We've compiled some of the toughest Microsoft interview questions available on Glassdoor. Whether you're looking for a programming job or a position doing marketing, Microsoft's interview questions will surely stump you.
Summer intern candidate
“Devise a way to make sure there is always milk in my fridge.”
User Experience Design candidate
“Show us an example with a website with great design.”
Software Development Engineer candidate
“How would you determine if a deck of cards is well or poorly shuffled?”
Senior Business Development Manager candidate
“Why would you not join Google?"
Software Engineer candidate
“Write a program to simulate the writing of a ransom note given a magazine from which letters can be extracted.”
Senior Business Planner candidate
“What did you think about Microsoft's decision to launch Office products on the iPhone?”
Software Development Engineer candidate
"Why are manholes round?”
Program manager candidate
“How do you design a shuttle system to use within the Microsoft campus?"
Software Development Engineer candidate
“The infamous "clock hands" question — how many times do the hour and minute hands of a clock overlap in a 24 hour period?
Senior Consultant candidate
"Situational based: Your sales rep has messed up a sales quote with a long time customer, how will you use your influence to turn things around?"
Customer service advisor candidate
“How would you solve slow start up issues on a laptop/computer?”
Software Engineer candidate
"Explain recursion to a 5-year-old kid."
Program Manager candidate
“Tell me how you would design an airport”
Software Development Engineer candidate
"Given the time, how do you determine the angle between the hour and minute handle of the clock?"
Executive Business Administrator candidate
“How do you form relationships with team members who work out of state or the country?”
Product Manager candidate
“Design a GPS for a 16 year old.”
Senior Program Manager candidate
“Describe a difficult co-worker relationship.”
Software Development Engineer candidate
“Build a list of all words in a novel as well as a count of duplicate words”
Technical Account Manager candidate
“If you were in an elevator with the CEO of a company how would you explain the cloud in 90 seconds?”
Site Manager candidate
“If you were standing in a crowd of people, how would you stand out?”
Mechanical Design Engineer candidate
“Your device has a stylus. How do you store it? How do you charge it? What kind of things can you use it for?”
Design Researcher candidate
“Design the research plan for a brand new wearable product.”
High Level Product Lead candidate
“If you had a choice between two superpowers (being invisible, or flying) which would you choose?”
Program Manager candidate
“The most unexpected questioning was from a female manager who wanted my specific experiences with sexism and misogyny in the workplace. She asked me many variations along this line of questioning.”
Support Engineer candidate
“How would you guide your grandmother if her PC wasn't working?”
Software Development Engineer candidate
"Why are manholes round?”
Program manager candidate
“How do you design a shuttle system to use within the Microsoft campus?"
Software Development Engineer candidate
“The infamous "clock hands" question — how many times do the hour and minute hands of a clock overlap in a 24 hour period?
Senior Consultant candidate
"Situational based: Your sales rep has messed up a sales quote with a long time customer, how will you use your influence to turn things around?"
Customer service advisor candidate
“How would you solve slow start up issues on a laptop/computer?”
Software Engineer candidate
"Explain recursion to a 5-year-old kid."
Program Manager candidate
“Tell me how you would design an airport”
Software Development Engineer candidate
"Given the time, how do you determine the angle between the hour and minute handle of the clock?"
Executive Business Administrator candidate
“How do you form relationships with team members who work out of state or the country?”
Product Manager candidate
“Design a GPS for a 16 year old.”
Senior Program Manager candidate
“Describe a difficult co-worker relationship.”
Software Development Engineer candidate
“Build a list of all words in a novel as well as a count of duplicate words”
Technical Account Manager candidate
“If you were in an elevator with the CEO of a company how would you explain the cloud in 90 seconds?”
Site Manager candidate
“If you were standing in a crowd of people, how would you stand out?”
Mechanical Design Engineer candidate
“Your device has a stylus. How do you store it? How do you charge it? What kind of things can you use it for?”
Design Researcher candidate
“Design the research plan for a brand new wearable product.”
High Level Product Lead candidate
“If you had a choice between two superpowers (being invisible, or flying) which would you choose?”
Program Manager candidate
“The most unexpected questioning was from a female manager who wanted my specific experiences with sexism and misogyny in the workplace. She asked me many variations along this line of questioning.”
Support Engineer candidate
“How would you guide your grandmother if her PC wasn't working?”
