25 tricky Microsoft interview questions you don't want to be asked

Advertisement

“Devise a way to make sure there is always milk in my fridge.” - Summer intern candidate

“Devise a way to make sure there is always milk in my fridge.” - Summer intern candidate
Advertisement

“Show us an example with a website with great design.” - User Experience Design candidate

“Show us an example with a website with great design.” - User Experience Design candidate
Advertisement

“How would you determine if a deck of cards is well or poorly shuffled?” - Software Development Engineer candidate

“How would you determine if a deck of cards is well or poorly shuffled?” - Software Development Engineer candidate

“Why would you not join Google?" - Senior Business Development Manager candidate

“Why would you not join Google?" - Senior Business Development Manager candidate
Advertisement

“Write a program to simulate the writing of a ransom note given a magazine from which letters can be extracted.” - Software Engineer candidate

“Write a program to simulate the writing of a ransom note given a magazine from which letters can be extracted.” - Software Engineer candidate

“What did you think about Microsoft's decision to launch Office products on the iPhone?” - Senior Business Planner candidate

“What did you think about Microsoft's decision to launch Office products on the iPhone?” - Senior Business Planner candidate
Advertisement

"Why are manholes round?” - Software Development Engineer candidate

"Why are manholes round?” - Software Development Engineer candidate

“How do you design a shuttle system to use within the Microsoft campus?" - Program manager candidate

“How do you design a shuttle system to use within the Microsoft campus?" - Program manager candidate
Advertisement

“The infamous "clock hands" question — how many times do the hour and minute hands of a clock overlap in a 24 hour period?” - 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?” - Software Development Engineer 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?" - 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?" - Senior Consultant candidate
Advertisement

“How would you solve slow start up issues on a laptop/computer?” - Customer service advisor candidate

“How would you solve slow start up issues on a laptop/computer?” - Customer service advisor candidate

"Explain recursion to a 5-year-old kid." - Software Engineer candidate

"Explain recursion to a 5-year-old kid." - Software Engineer candidate
Advertisement

“Tell me how you would design an airport” - Program Manager candidate

“Tell me how you would design an airport” - Program Manager candidate

“Given the time, how do you determine the angle between the hour and minute handle of the clock?” Software Development Engineer candidate

“Given the time, how do you determine the angle between the hour and minute handle of the clock?” Software Development Engineer candidate
Advertisement

“How do you form relationships with team members who work out of state or the country?” Executive Business Administrator candidate

“How do you form relationships with team members who work out of state or the country?” Executive Business Administrator candidate

“Design a GPS for a 16 year old.” - Product Manager candidate

“Design a GPS for a 16 year old.” - Product Manager candidate
Advertisement

“Describe a difficult co-worker relationship.” - Senior Program Manager candidate

“Describe a difficult co-worker relationship.” - Senior Program Manager candidate

“Build a list of all words in a novel as well as a count of duplicate words” - Software Development Engineer candidate

“Build a list of all words in a novel as well as a count of duplicate words” - Software Development Engineer candidate
Advertisement

“If you were in an elevator with the CEO of a company how would you explain the cloud in 90 seconds?” - 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?” - Technical Account Manager candidate

“If you were standing in a crowd of people, how would you stand out?” - Site Manager candidate

“If you were standing in a crowd of people, how would you stand out?” - Site Manager candidate
Advertisement

“Your device has a stylus. How do you store it? How do you charge it? What kind of things can you use it for?” - 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?” - Mechanical Design Engineer candidate

“Design the research plan for a brand new wearable product.” - Design Researcher candidate

“Design the research plan for a brand new wearable product.” - Design Researcher candidate
Advertisement

“If you had a choice between two superpowers (being invisible, or flying) which would you choose?” - High Level Product Lead candidate

“If you had a choice between two superpowers (being invisible, or flying) which would you choose?” - High Level Product Lead 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.” - 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.” - Program Manager candidate
Advertisement

“How would you guide your grandmother if her PC wasn't working?” - Support Engineer candidate

“How would you guide your grandmother if her PC wasn't working?” - Support Engineer candidate