   I've got an interview for an internship with microsoft in seattle in two weeks.
  Anyone have any tips?  I was thinking of bringing a demo of my game so far, but it''s visually quite unimpressive (http://boredomprevails.lacking.net/ballchat).  It''s got a lot of neat code behind it, though.  I would love a professional''s opinion about whether or not showing that would help or hurt me (it also connects to a server, which lets you roll around with other people).  The game really has no point, except to roll around a lot..Other tips would be appreciated too.  I''d really love to get this internship and I hear it''s really competetive.Thanks! 
  I had an interview there for a beta testing position once. One of the guy''s asked me some riddles. One of them was why the sewer grates are square instead of circular. I looked it up on the web, and apparently I''m not the only one who''s been asked that. ;  ask on discuss.fogcreek.com joelonsoftware, they have a lot of hints to offer. there are also people there hired by microsoft during the forum''s lifespan. ;  .trollWear an I Love Linux shirt and a pair of tattered jeans. Quote Stallman in every other sentence. Hand the interviewer a set of complimentary Debian install CDs and a stuffed penguin. Ask him if you can see the Windows source code. Mention your karma rating on Slashdot. Preface all preliminary applications/letters/materials with "Dear M$,". Pick yourself up off the ground and stanch any severe bleeding after security kicks your ass out the gate.../.troll;  Hey, I just did one of those about to weeks ago!OK, so here is what I might say to do:1. Relax. the interviews for me were actually pretty fun.  Some coding questions, but otherwise, they were just technical conversations for the most part.  Your past projects, etc.2. Dress well, but do not overdress.  I wore a dress shirt and pants, but no tie or jacket.  That actually might have been a bit over.  Your interviewers will most likely be in jeans and t-shirts.3. Be clear and consise in you answers, and think out loud.  Write on the whiteboard constantly.  Your thought process is much more important than the answer.  When you think you''ve got the answer, keep stabbing at it.  Note weak points in the algorithm, possible changes to increase efficiency.  Persistence seems to be something they look for.4. You might bring a demo of your game.  It''s unlikely they will have time to look at it, but it might be worth it.  I had a couple apps available on the internet to show if they wanted (VS.NET addins), but we didn''t get time (but one of the programmers actually had heard of my addin).5. There are 3-5 interviews.  One of those is an hour and a half lunch interview.  The Microsoft pizza is pretty greasy.  Soda is everywhere and free.6. If you can get through to 4 or 5 interviews, you have a good chance of getting it.7. Overall, just keep talking with them.  I had a really good time for what you might expect.  It''s a long but tiring day.8. Oh, and eat a goooooood meal the night after if you''re in Seattle.  It''s a damn cool city and you''re eating on Microsoft''s 70 dollar a day meal reimbursement.  I recommend seafood.What teams are you interviewing with?I interviewed with the VS.NET IDE and profiler teams, as well as the VC++ compiler team.  My gut instinct is that if I get it, I''ll be on the compiler team.I hear back tomorrow or the next day.Good luck.   VSEDebug Visual Studio.NET Add-In.  Enhances debugging in ways never thought possible. ;  Thanks for the tips!  I don''t know what team I''m interviewing with, actually.. I''m going for the SDE position, but that''s about all I know about it.  And good luck with the job Here''s a question - did your knowledge of microsoft products come up a lot?  On their website, they say you should be interested in the stuff they''re working on, but the truth is that I am not particularly interested in anything they''re working on, with the exception of .NET, though I do have a lot of general knowledge about their different products / technologies.  Were you ever asked about specific facts, or anything like that? ;  Well, obviously just pretend you''re interested.I''m also applying to be an intern, hopefully in the xbox division.   ___________________________________________________________Where to find the intensity (Updated Feb 10, 2004) ;quote:Original post by amish1234  Well, obviously just pretend you''re interested.I''m also applying to be an intern, hopefully in the xbox division.   I meant to ask if I should research what they''ve been doing lately, or if it didn''t come up that much.  Good luck with your interview;quote:Original post by mtw  I had an interview there for a beta testing position once. One of the guy''s asked me some riddles. One of them was why the sewer grates are square instead of circular. I looked it up on the web, and apparently I''m not the only one who''s been asked that.   I''ve seen a spoof interview for some genius (one of the American pioneers of the atomic bomb, I''ve forgotten his name) being interviewd at MS.  He gets asked that question and he makes the interviewer run in circles, turning his words inside and out.  Finally, the interviewer offers him a place at MS customer support or something like that :-) ;  Ahh, it was Richard Feynmann:clicky