Just got invitation for Microsoft hiring event. I was wondering: -- are these hiring events worth going to? -- does Microsoft only do these hiring events, or also regular individual onsite interviews?
Where? Bay are or Seattle?
I believe they do in HQ for the most part
Does it make a different compared with applying individually?
The experience was great. Treated well. I did not get the job. I did have some awkwardness when asked a variety of diversity and inclusion related questions. I had not anticipated those questions and tried to be fairly neutral but I think they needed a impactful story from me. The business and technical questions were appropriate and the discussion enjoyable. I was turned down I think related to my performance related to diversity.
They are worth going to and its a shorter form of their interview loop. Typically 4 rounds eqchlasting to about 45 mins and hear back with a day or two. They do both - hiring events and a full loop.