I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Microsoft (Vancouver, BC) in Apr 2024
Interview
Got a call from a recruiter and then had an interview from who was going to be my boss. Recruiter is most to get to know you and gives you some tips for the next interview.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
They like to bring the STARR Model, keep in mind that and also read the page about interviews inside microsoft
It's great to hear that everyone you've encountered, from the recruiter to the skip manager, has been so pleasant. It's also wonderful that the timeline is so flexible and considerate.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How did you meet accessibility needs in your projects?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, you underwent a condensed interview process for a designer role, completed entirely in a single day. This streamlined approach was adopted to accommodate remote work and social distancing measures while efficiently evaluating your design skills and fit for the position. The process consisted of four distinct interviews:
1. Recruiter Interview: Your day began with a conversation with a company recruiter. This initial interview likely covered your design background, career aspirations, and overall fit with the organization. The recruiter probably explained the company's design philosophy, team structure, and answered any preliminary questions about the role.
2. Portfolio Review: The second interview was likely with a senior designer or creative director. This session focused on an in-depth review of your portfolio. You presumably walked through your best projects, explaining your design process, the problems you solved, and the rationale behind your creative decisions. The interviewer may have asked about your proficiency with various design tools and your experience with different design methodologies.
3. Design Challenge: Your third interview possibly involved a practical design challenge. You might have been given a brief design task to complete in real-time or present a solution to a hypothetical design problem. This allowed the team to assess your creative thinking, problem-solving skills, and how you approach design challenges under pressure.
4. Team Fit Interview: The final interview was probably with potential future colleagues or the design team lead. This session aimed to evaluate how well you would integrate with the existing design team. Questions might have centered around your collaboration style, how you handle feedback and iterations, and your experience working in cross-functional teams with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders.
Throughout this intensive day, all interviews were conducted virtually using video conferencing tools, reflecting the new normal of remote hiring practices during the pandemic. This condensed format allowed for a quick turnaround in the hiring process while still providing a comprehensive evaluation of your design skills, creative approach, and cultural fit within the organization.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about yourself, why did you want to work for microsoft