Comment Feed for Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft? (WM_IN on Channel 9)

Re: Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft?

Drink25Up — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:26:49 GMT

Hello,

I am unable to view this view.. Is it available still ?

Re: Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft?

Richseattle — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:33:28 GMT

http://mschnlnine.vo.llnwd.net/d1/ch9/2/7/4/8/1/zoe_gretchen_2004_what_is_it_like_to_interview_at_microsoft.wmv

For those unable to view the video within the page, the above link should allow you to download the video (about 61mb) although the audio seems a bit off on my system.

Re: Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft?

Srividhya — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:34:26 GMT

I was not able 2 hear the video played.Could you please update.Thanks..

Re: Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft?

betawiz — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:49:51 GMT

Did Gretchen Ledgard said Google for the information?!?
Seems like she doesn't believe MSN Search. Ouch!!!:P

Re: Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft?

Gretchen — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 19:50:42 GMT

Hi Niners - If you don't know already, Zoe and I are back with our own company, JobSyntax. In fact, it's been around for a while. But if you still have burning questions about technical recruiting, we're hosting a jobseeker chat on Tuesday, 10/10/06 at 10 am PT. You can find out more information about the topic and how to sign up here on our blog.

Carry on. :)

Re: Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft?

Steve Smith — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 21:49:45 GMT

http://www.emicrosoftinterview.com has tonns of information which can be used to prepare for MS interview

Re: Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft?

driftwood — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 04:35:33 GMT

Does anyone have a link to the third video for this series? I'm having a hard time tracking it down on ch9

thanks

Re: Zoe Goldring and Gretchen Ledgard - What is it like to interview at Microsoft?

SlackmasterK — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 21:03:17 GMT

Didn't see a link to part 2, it's here:

After Zoe's turn down I went on a short vacation to relax, came back, tried again, and voila! I got hired! Of course it helps I am single and have no financial pressure.

Now on to my $0.02: Learn a topic from top to bottom. Say patterns, or relational theory, or ASP. Just learn the darn thing well, don't be afraid to even mention flaws with that thing you know well.

The rest just make sure you can have a pleasent conversation about other topics. If you dont' know something say so and ask "Would you tell me how you would do it"... while they explain, carefully listen to the choice of words the interviewer uses and use them yourself. (THis is key, remember...big KEY).

If you know something (the answer to something) do not stop talking until they tell you so. segway on to another topic you also know. Don't be pushy either as in using commands like "wait, wait, wait" or "let me finish". Practice story telling not to lie but to get the right tone of voice.

Your body must also speak. If the interviewer is saying "...here is the important thing..." you lean back and open your eyes. If the interviewer says "...this is kind of funny..." you lean forward and smile....you get the idea, don't sit there dead.

Well, now I work at Microsoft and like it very much. I have run into lots of weird people and know some managers that I wish got phoned interviewed by Zoe so they wouldn't be here; And even being inside I don't stop to build a network of contacts for a rainy day.

The other day, I was having some beers and playing pool at a bar. I met this high end PM (I looked him up in the address book) short of calling HR that same night and moving me to his group he did all sorts of promises that ...you guessed it! He would not remember the next day. (Of course this did not happen and it is just something similar I saw once in a movie ;)

Later

Re: How 'Prepared' is prepared for the full time interview?

goofythegoof — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 00:41:10 GMT

Hi KSG,

THanks for your reply.

It'l be interesting to know what exactly a program manager does. I have read enough descriptions/profiles but its still not clear to me as to how a program manager is involved in the software developement aspect of a product. Most descriptions say that PMs define feature set, hold meetings, manage timelines.. how are these things related to software development?

Do program managers build architecutres? As in lets say theres a certain product- Is it the program managers job to come up with a software architecture (class heirarchy etc)? Are they supposed to care about details like 'use recursion instead of iteration' kind of issues? Do they write/read/troubleshoot code?

Thanks!

goofy

Re: How 'Prepared' is prepared for the full time interview?

KSG — Fri, 03 Dec 2004 00:10:39 GMT

I'm neither Zoe nor Gretchen, but I'm a PM who does do interviews at Microsoft and I will say that we do ask coding questions. I asked one this morning in fact. It probably depends on the team. I'm a PM on the C++ team so our product has a lot to do with code :-)
<p>
If you have an interview, good luck!

Thanks,

KSG

How 'Prepared' is prepared for the full time interview?

goofythegoof — Wed, 01 Dec 2004 05:51:25 GMT

Hi Zoe & Gretchen,

Ive heard and seen people work their bottoms off in my school 'preparing' for a microsoft interview- they revise all thier coursework, read books on interviewing etc.

I wonder if all that is required? The palindrome question in the second video seems simlpe, but lets say i didnt remember C syntax and mess up in writing the program but wrote a good and correct algorithm- what kind of impression does that give to the interviewer?

Lets say I did n number of courses during my degree program? Iam sure noone expects us to know all the coursework?

I just want to know what the interviewer is expecting out of the candidate? A general tip given is: Know whatever you have on your resume inside out. are we supposed to know the minutest implementation details of all projects?

Also, are coding questions asked in PM interviews? because PMs dont code (please correct me if wrong)

what kind of non technical and non design questions should one expect in a PM interview, given that the careers website say most hires for PM are comp science backgrounds?
are we supposed to think Cost/Business perspective while responding? If so how would someone expect a CS guy to know that?

Thanks