I applied through an employee referral. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Microsoft in Sep 2014
Interview
Interview process took two weeks in total - a series of 5 interviews with each area or business unit that the role would be interfacing with. Each interview was an hour long (conducted over Skype) - and also was very revealing as it became clear that each area of the business had very different views on what the role should be prioritizing and bringing to the business. Most of the interviews took a conversation approach - one or two were more pointed with deliberate questions raised. I found the fact that there was an underlying element of asking me to validate the role itself as opposed to why I would be best placed for the role somewhat unsettling.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Was asked to give an example of an ambiguous situation I had been in. The question itself was ambiguous and didn't have a clear framework.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Microsoft (San Francisco, CA) in May 2012
Interview
I had been following Xamarin for about 6 months before I noticed they had a req open for a BD position. Since I didn't have any network connections with the company at all, I just applied over the web. I received an email a week-ish later from the VP of Sales directly. She asked to setup a face-to-face later that week, which seemed to me to be a very positive sign. The interview went well, not great (a 7.5 or 8 out of 10 in my mind), but definitely well enough that we agreed the next action was that the VP was going to have me interview the following week with other members of the team.
Then I never heard from them again......at all.
I sent the VP an email the same day with the obligatory "thanks for your time" and re-stated that the plan was for her to setup other interviews. I waited a week and sent an email saying "Hi, just checking in", then another week "Um, hi, remember me?" then another week "So.....um, yeah". Never got ANY reply; not a "oh, yeah, that wasn't the plan" or a "sorry, we were busy" or a "sorry, we changed our mind" or a "we actually found a better candidate" or a "business priorities have changed".....nothing.
It was one of the more infuriating experiences of my life because they couldn't even be bothered to send me a "get lost" email. It's one thing to be told no, it's another to not even have the common curtesy to say no. I took off a half day of work to meet in person, so I was (and still am) pissed.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
We got into very specific partnership / go-to-market ideas. It was clear they expect you to know their market very well.
I applied in-person. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Microsoft (Redmond, WA) in Aug 2012
Interview
Minimum of 4 Interviews (past MS jobs were up to 8 interviewers). Generally very positive interview athmosphere, folks want you to succeed whenm they bring you into the interview loop. No unfair or stupid questions.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
If we have another candidate with the exact same skills, why should we choose you?