3 Trials in Microsoft phone interviews !!

Wow 3 trials! It’s an awful number J Yes I tried 3 times with Microsoft interviews and every time I passed the phone one but I didn’t pass the final one for two times.

The good news is FINALLY in the third trial I got an offer from Microsoft Redmond JJ
The first idea jumped in my mind when I got the offer that I may have some good experience in Microsoft interviews.

So I'll try to write down some tips that help me to avoid causes of failure to make it and reach my biggest dream!!

I started my first trial once I've graduated from faculty of computer science. Everything started by email… I received an email from Microsoft that they see my qualifications matches their needs and they interested to begin interview process.

They sent some questions about my experience and my interests and some stuff like that. When I replied this email with my answers I got another email to schedule a phone interview actually I got confused and I didn't know how to start! Oh my god!! How can I imagine that Visual studio team leader for example is asking me! And what is the expected answer from me!!

Actually Microsoft interviewers know who you are very well and they don’t expect from you to be a genius it is very clear from your CV your ability and your experience, they just want to make sure that you really have a vision and really can make what is listed in your CV.

So if you are going to take your phone interview don’t worry and don’t waste your time charging your self with all those negative ideas.  Just be yourself, Study well and you will make it! I’m sure you will.


Here are some small tips that may help in preparing for your Phone interview:

1-    Study your CV

Ready your CV very well don’t write any thing you don’t know

2-      Revise all basics

Do you remember object oriented concepts? What is the polymorphism? What is the difference between struct and class?  The difference between value type and reference type???

Yes! They really ask a lot of these questions on phone interview so make sure that you are ready for this kind of questions

3-    Train your self on coding

Some times you are asked to write some code. They make you solve a problem on a note pad that is shared by live meeting during the phone interview. So make sure that you can write code on note pad (without auto complete or debugger or any thing that may help). I suggest to implement string functions implemented in .NET I see that this is a good training.

4-    Train your self on testing real objects

Test whatever you see around you. Train your self to think about test cases to test any thing. I remember that I was asked to test Coca-Cola Can, a pencil, an elevator, kitchen machine, ATM

5-    Make a Mockup interview

You may think that this is not important. But really you can’t imagine how this step makes a great difference in your attitude during the interview. Pick any one of your colleagues and make him act as you interviewer. Please behave as it is a real interview. Make your interviewer write down his notes to share together when you finish. 

6-    Prepare the environment before the call

Make sure that every thing is ok.

·         There is a quite place with a good internet access and cell phone coverage

·         Prepare a paper and a pen beside you. This may help you to write down whatever you want to organize your thinking

·         A cup of water beside you is a good idea J it helps to calm down when you get nervous

7-    Behave well with your interviewer

Stick your smile on your face while you are talking J this is highly affecting your voice and reflect some of self confidence.

If your interviewer gives you a tip, work with him to solve the problem using his hint. This indicates how you deal with your team members while brain storming

If he took about the team. Pay attention and show how you are interested in what he says. You can ask for clarification if he said any thing not clear this gives him impression that you are caring to this position.

Finally I hope that those tips really help you. And please don’t hesitate to ask me any thing. It is really a great feeling to get your dream comes true. And I’d like to help you to make it ;)