Microsoft Business Development Manager interview questions

Microsoft in Australia is very different to US Microsoft in their hiring practices and culture. I spent a lot of time researching their interview techniques but ended up with the feeling that I knew better about Microsoft interviewing techniques than the people who were interviewing me. I was interviewed 8 times over 9 weeks for two different roles and was offered a role verbally by hiring manager in week 5 which was retracted the same day (I was told it was a miscommunication). Later I was put into another interview loop. They did offer eventually after 9 weeks. Remember the following: - You can be interviewed as many times as they like. Unlike US where all interviews happen in one day, Microsoft AU will keep bringing you back on separate days. Think about investing 7-8 days of your job search for just one company. - There is no thing such as an 'interview loop' in Microsoft Australia - don't be misled by information on US websites. Interviewers are not expected to hand in 'hire/no hire' decision at the end of each interview. This allows hiring managers to use their influence on the process and candidates generally get hired if they are 'liked' by hiring managers rather than on their interview loop performance. . - Generally, you will spend 2-3 days preparing for an interview and then up to a week waiting to hear from them and this goes on for 8-9 weeks. Be ready to make a lot of excuses to your current boss on 24-48 hour notices to attend weekly Microsoft interviews. - Because they are aware of their mysterious process and fear that candidates will refuse to put up with their unreasonable demands, they drop a love bomb on you when you first start interviewing. As long as you are in the process, you will be told that you are the best candidate they ever dreamt off. Don't be flattered as they are telling the same story to everyone else in the loop and as soon as they start 'liking' someone else better than you, they won't even bother picking up the phone and sharing the outcome with you. When they retracted first offer, I was told that they can't even provide feedback with rejected candidates and then they suddenly fell in love with me again after two weeks. - Microsoft uses contract recruiters in Australia who are completely disengaged from the process and their job is just to schedule appointments. They hate their jobs and it is very obvious from their attitudes. Always feel free to negotiate with them and ask for updates as often as you can - they have no 'say' in the process and I found them equally frustrated by the random ways of hiring managers. - Microsoft interviewers vary in their ability and engagement. I had some great interviews and some really bad ones. One recruiter kept checking his emails during the interview and another kept me waiting in the lobby for 45 minutes and tried to give me the impression that he was testing my patience - he then rushed through the interview as he was getting late for lunch. In general, they don't care about you as a candidate and demonstrate utter disrespect at times. They think they can get away with all that because of Microsoft brand but in the process end up loosing good candidates to competitors. Tips: 1) Expect to spend reasonable time in the process. If you are working full time, this could mean taking half a day off every week for 1-2 months. Allow yourself plenty of time as their visitor parking is generally full and it is hard to find parking in the area. 2) Keep reminding yourself that at any point your chances of getting a job are 0%. Don't have any hopes regardless of what you are being told. DO NOT BELIEVE THEM - they want to distract you from your recruitment processes elsewhere by raising your hopes but they are telling these stories to everyone and may be end up not hiring anyone or most likely go for an internal candidate. 3) Demand to know up front the extent of process. I was told it was just going to be three interviews in total and I ended up interviewing 8 times. 4) Any information that you find on Microsoft interviewing on GlassDoor is irrelevant to Australian process - don't bother wasting your time. 5) Don't expect to hear back in 48 hours after each interview and get an offer after one day of interviewing - welcome to Australia. 6) Don't expect feedback - if it has been more than a week since your last interview without being called, this is your feedback 'The Microsoft WAY' that you didn't get the job. Hope this is useful to future candidates! Power to the candidates and wish you all good luck!!!

Full day, long loop. Day started with initial interview with HR. Then I interviewed with the manager of the position that was open. Third interview was with the group manager, and then I had two interviews with potential teammates. Final interview was with the GM, who was very laid-back and easy going, and was more of a conversation to make sure that I would fit in with the team.