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Journey from a Tier 3 College to Microsoft Internship

Jul 14, 2024

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Lecture Notes: Journey from a Tier 3 College to Microsoft Internship

Introductory Remarks

  • Speaker: Ruma, a final year student who completed a two-month internship at Microsoft
  • Host: Graduated from BIT Cnri in 2021
  • Topics: Transition from a Tier 3 college to Microsoft, interview preparation, internship experiences, insights from the tech industry, the role of social media in career advancement

Self-Introduction by Ruma

  • Current Status: Final year student at V Institute of Technology, Computer Science and Engineering

Journey from a Tier 3 College to Microsoft

  • Challenges: Limited opportunities and coding culture initially; efforts to build a more active community
  • Community Involvement: Participated in the official coding club (hncc), serving as vice president; organized coding contests
  • Motivation: Seniors and peers excelling in coding and securing top internships

Internship Experience at Microsoft

  • Project Nature: Worked on Microsoft's internal tools, specifically focusing on the Sovereign Cloud environment
  • Tasks: Platform development, task automation with low touch processes, troubleshooting, running scripts
  • Challenges: Transition phase with few resources initially, but effective teamwork
  • Key Takeaways:
    • Teamwork and communication skills were crucial
    • Networking opportunities with senior professionals
    • Enhanced troubleshooting skills

Application Process for Microsoft Internship

  • Method: Applied via Microsoft career portal, turned on notifications for job openings
  • Rejections: Faced multiple rejections before getting shortlisted
  • Online Assessment: Contained two coding questions (cannot disclose specifics due to NDA)
  • Rounds: Technical rounds followed by an HR round (UAA round)
  • DSA Questions: Emphasis on writing production-ready, optimized code
  • HR/Personality Assessment: Assessed overall personality, engagement with the tech community

Technical Interview Preparation

  • Sources: GeeksForGeeks, LeetCode, InterviewBit, Medium for interview experiences
  • Topics: Covering data structures (including tries), dynamic programming, algorithmic approaches like sliding windows
  • Projects: Developed full-stack projects using Monack stack, demonstrating genuine work experience

Advice and Learnings

  • Importance of Fundamentals: Even non-obvious subjects (like Finite Automata from 'FLAT') can be helpful
  • Networking: Using LinkedIn, Twitter, and Reddit for professional connections and insights
  • Preparation Strategy: Start early, be consistent, practice coding, research interview experiences
  • Diversity in Tech: Observing peers from non-CS backgrounds also succeeding in tech roles

Career Perspectives

  • Initial Beliefs: Perceived working at large tech companies as highly challenging
  • Reality: Realized that mastering specific tasks and continuous learning is feasible and supported
  • Future Goals:
    • Secure a job at a reputable company or impactful startup
    • Potentially transition to managerial roles, inspired by interactions with current managers and PMs

Concluding Remarks

  • Inspirational Note: Ruma's journey serves as an inspiration for students from Tier 3 colleges
  • Importance of Perseverance: Encourages students to stay prepared, make use of available resources, and not to be demoralized by rejections

Final Advice

  • Preparation: Be prepared, stay consistent, and start early
  • Mindset: Approach interviews and opportunities with confidence and resilience
  • Networking: Engage with peers, seniors, and industry professionals through various platforms

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