What shows up most at Microsoft
These are the question clusters that appear most often in the raw records and should shape how candidates allocate prep time.
Coding and LeetCode-style screens
266 mentionsExpect coding rounds with algorithmic challenges based on LeetCode-style questions, testing your coding skills and problem-solving efficiency.
Tree and recursion problems
253 mentionsMicrosoft emphasizes recursion and binary tree problems that evaluate your structured thinking and ability to handle follow-up questions.
Behavioral and calibration signal
147 mentionsBehavioral questions assess your cultural fit and problem-solving approach, with a focus on concrete experiences and level calibration.
Where Microsoft puts the most pressure
The stage distribution tells candidates where the loop concentrates effort and what kind of reasoning tends to matter most in each round.
Phone Screen
69 recordsThe phone screen typically includes coding challenges, followed by behavioral questions, with a strong focus on algorithmic problem-solving and fit for the role.
Onsite
13 recordsOnsite interviews may dive deeper into system design, technical expertise, and problem-solving in high-pressure scenarios, with possible follow-ups on your coding approach.
Technical Interview
10 recordsThe technical interview assesses your ability to solve complex problems, including LeetCode-style questions, often with additional problem mutations.
Online Assessment
9 recordsThis stage appears in the dataset but does not yet have a richer written summary.
Outcome mix
What Microsoft usually signals
Representative questions from the visible record set
These examples help users understand the concrete question flavor without dumping the entire raw database into the public page.
Give a structured 5–10 minute overview of your most important recent research project, then answer follow-up questions.
You are given an open-ended applied research/ML scenario.
Behavioral interview: answer with concrete experiences using STAR (Situation/Task/Action/Result).
Given a string `s` and an integer `K`, among all **contiguous substrings** of `s`, find one that con…
You are given an integer array `prices` of length `n` sorted in **non-decreasing** order, and `q` queries.
### Problem
How to prepare for Microsoft
The prep layer should stay practical: what to review, which LeetCode patterns recur, and how GhostInterview fits the live round instead of just prep week.
Prep focus
Use GhostInterview during the actual interview
GhostInterview is not just for prep. Use it during live interview loops and follow-up pressure while the conversation is still happening. On supported platforms, the overlay is designed to stay hidden on screen share.
Related LeetCode patterns
These are the recurring problem families worth reviewing before a similar loop.
Array
Microsoft frequently tests array-based problems to evaluate your understanding of data structures and efficient algorithms.
Tree
Tree problems, particularly binary trees, assess your ability to reason recursively and structure problems effectively.
Hash Table
Hash table problems are crucial for testing your understanding of fast lookup and data organization techniques.
Open representative Microsoft records
This public page summarizes the pattern. The database is where users inspect the actual record detail, stage context, and full write-up.
2026 Q1 · Technical Interview · Unknown
Microsoft technical interview record for a Software Engineer role. Technical Interview record for Microsoft for a Software Engineer role. I can't find many interview wri…
Open in leaked questionsMicrosoft hackerrank OA 26ng SWE2026 Q1 · Online Assessment · Unknown
Microsoft online assessment record for a Software Engineer role. Online Assessment record for Microsoft for a Software Engineer role. 本帖最后由 匿名 于 2026-2-27 08:15 编辑
Open in leaked questionsSharing the timeline for the Microsoft AS PhD internship.2026 Q1 · Phone Screen · Offer
Microsoft phone screen record for a Software Engineer role that ended in offer. Phone Screen record for Microsoft for a Software Engineer role. I applied through the off…
Open in leaked questionsRelated GhostInterview pages
FAQ
What kind of coding challenges can I expect at Microsoft?
Expect algorithmic coding challenges similar to LeetCode-style problems, covering arrays, trees, and hash tables with an emphasis on efficiency.
How do I prepare for the Microsoft behavioral interview?
Prepare using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses with concrete examples.
How should I approach recursion problems?
Practice breaking down problems recursively, focusing on clear base cases and handling edge cases effectively.
What are the key differences between the phone screen and onsite interviews at Microsoft?
The phone screen is usually a mix of coding and behavioral questions, while onsite interviews focus more on system design, technical depth, and problem-solving under pressure.
What can I expect in the Microsoft technical interview?
Expect in-depth coding challenges with LeetCode-style problems, possibly including problem mutations or deeper follow-ups to test your coding strategy and understanding.