Microsoft placement papers, interview questions, placement process, eligibility criteria, and preparation guide for 2025-2026 campus recruitment and hiring.
Microsoft is a global technology leader, renowned for its software, cloud, and hardware products. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft is the creator of Windows, Office, Azure, Xbox, and more. In India, Microsoft is a top recruiter for software engineers, with a strong focus on innovation, diversity, and impact at scale.
Headquarters: Washington, USA
Employees: 220,000+ globally
Industry: Software, Cloud, AI, Hardware
Revenue: $211+ Billion USD (2023)
Academic Requirements
Degree: B.Tech/B.E./M.Tech/MCA in CS, IT, ECE, EE, or related fields
Batch: Final year students and recent graduates (within 1 year)
Academic Record: Good academic standing (7.0+ CGPA or 70% is common at top campuses)
Backlogs: No active backlogs at the time of application
Branch Eligibility
Eligible Branches: CS, IT, ECE, EE, and related engineering streams
Programming Focus: Strong skills in Data Structures, Algorithms, and System Design
Experience: Freshers and up to 2 years experience (for SDE-1)
Additional Criteria
Coding Skills: Proficiency in at least one language (C++, Java, Python, C#)
Gap Years: Maximum 1 year gap allowed
Course Type: Full-time degrees only
Nationality: Indian citizens (for India roles)
Microsoft Placement Papers 2024
Microsoft Placement Papers 2025
On-Campus
College Placements: Through placement cells at IITs, NITs, IIITs, and top private colleges.
Direct Registration: Via college coordinators or Microsoft campus drive announcements.
Off-Campus
Microsoft Careers Portal: Apply online for off-campus drives.
Hackathons: CodeFunDo, Engage, Imagine Cup.
Referrals: Employee referral program.
Internship Conversion
PPOs: Pre-placement offers for high-performing interns.
Student Programs: Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors, Engage.
| Phase | Duration | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Online Assessment | 1 day | Coding, debugging |
| Technical Interviews | 1-2 weeks | DSA, system design |
| Managerial/Team Fit | 2-3 days | Microsoft values, teamwork |
| HR Discussion | Same day | Offer, negotiation |
| Result Declaration | 2-3 days | Offer letter, background check |
def twoSum(nums, target): lookup = {} for i, num in enumerate(nums): if target - num in lookup: return [lookup[target - num], i] lookup[num] = iListNode* reverseList(ListNode* head) { ListNode* prev = nullptr; while (head) { ListNode* next = head->next; head->next = prev; prev = head; head = next; } return prev;}public int lengthOfLongestSubstring(String s) { Set<Character> set = new HashSet<>(); int max = 0, i = 0, j = 0; while (i < s.length() && j < s.length()) { if (!set.contains(s.charAt(j))) { set.add(s.charAt(j++)); max = Math.max(max, j - i); } else { set.remove(s.charAt(i++)); } } return max;}def getIntersectionNode(headA, headB): a, b = headA, headB while a != b: a = a.next if a else headB b = b.next if b else headA return aclass Codec: def serialize(self, root): def helper(node): if not node: vals.append('#') return vals.append(str(node.val)) helper(node.left) helper(node.right) vals = [] helper(root) return ' '.join(vals)
def deserialize(self, data): def helper(): val = next(vals) if val == '#': return None node = TreeNode(int(val)) node.left = helper() node.right = helper() return node vals = iter(data.split()) return helper()DSA Fundamentals
Arrays & Strings: Manipulation, searching, sorting
Trees & Graphs: Traversals, shortest path, DFS/BFS
Dynamic Programming: Memoization, tabulation
Hashing: Hash maps, sets
System Design Basics
Cloud Architecture: Azure basics, distributed systems
Database Design: SQL vs NoSQL, normalization
API Design: RESTful APIs, authentication
Scalability: Load balancing, caching, sharding
Tell me about yourself (education, projects, interests, career goals)
Family background and support system
Why programming? When did you start coding?
What interests you about software development?
Why Microsoft?
Are you willing to relocate?
What excites you about working at Microsoft?
DSA Mastery
Priority: Critical
Time Allocation: 50%
System Design & OOP
Priority: High
Time Allocation: 20%
Microsoft Values
Priority: High
Time Allocation: 20%
Aptitude & Communication
Priority: Medium
Time Allocation: 10%
| Level | Experience | Base Salary | Total Package | Typical Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDE-1 | New Grad | ₹18-22 LPA | ₹45-55 LPA | Fresh graduates, top colleges |
| SDE-2 | 2-4 years | ₹28-35 LPA | ₹55-70 LPA | 2-4 years experience |
| Senior SDE | 5-8 years | ₹45-60 LPA | ₹80-100 LPA | Senior developers |
| Lead Engineer | 8+ years | ₹80+ LPA | ₹1 Cr+ | Architects, tech leads |
| Role | Level | Total Package | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| QA Engineer | Entry-Mid | ₹10-18 LPA | Testing, automation |
| Product Manager | Mid-Senior | ₹30-60 LPA | Product sense, tech background |
| Data Scientist | Mid | ₹25-40 LPA | ML, analytics |
| DevOps Engineer | Entry-Mid | ₹15-30 LPA | Cloud, automation |
Hiring Trends 2025
Virtual Hiring: More online assessments and interviews System Design Emphasis: More focus in interviews Diversity Hiring: Special drives for women and underrepresented groups
Process Changes
Online Assessments: More debugging and scenario-based questions Team Fit Round: Mandatory for all SDE hires Faster Offers: Reduced time from interview to offer
New Initiatives
Microsoft Engage: Coding competition for hiring Student Programs: Internships, Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors Internal Referrals: Employee referral program
Company Growth
Product Expansion: More engineering and data roles in India Product Innovation: Cloud, AI, security, productivity Global Mobility: Opportunities to work abroad
Ready to start your Microsoft preparation? Focus on DSA, system design, and Microsoft company values. Practice mock interviews and build strong STAR stories.
Pro Tip: Consistent practice on LeetCode and HackerRank is key. Understand Microsoft’s values and be ready to demonstrate them in behavioral rounds.