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Microsoft Interview Questions

Review this list of 254 Microsoft interview questions and answers verified by hiring managers and candidates.
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    10 answers
    +7

    "Question: Design a CookBook app A few questions I’d ask the interviewer are: what’s the purpose/goal of the app, who are the user segments, and any primary geography we’re targeting as the first launch of the product. Answers/assumptions to the questions: let’s say below are the answers the interviewer provides: what’s the purpose/goal of the app: to help people to follow a recipe, follow it while cooking, and also request a recipe who are the user segments: considering people who’r"

    Anamitra - "Question: Design a CookBook app A few questions I’d ask the interviewer are: what’s the purpose/goal of the app, who are the user segments, and any primary geography we’re targeting as the first launch of the product. Answers/assumptions to the questions: let’s say below are the answers the interviewer provides: what’s the purpose/goal of the app: to help people to follow a recipe, follow it while cooking, and also request a recipe who are the user segments: considering people who’r"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    4 answers
    +1

    "Approach 1: Use sorting and return the kth largest element from the sorted list. Time complexity: O(nlogn) Approach 2: Use max heap and then select the kth largest element. time complexity: O(n+logn) Approach 3: Quickselect. Time complexity O(n) I explained my interviewer the 3 approaches. He told me to solve in a naive manner. Used Approach 1 had some time left so coded approach 3 also The average time complexity of Quickselect is O(n), making it very efficient for its purpose. However, in"

    GalacticInterviewer - "Approach 1: Use sorting and return the kth largest element from the sorted list. Time complexity: O(nlogn) Approach 2: Use max heap and then select the kth largest element. time complexity: O(n+logn) Approach 3: Quickselect. Time complexity O(n) I explained my interviewer the 3 approaches. He told me to solve in a naive manner. Used Approach 1 had some time left so coded approach 3 also The average time complexity of Quickselect is O(n), making it very efficient for its purpose. However, in"See full answer

    Software Engineer
    Data Structures & Algorithms
    +2 more
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    4 answers
    +1

    "As always, I'd start this discussion by asking a couple clarifying questions. In particular, I'd like to learn more from the interviewer about what "not pulling as hard" looks like. Does it mean: lower code output relative to the rest of the team lower velocity per sprint in terms of story points less participation in code reviews minimal participation in meetings and ceremonies Or perhaps it's a combination of these. As others have pointed out, I'd also want to confirm that I am not ma"

    Seth W. - "As always, I'd start this discussion by asking a couple clarifying questions. In particular, I'd like to learn more from the interviewer about what "not pulling as hard" looks like. Does it mean: lower code output relative to the rest of the team lower velocity per sprint in terms of story points less participation in code reviews minimal participation in meetings and ceremonies Or perhaps it's a combination of these. As others have pointed out, I'd also want to confirm that I am not ma"See full answer

    Business Analyst
    Behavioral
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    Add answer
    Video answer for 'Design a risk management plan for a data center.'
    Technical
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    1 answer

    "I'm currently a School Bus Monitor at First Student, I make sure that the students on the bus are seated down, making sure they are safe during the bus ride. Sometimes depending on the day they may need me to help do a wheelchair so I sometimes help the driver out with making sure the wheelchair is safely secure, hooking up the 4 hooks on the wheelchair, putting the lap belt on the student and also making sure the student feels comfortable during the bus ride. After we finished dropping off our"

    Amparo L. - "I'm currently a School Bus Monitor at First Student, I make sure that the students on the bus are seated down, making sure they are safe during the bus ride. Sometimes depending on the day they may need me to help do a wheelchair so I sometimes help the driver out with making sure the wheelchair is safely secure, hooking up the 4 hooks on the wheelchair, putting the lap belt on the student and also making sure the student feels comfortable during the bus ride. After we finished dropping off our"See full answer

    Software Engineer
    Behavioral
    +4 more
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  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    Add answer
    Product Manager
    Product Strategy
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    1 answer

    "The biggest factor that excites me about technology is its ever changing and dynamic trend. In my life, I have seen the transition from landlines to simple mobile to smartphones, from Cathode tube desktop screen to super slim TFT and many more. I think technology has now (with time) become integral part of human life and getting in-sync with it is like a normal and very cool phenomena."

    Sagrika S. - "The biggest factor that excites me about technology is its ever changing and dynamic trend. In my life, I have seen the transition from landlines to simple mobile to smartphones, from Cathode tube desktop screen to super slim TFT and many more. I think technology has now (with time) become integral part of human life and getting in-sync with it is like a normal and very cool phenomena."See full answer

    Technical Program Manager
    Behavioral
    +1 more
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    2 answers

    "I think AI such as ChatGPT seemed to spit out its answers fast and instinctively, hence proving its efficiency but in the recent versions it seems to have acquired reasoning skills which was revealed 'transparently' to users. This new, reasoning skills introduce a small delay in its response and explains what it does during the delay but I do not really think that it is "thinking" any differently than before, except that it is constrained by some purported rules when asked to summarise certain b"

    Louisa C. - "I think AI such as ChatGPT seemed to spit out its answers fast and instinctively, hence proving its efficiency but in the recent versions it seems to have acquired reasoning skills which was revealed 'transparently' to users. This new, reasoning skills introduce a small delay in its response and explains what it does during the delay but I do not really think that it is "thinking" any differently than before, except that it is constrained by some purported rules when asked to summarise certain b"See full answer

    Software Engineer
    Behavioral
    +1 more
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    1 answer
    Video answer for 'How would you design and launch a TinyURL-like product?'

    "Missing launch. Only design is covered."

    Miguel C. - "Missing launch. Only design is covered."See full answer

    Product Design
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    1 answer

    "Skype is a communication and collaboration tool used by individuals and businesses. Users can send messages, do audio and video calls, share screen etc. There are two parts to the business model: Individual user - to - individual user: users can make audio and video calls at no fee Enterprises: Organisations need to purchase the subscription for internal usage. Revenue depends on \# of paying enterprises, length of subscription, price per month/year Product objective: increase rev"

    Rahul J. - "Skype is a communication and collaboration tool used by individuals and businesses. Users can send messages, do audio and video calls, share screen etc. There are two parts to the business model: Individual user - to - individual user: users can make audio and video calls at no fee Enterprises: Organisations need to purchase the subscription for internal usage. Revenue depends on \# of paying enterprises, length of subscription, price per month/year Product objective: increase rev"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Strategy
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    1 answer

    "Assumptions, company, industry, external, customers, problems, solutions, metrics Company is microsoft, its vision is to help people and organization to achieve their full potential by increasing productivity . Task management - there are many products like notes, google task etc which exist but no one is market leader. A user had a list of tasks which she wants to complete by Y deadline and their is prirotization among these and could be categorized Task - start day, end day, estimated time to"

    Megha V. - "Assumptions, company, industry, external, customers, problems, solutions, metrics Company is microsoft, its vision is to help people and organization to achieve their full potential by increasing productivity . Task management - there are many products like notes, google task etc which exist but no one is market leader. A user had a list of tasks which she wants to complete by Y deadline and their is prirotization among these and could be categorized Task - start day, end day, estimated time to"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    1 answer

    "Here's some thought on what I'll be doing in this situation: Identify the root cause (I'll try to assess WHY the engineers don't action these tickets). In order to identify the potential reasons, I'd have 1:1s with team members, observe participation and engagement in backlog grooming sessions and check in with leads and my peers. Lack of clarity on requirements or acceptance criteria. Skill gaps. Dependency on other teams or missing prerequisites. Team capaci"

    Anonymous Dingo - "Here's some thought on what I'll be doing in this situation: Identify the root cause (I'll try to assess WHY the engineers don't action these tickets). In order to identify the potential reasons, I'd have 1:1s with team members, observe participation and engagement in backlog grooming sessions and check in with leads and my peers. Lack of clarity on requirements or acceptance criteria. Skill gaps. Dependency on other teams or missing prerequisites. Team capaci"See full answer

    Customer Success Manager
    Behavioral
    +1 more
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    15 answers
    Video answer for 'Find the number of rotations in a circularly sorted array.'
    +10

    "function findRotations(nums) { if (nums.length 0 && nums[mid] > nums[mid-1]) { left = mid; } else { right = mid; } } return rig"

    Tiago R. - "function findRotations(nums) { if (nums.length 0 && nums[mid] > nums[mid-1]) { left = mid; } else { right = mid; } } return rig"See full answer

    Software Engineer
    Data Structures & Algorithms
    +1 more
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    Add answer
    Product Manager
    Artificial Intelligence
    +3 more
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    Add answer
    Product Manager
    Behavioral
    +1 more
  • "Yes, it's possible for a university to have a lower overall acceptance rate for female-identifying students even if every department admits them at a higher rate than others. This seemingly paradoxical situation can occur due to variations in the size of applicant pools and acceptance rates across different departments, combined with the distribution of applications by gender. This phenomenon is related to what's known as Simpson's Paradox, where a trend appears in several different groups of da"

    Sandhya P. - "Yes, it's possible for a university to have a lower overall acceptance rate for female-identifying students even if every department admits them at a higher rate than others. This seemingly paradoxical situation can occur due to variations in the size of applicant pools and acceptance rates across different departments, combined with the distribution of applications by gender. This phenomenon is related to what's known as Simpson's Paradox, where a trend appears in several different groups of da"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Analytical
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    2 answers

    "Snapchat's mission is to re-create how people use camera to capture their life moments. Snapchat's user base is comprised of Gen Z and Millenials, capturing the ~ 12-35 year old age group. Snapchat's goal is to keep these users engaged so they don't leave for enticing competitors like Tic Toc and Quibi. Tic Toc and Quibi are major competitors to Snapchat and they seem to compete on original content. They've partnered with celebrities and media brands to produce really engaging, high quality co"

    Rika S. - "Snapchat's mission is to re-create how people use camera to capture their life moments. Snapchat's user base is comprised of Gen Z and Millenials, capturing the ~ 12-35 year old age group. Snapchat's goal is to keep these users engaged so they don't leave for enticing competitors like Tic Toc and Quibi. Tic Toc and Quibi are major competitors to Snapchat and they seem to compete on original content. They've partnered with celebrities and media brands to produce really engaging, high quality co"See full answer

    Product Strategy
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    Add answer
    Video answer for 'Tell me about a time you built up a technical champion.'
    Solutions Architect
    Behavioral
    +1 more
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    Add answer
    Product Manager
    Product Strategy
  • Microsoft logoAsked at Microsoft 
    1 answer

    "Interviewer wanted to learn more about architecture and or scalability. But I was not sure what the expected answer was"

    Mridul J. - "Interviewer wanted to learn more about architecture and or scalability. But I was not sure what the expected answer was"See full answer

    Software Engineer
    Behavioral
Showing 121-140 of 254