Microsoft Interview experience - Frontend SDE 2(L62) - Hyderabad(INDIA)

My Microsoft Interview Experience – The Most Engaging Interview of My Career

I've 6+ years of experience in Web and mobile development, specifically in React and React native. I’ve participated in over 100 interviews across 30+ companies, but without a doubt, the most engaging and fulfilling experience was with Microsoft. The entire process felt less like a formal assessment and more like a thoughtful, intellectually stimulating conversation—just like the ones I usually have with my colleagues during problem-solving discussions.

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📌 Application Process

I applied through the official Microsoft Careers page. About a week later, I received a call from the HR representative, who walked me through the entire interview process. They clearly outlined the structure:

Total Rounds: 5

1. Online Codility DSA Round
2. DSA Interview
3. System Design Round 1
4. System Design Round 2
5. Hiring Manager Round

The HR also mentioned that the interviews were partially eliminative. If I cleared the online assessment, I’d be expected to take the next three technical rounds on the same day, with the fourth round contingent on clearing rounds 2 and 3.

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🔹 Round 1 – Codility Online DSA Round

This was a timed coding round hosted on Codility. I received 2 problems:

• I fully solved one problem, passing all test cases.
• I was only able to partially solve the second one.

🔍 Observations:

• Ensure you solve at least one problem completely and make a good attempt on the second.

✅ Result: Cleared the cutoff

Received a call from the recruiter confirming progression to the next round.

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🔹 Round 2 – Data Structures & Algorithms

This round was a live coding session with an engineer.

• I was asked to solve a medium-level DSA problem.
• I began with a brute-force approach, which I clearly explained.
• The interviewer nudged me toward optimization. I was able to do it.
• Then again interviewer asked me to optimise it further which partially I did it but couldn't do it further and interviewer helped me to go through it with full explanation of code.

Next, I was asked a situational/behavioral question:

"Tell me about a time when you were discussing an approach with your team, and later realized your suggestion wasn’t the best. How did you handle it?"

I structured my response using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), and the interviewer seemed satisfied.

🔍 Observations:

• Be expressive and communicate your thought process clearly.
• Start with a brute-force solution quickly, then improve.
• Prioritize clean, bug-free code.
• Prepare real-life stories for behavioral questions.

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🔹 Round 3 – System Design: Design Airbnb

This round focused on high-level system design. I used the RADIO framework:

1. Requirements gathering
2. Architecture (High-Level Design)
3. Data modeling
4. Interface (API Design)
5. Optimizations

However, the interviewer redirected the discussion to a more specific concurrency problem:

"How would you handle scenarios where multiple users try to book the same room via different platforms?"

Scenarios discussed:

1. Same room, same platform
2. Same room, different platforms
3. Different rooms, same platform
4. Different rooms, different platforms

Platforms mentioned: Airbnb, MakeMyTrip, Booking.com, Agoda

We explored each case in detail, discussed component interactions, and designed solutions to handle consistency and concurrency.

🔍 Observations:

• Be flexible in your approach—expect the design discussion to evolve.
• Visualize your solution (block diagrams help!).
• Understand edge cases, particularly around consistency and race conditions.

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🔹 Round 4 – System Design Discussion

This round was the most conversational and interactive of them all. The interviewer’s enthusiasm made the session truly enjoyable.

🧠 Problem Statement:

"You are given multiple APIs and need to render the data in an infinite scroll list. How would you design it?"

Additionally:

"If a Product Manager presented you with this problem, what follow-up questions would you ask?"

I focused on gathering clarity by asking:

1. What kind of data will each API return?
2. Are the data formats consistent?
3. Will we need filtering/sorting?
4. Can the number of APIs vary dynamically?
5. What should we show if all APIs fail?
6. How should error messages be handled?

We explored all scenarios thoroughly, especially around UX and edge case handling.

🔍 Observations:

• Strong communication and asking the right questions matter.
• Understand failure cases and user impact.
• The interviewer was highly experienced (10+ years), and the depth of discussion reflected that.

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🔹 Round 5 – Hiring Manager Round

This round had two components:

1. A basic React coding task
2. Several behavioral and situational questions

The coding task was simple, but the focus was on:

• Code readability
• Communication

The behavioral questions were based on real-world scenarios, most of which I had faced during my career. I answered honestly—even admitting when I hadn’t encountered certain situations.

🔍 Observations:

• This round evaluates your problem-solving approach and communication.
• Be honest—don’t fabricate experiences.
• Keep your stories authentic and professional.

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✅ Final Verdict: Selected

I received the offer letter one week later. 🎉

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💬 What I Loved About the Experience:

• Interviewers were highly engaging, knowledgeable, and respectful.
• Conversations felt collaborative rather than evaluative.
• I was encouraged to think deeply and communicate effectively.

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✨ Key Takeaways

• Microsoft emphasizes clarity of thought, structured problem-solving, and collaborative communication.
• System design isn’t just about architecture—it’s about understanding real-world complexity and user scenarios.
• Behavioral questions matter as much as technical ones.
• Being genuine and prepared makes a significant difference.

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If you're preparing for Microsoft or any top-tier company, I hope this detailed breakdown helps you navigate the journey better. Let me know if you want me to write a technical breakdown of any specific round!