Microsoft Internship Interview Experience 2020
In August 2019, I came through various Linkedin Profiles who were interned at Microsoft during the summer, and after some research, I came to know about the “Tech-Set-Go” (Now One Test) through which Microsoft Hires. One day, I was just scrolling my Linkedin feed, and then I encountered some posts of Microsoft Employees regarding the test and referrals. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity as it's a dream for every student to start their career from one of the Big MNCs.
I mailed my resume, including all the stuff I did in my 2 years of college, hoping that they would refer me for the online coding test.
After a day, I received an invitation asking me to register for the Coding Test. It was scheduled to be either on 22nd September or 29th September. It was a kinda confusing situation for me, as I was having my midterms from 23rd. I skipped the first date and decided to go for the 29th of September.
There were three problems and the time they gave was 90 minutes. I was able to solve all three problems completely and was hoping for good results.
On 11th October, I received an email from HR at Microsoft for the Video Interview on 21st October. I was kinda feeling good and at the same time was feeling nervous about the interview. The day was Monday and I skipped my Lab for the interview.
Video Call Interview
The interviewer asked me two questions in an hour. As part of the introduction, he asked me to summarize my two n a half years of College and gave me the following coding problems after that.
- Insertion in the Circular Linked List
- A function that picks a random number from the array and not repeats that specific number until all the numbers are finished.
I was able to solve the first problem completely after being told to handle the edge test cases. For the second problem, the interviewer gave me hints for the optimal solution. The happiest part for me was that I was able to catch his hint and answered the problem in an instant :D. Overall, the interview went okayish for me. Neither good nor bad, but I was satisfied after the interview because of only one reason, that I was able to catch his hint :P.
On the 6th of November, I received the mail from Microsoft, that I have been got selected for the onboard interviews. The EndTerms were supposed to start from 28th November, and I was just praying “Please Microsoft, Please God, don’t schedule the interview between my exams.” On 27th, I received the mail about my interview dates. I was invited on 7th December to the Microsoft Gurgaon Campus. I was pretty excited and was feeling unlucky at the same time, as I had my last exam on 6th December only and would not be able to have that mindset of Interview because of exams. I boarded my flight on the 6th evening, reached there, rested at a hotel, slept at around 1 AM. I got up at around 6 and in that mixture of excitement and nervousness, I forgot to take the breakfast.
There were around 40 students, and we didn’t know how much they are going to select from those.
Round 1
The HR briefed about the sequence of tests and interviews to be held. The first round was supposed to be a Written Test popularly knows as Group Fly. The test was decent, having mathematics, predicting output, and coding questions. I was able to solve almost 50% correctly and the rest I just attempted and was hoping for good. After 2 hours, they declared the result and were announcing the names, which names I don’t know ( The name which they are going to select or the ones to whom they are saying Good Byees ). My name was not there on the list and I with my 2 other known strangers from NIT Kurukshetra were feeling sad. But after the names, HR said that these people can have lunch and then leave for home. I was like hasshhhh .. bachh gye!!!
Round 2
Immediately after the round1 result, they started the interview procedure, and I was lucky not to go in the first turn. We had lunch in that nervousness and discussed a bit about each other’s college (obviously cussing of college). At the end of lunch, we were like “Your College is far better than mine”.
After lunch, we went to the waiting area, and after a long hour of wait, we 3 were invited in a sequence being my turn at last, and the interviewer was declaring the result immediately after that.
The 2 guys got selected and I was like “What if I don't get it? These 2, my known strangers, my friends for a moment, got selected and what if I don’t (Having the thought of the 3 Idiots movie dialogue.
It feels bad when a friend fails … but it feels even worse when he comes first)”
Those 2 were heading outside and I was feeling like please wait .. Wait for my turn ( Yaa, in my heart only ). As they went outside the campus, I had my turn. I entered the interview room, shook hands, and sat on the chair. He asked me about my experience of the day, a few questions about my college, CGPA, my rank in the class, and asked a coding question that was there in the question paper. He was just looking for a correct approach. I told him the solution I thought about after coming out of the test (not the mess I did during the written exam). He seemed satisfied after listening to the solution. I was hoping for the best. In the end, he said Congratulations, they are offering me the Summer Internship at Microsoft. I was like Wuhoo!!. We shook hands, came out of the room smiling like Panda and I headed towards HR for the further procedure. She told me that I will be interning for 2 months either at Hyderabad or Bangalore and told me a few details about the stipend, dates, teams n all.
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” — Seneca
Conclusion
Never hesitate to grab an opportunity that is in front of you.
Try to perform the best you can, and be satisfied after that. I feel that inner satisfaction is important for you, keeping the results aside.
Whenever you apply for the Off-campus Drives, try to have a referral from an employee through mail or contacting through Linkedin.
