Initial Screening - Phone or video call to assess basic qualifications and fit
Application Review - Resume, cover letter, and portfolio evaluation
Technical/Skills Assessment - Tests, assignments, or practical demonstrations relevant to the role
Panel Interviews - Multiple rounds with different team members, managers, or stakeholders
Final Interview - Often with senior leadership or decision-makers
Reference Checks - Contacting previous employers or professional contacts
Offer and Negotiation - Salary, benefits, and terms discussion
The process typically takes 1-4 weeks, depending on the company size and role complexity. Each stage filters candidates based on qualifications, cultural fit, and role-specific competencies.
The interview was a long process. There was first the recruiter screen, which was followed by a 4-loop interview structure that covered technical, behavioral, and system design. The interviewers were very kind and accommodating.
I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Microsoft
Interview
After my application to ClipChamp - Microsoft, a recruiter reached out and scheduled my first interview. It was about basic interview questions and background analysis. After that I had my technical interview. The recruiter specifically said that I would be facing medium hacker rank questions. So I prepared accordingly. However, what I actually got was to analyse an application and re work it according to new requirements. I felt like I was set up for failure on purpose. Didn’t even hear back after that interview.
Took a bit longer than I thought, spanning about three weeks from start to finish. After a quick recruiter screen, I had a technical round where I was asked about validating a binary search tree. The wild part is, I had literally seen this exact problem on prachub.com while prepping. It helped me feel more confident discussing my approach and edge cases. There was also a behavioral interview where I shared my experiences, and eventually, I received an offer. I chose to decline it, though, as it wasn't the right fit for me at the time.