Explore Intern
Microsoft · Intern (first- and second-year students)
This is how Microsoft interviews for Explore Intern, from our research: 3 rounds, what each one looks for, and how to prepare. Pick any round and an AI interviewer runs it with you out loud, by voice or by typing. Afterwards you’ll see what went well and what to work on next.
Your first 60 minutes of practice are free. No card needed.
Next: your first full round
Do the Initial reasoning screen round.
One full round, as long as theirs, shows where you stand before you work on anything specific.
The rounds
Pick a round to see what it asks of you and where you stand on it.
Initial reasoning screen
Assess basic reasoning, communication, learning approach, and comfort with simple technical or product problems.
Engineering judgment · 30 minSet up this round
Not tried yetNo attempt yet.
What strong sounds like
- Break a simple problem into steps, inputs, assumptions, and a workable approach.
- Explain each decision in a sequence that another person can follow and question.
- Choose useful assumptions, state them clearly, and adjust when the interviewer adds information.
- Describe a specific learning experience and show how feedback changed later action.
Expect to be pushed on
Ask why an assumption is reasonable.
Add a new user or technical constraint.
Shapes of problem you may get
- Past teamwork or learning example
- Logic problem with spoken reasoning
- Simple product or system design
- Basic technical concept explanation
How to prepare
Select two learning stories
Choose two specific examples from school, projects, or teamwork. For each, note the situation, your action, the result, feedback received, and what you changed later.
Microsoft reports that student interviews can include behavioral and technical questions. Exact-role reports also mention learning, communication, curiosity, and coachability, but the older reports may not match every current team.
Company researchStudent interviewing - Microsoft CareersExplore Microsoft Programhey! it's internship application season!! as an ex Microsoft Explore Intern, who received a return offer (!!!), I want to share some interviewing tips and info about Microsoft!
Rehearse one reasoning structure
Use one simple product or technical prompt. State the goal, inputs, assumptions, steps, and a first solution. Then change one assumption and explain how your approach changes.
Older exact-role reports describe logic, technical-concept, and simple design content. The current role format can vary, so a clear structure is more useful than memorizing questions.
Company researchStudent interviewing - Microsoft CareersExplore Microsoft ProgramMicrosoft Explore Internship (First-Year)
Prepare for a virtual conversation
Check your camera, microphone, connection, and note space. Practice explaining one unfamiliar technical idea with a small example while leaving pauses for questions and hints.
Microsoft states that student interviews are virtual and include one-to-one meetings. This round is 30 minutes, so concise explanations and active adjustment matter.
Company researchStudent interviewing - Microsoft Careers
Then try the round
You have two written stories and one outlined reasoning example with explicit assumptions, a revised approach, and a short explanation of what you learned.
Resources to focus on
- Student interviewing - Microsoft Careers
“Preparing for your interview” and “Virtual Interview Day”; access is broad student guidance, not Explore-specific questions.
Use its guidance to refine behavioral examples, technical explanations, and one-to-one virtual communication.
Your first try takes the full 30 minutes, like the real one.
What they look for
Microsoft’s official student guidance describes an initial interview followed by final interviews, with virtual one-to-one meetings. Exact Explore reports describe a 30-minute initial interview and two 45-minute final interviews. Reported final content varies between coding, product, behavioral, and basic technical topics, so the final split is not confirmed.
They reward
- Explain choices before defending them.
- Accept hints and improve the next attempt.
- Connect product ideas to real user needs.
What to avoid
- Do not hide assumptions inside your answer.
- Do not give broad teamwork claims without a specific action.
- Do not continue with a weak approach after receiving useful feedback.
- Do not start coding before defining the data shape.
- Do not claim correctness without a manual dry-run.
How sure we are
Worth redoing if you hear something from the recruiter that contradicts this.
Confirmed · 12
- Explore Microsoft is for first- and second-year college students.
- The program lasts 12 weeks in the United States and 8 weeks in India.
- Explore interns work in a small team or pod on a product-group project through Design, Build, and Quality phases.
- Microsoft states that student candidates have an initial interview and, if selected, a second final interview. The process varies by role.
Likely · 2
- The role bar likely emphasizes introductory computer science, basic programming, teamwork, and learning ability because the program targets early-year students and covers product development in a pod.
- The United States role likely has more product-oriented interview content than a software-engineering-only internship because the program exposes interns to both program management and software engineering.
Worth asking them
Questions that fill in what the research couldn’t tell us.
Does the current Explore process include an online assessment before interviews?
Are the two final sessions usually technical, product-focused, or mixed for this role?
Do first-year and second-year applicants receive different interview formats or durations?
Attempts
Every round you’ve done for this job, newest first.
Initial reasoning screen, Final technical interview, and Final product interview have no attempts yet.