get friendly with, be careful because she could be a spy. Are you allergic to peanuts?

jagga · May 29, 2002, 05:20 PM

LOL!! All these replies are very amusing. I dont know what group I am applying for. From what i hear, you will conduct interviews with like 4-5 different teams.

What i wanted to know was if anyone was in this position and could give me some tips about the interview process? Like what to wear for example.. and stuff like that.

I am thinking a sports coat. is that good? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

LOL.. funny responses!!

MikeM32 · May 29, 2002, 05:28 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by jagga:
LOL!! All these replies are very amusing. I dont know what group I am applying for. From what i hear, you will conduct interviews with like 4-5 different teams.
What i wanted to know was if anyone was in this position and could give me some tips about the interview process? Like what to wear for example.. and stuff like that.
I am thinking a sports coat. is that good?
LOL.. funny responses!!<hr /></blockquote><img border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" title="" src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" /> I was being dead serious <img border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" title="" src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" />

Mike

RAzaRazor · May 29, 2002, 06:08 PM

Suit and Tie. Suit and Tie.

The only thing good for a job interview.

starman · May 29, 2002, 06:32 PM

The job description sounds strange. "in Test"? Does that mean a QA position?

Anyway, brush up on problem solving. If your position is in software design, it sounds like you should be up on what makes a good application tick. If the position is in QA, you should brush up on what makes an application break.

Dress is always a big question mark in these situations where engineers normally don't dress up at all. Someone else will have to answer that since I wear casual stuff to work every day.

Confidence helps tremendously, and avoid 'uhh....'.

Is this your first big company interview?

Don't be surprised if they don't call back after that...for weeks...

Mike

juanvaldes · May 29, 2002, 06:37 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by RAzaRazor:
Suit and Tie. Suit and Tie.

The only thing good for a job interview.

<hr /></blockquote>no, pajama's and a big "Think different" shirt

and dont' forget the rabbit slippers!

flatcatch · May 29, 2002, 07:28 PM

I've been through a couple MSFT interviews (different contracts) and it entirely depends on the manager you meet with. A suit and tie may be overkill, as few people dress up at Microsoft. What I've found (and what some friends have been though) is that you can expect some oddball question that you aren't expected to know... it's more of an effort to see how you think on your feet and can handle new, unknown tasks. An interview I had (quick and informal, but anyway) was for a C++/COM/ActiveX component job, and the dude asked me about offscreen bitmaps for flicker free drawing. I had the answer for him, but not at all relevant to the job...

Of course, you may only get quizzed on standard QA stuff and since you'll be dev/test, programming concepts of course. In the past they've asked how you'd approach testing of some random device like a pager... for determining and organizing basic components and operations, etc (although that may have been only for first round phone interviews).

Probably the best advice is to just relax and be confident in your ability!

11011001 · May 29, 2002, 08:00 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by MikeM32:
You do realize that simply revealing that information could get you killed. I mean "accidents happen" everyday. I suggest writing-up a will, just in case.

Remember, "they" are watching you. I would be very careful from here on out. Don't forget your codename and serial number and remember if anyone asks you work at "McDonalds" <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Welcome aboard.

Mike<hr /></blockquote>As he said, we are watching you.

"Welcome aboard." this has me disturbed. You are one of them aren't you. Watch your back there buddy, cus ya never know when ya will get an apple in the head-a flaming rotten, high yield apple.

But jagga I would be more careful with this information, we got your IP you know, some of us now know where you live... we know who you work for, what you eat, even what you read on the can... so beware.

You have been warned.

<img border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" title="" src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" /> <- take it as you will

[ 05-29-2002, 08:01 PM: Message edited by: 11011001 ]

talisker · May 29, 2002, 08:12 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by RAzaRazor:
Suit and Tie. Suit and Tie.

The only thing good for a job interview.

<hr /></blockquote>Yes, I'd agree. Even if everyone else at the company is in jeans and t shirt - you're the one there for the interview and you have to make an effort. It certainly won't do you any harm, whereas being less smart than everyone else could be pretty disastrous. If you do turn up and are massively overdressed compared to everyone else then perhaps make a joke about it. In a more relaxed working environment they obviously dont want someone who is very formal and doesnt fit in culturally, but how you are in that respect will be clear from what you say, not what you wear.

May 29, 2002, 08:36 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by wataru:
Oh yeah, and if there's a hot female coworker that you get friendly with, be careful because she could be a spy. Are you allergic to peanuts?<hr /></blockquote>Or was it sesame seeds?

Regardless, remember, the secret is in the day care centre.

cpt kangarooski · May 29, 2002, 08:56 PM

My best piece of advice:

Go to the <a href="http://seattle.citysearch.com/profile?id=10742616" target="_blank">Shanghai Garden</a> and get the hand-shaven chow mein. Best chinese food in the area, bar none.

valeriam01 · May 29, 2002, 09:05 PM

it was sesame seeds. finally saw that movie this semester...why can't i find a guy like that??? though after spidey i'm gonna go for my peter parker.

daimoni · 02:22 AM

.

olePigeon · May 30, 2002, 12:28 AM

If you haven�t already, I'd like to suggest you apply to Cisco Systems as well as Microsoft. A lot more money at Cisco and better job security. They have a number of jobs open for hardware, software, and IT engineers as of this post.

My dad works there and he absolutely loves it. One of my friends was recently hired. He used to live in Oregon and Cisco paid for his relocation, put him up in a nice hotel for 2 months while he got an apartment, and gave him a company BMW to drive until he got a new car. I'm still struggling to finish college but would love to work there. I'm hoping they'll have some graphic or industrial design openings by the time I graduate.

Good luck with your job.

iNub · May 30, 2002, 11:41 AM

Wear a black turtleneck and a pair of blue jeans. Go barefoot.

Cue the "twilight zone" theme!

mismith · May 30, 2002, 05:45 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by jagga:
Hi
I was wodering if anyone here has gone through this process or know anyone who has can offer me some tips.
<hr /></blockquote>While I haven't been through the process myself, a guy in my dorm had an interview last spring.

Work on your problem solving skills. He said they like to ask a bunch of critical thinking problems. Some are REALLY easy (and overused I might add) like the 3 and 5 gallon jugs. For that problem they wanted him to solve it two ways. I had never thought of the usual way that I solved it, but it was pretty easy either way.

Riddles, riddles, riddles. If you aren't very good, you might as well not wear any underwear and tear a hole in the seat of your trousers. this will make the whole experience a lot less traumatic.

For example,

>Imagine an analog clock set to 12 o'clock. Note that the hour and minute hands overlap. How many times each day do both the hour and minute hands overlap? How would you determine the exact times of the day that this occurs?

He also got asked an algorithm questions like, "Implement an algorithm to sort an array. Why did you pick the method you did?"

And my personal favorites, "How are M&Ms made?" or "How would you go about testing a salt shaker?"