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I'm a Microsoft Software Engineer- I've worked on Xbox, Paint 3D and now Cortana: AMA

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The Queen is now 93 years old, do you think it's about time for her to check out?
Also, Kissinger is now 96 years old, would you say he should be tried for war crimes or should he just bite the dust right away?
Original post by 04MR17
What do you do to wind down? :smile:


With so much going on in my life at any given point, it can be hard for me to find moments to just relax. However, I do try to go on a proper walk outside at least once a week. I am from Washington state which is known for being outdoorsy and staying active, so getting outside to destress and unwind is really important to me. I also love to travel. There is nothing like escaping your every day reality and going on an adventure to help you reset.
Original post by DuckDodgers
I'd like to ask a question but I'm unsure how to phrase it so please bare with me.

Essentially, I focused my master's dissertation on analysing the motivational qualities of game-like features in non-game situations because I'm extremely interested in gamification. I've yet to apply this knowledge since graduating from my master's degree and am at a loss as to how to get started. I wonder, do Microsoft or any other software companies that you know offer any sort of direction to people like myself?

Hmm this is quite an interesting question. I'm not sure if I really have a proper answer, but I would suggest looking into somewhere like Microsoft Research (there is one in Cambridge and a few others globally) because they may be doing wider research that could use your insights. Otherwise, I'd apply to companies that use gamification currently like Duolingo.
Original post by rebellionium
Why do you think you got into Microsoft? Do you have outstanding projects or very high grades?

I think I got in because I demonstrated my passion for technology, answered the technical interview questions correctly, had a growth mindset and was teachable, showed that I consistently went above and beyond in my work/studies, and was a good team fit. I did have projects on my GitHub and was able to speak about the larger individual and group programs that I had created during my studies in my interview, however I did not have to show them my projects.
What exactly do you do as a software engineer in your day-to-day job - does it involve mostly writing the code itself, optimising/testing it, or something else?

What level of programming knowledge would someone be expected to have before they first start working as a software engineer?

What programming language do you use the most?

Edit: what qualifications did you have before applying to Microsoft?
(edited 4 years ago)
hi! im really interested into going into computer science as a career and university degree, but im just worried it will be too hard. i have just started a level computer science without doing it for gcse, so i am struggling a bit but i am really passionate about doing it but im just not sure i have the ability?? any advice on how i can really develop my skills/what i can do (specifically for programming)
Original post by GreenCub
What exactly do you do as a software engineer in your day-to-day job - does it involve mostly writing the code itself, optimising/testing it, or something else?

Someone posted a really good blog on StackOverflow on a similar sort of topic to this: :smile:
https://stackoverflow.blog/2019/09/05/they-didnt-teach-us-this-a-crash-course-for-your-first-job-in-software/
Hah I don't get free hardware. Take your broken controller to the store and see what they can do. Best of luck!
Original post by MaliciousFlower
hi! im really interested into going into computer science as a career and university degree, but im just worried it will be too hard. i have just started a level computer science without doing it for gcse, so i am struggling a bit but i am really passionate about doing it but im just not sure i have the ability?? any advice on how i can really develop my skills/what i can do (specifically for programming)

Hi! I totally understand where you are coming from. I properly started programming in high school with Java and, honestly, I didn't find it easy. There were times where it really challenged me and I'd get pretty frustrated. Something every developer needs to learn is that your code will not work the first time. Programming teaches patience. Programming is learnt through practice and making mistakes, so if you're finding it challenging then it means that you are learning.

I found that when I went to university to study programming that I had a huge leg up compared to others because I was exposed to these challenges and learnt enough to give me a head start. Your university will start right back at the beginning because most people don't have any exposure to programming.

Any one can learn to program - you ABSOLUTELY have the ability. If you're passionate about technology, then the knowledge will come with time. I'd recommend creating projects that relate to your interests. Identify what technologies interest you and what external passions you have and combine them. If you are interested in using the program yourself or relates to your interests, then you will be much more invested in learning, pushing through the bugs, and creating something cool. I have found that Udemy has some really good courses that teach you the basics and build up some cool projects whilst also giving you the freedom to customize the projects and improving your skills. Just make sure you always buy Udemy classes on sale.

Give me a follow on Instagram: HerHelloWorld. I give out a lot of tips about improving your programming and show what working in the industry is really like. You can DM me on there if you have more questions after this AMA ends. :smile:
Yes, I had a series of white board questions that covered a variety of programming fundamentals, algorithms and data structures. I'll be giving a talk in the next couple weeks about technical interviews which I will be sharing on my Instagram HerHelloWorld if you want to hear more about the different stages of technical interviews and my tips on how to succeed in each one.
Original post by GreenCub
What exactly do you do as a software engineer in your day-to-day job - does it involve mostly writing the code itself, optimising/testing it, or something else?

What level of programming knowledge would someone be expected to have before they first start working as a software engineer?

What programming language do you use the most?

Edit: what qualifications did you have before applying to Microsoft?



I start my day typically around 9:30am. I start by catching up with emails and Teams messages that have come in overnight. My team is based in London, but we work closely with other Cortana and Windows teams around the world in countries like the USA, China, India, Norway, and Israel.

Each morning our sub-team starts with a daily stand-up meeting where we talk about what we did yesterday and what we are doing today, plus any blockers. We track the progress of our scheduled work for that period or sprint using cards on the wall that we move through different stages of completion. Once our feature or deliverable has gone into the main project or master branch we clap for our team mate. We are a very enthusiastic, fun team, so rituals like this are part of our company culture.

This is followed by a couple hours of work time, which can include programming features, collaborating with designers or other software engineers, having meetings to discuss future plans, or having one-to-one meetings with my manager or mentor to talk about my career growth or updates on the team. My work allows us a lot of flexibility to manage our time in the way that we want to. We are all welcome to take breaks to recharge our brains or to connect with our colleagues over a game of cards or table tennis.

My morning work period is followed by an hour-long lunch. My team sit together in our open plan office to eat lunch, share stories, and joke around. I am very thankful to have a team that I call my friends.

Post-lunch, I start my afternoon work time where I continue developing features, testing my code, having meetings, reviewing pull requests, etc until my day ends at around 5:30pm.



I'd definitely recommend getting an internship before you graduate. They are great soft landings into the world of work where the team is designed to help upskill you. At junior levels, companies are looking to see if you have good foundational knowledge, are teachable, and are a good team fit. They don't expect you to know everything and should have systems in place to mold you and teach you the relevant technologies to the project you'd be working on.

I use C# and XAML (a Windows UI language). On previous projects I have also used C++. In my own development I use the common web languages to build my website and Java for Android development.

I joined Microsoft as a university intern, so my qualifications were limited to the classes that I took and the individual projects/assignments that I created at university and in my free time. Post-internships (Paint 3D and Xbox) I received grad job offers from both teams. My work experience during my internship was my biggest qualification in the end.
do yall even reply to this thing or have I been hoodwinked
Original post by vid cant sing
do yall even reply to this thing or have I been hoodwinked

Hey, I have been replying to peoples messages as much as I can whilst also balancing my job and other outside commitments. You'll find that I answered your question about Xbox games and Cortana a couple days ago. Let me know if you have any other questions! :smile:
Reply 53
Avatar for S2M
S2M
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Original post by Holly TSR
Holly is a multi-award-winning Microsoft Software Engineer who has worked on multiple globally released products including Paint 3D and Xbox, and now works on Cortana for Windows. Code she has written is currently on over 800 million devices world-wide!

Between developing applications, she an active advocate for diversity and inclusion for women in STEM. She is on the Technical Women at Microsoft board and works with the Microsoft DigiGirlz team and external organizations like Code First: Girls and the STEMettes to empower women and help others realize their full-potential.

She grew up in the Seattle area before moving to England five years ago to study Computing and Information Technology, consisting of a mix of computer science and business classes, at the University of Surrey.

Ask her (almost!) anything by replying below!

How hard was it to get a job at Microsoft?
What is your view on proprietary software?
Hi Holly, I’m an economics student at one of the top London unis so I was wondering whether you could put me in touch with a colleague in your business/ finance division for a chat. Thank you!
Genuine question - do you have that genetic condition where you only need 4 hours of sleep a night?
How much time during uni were you spending a week on your own projects to bolster your GitHub?
Do you have time/energy after work? Could you write a book / make personal projects during the week as well as doing your job?
Do you know people in the Cambridge research division? Any knowledge on how to get in there?
What would you have to do to get fired at this point?
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by Holly TSR
Holly is a multi-award-winning Microsoft Software Engineer who has worked on multiple globally released products including Paint 3D and Xbox, and now works on Cortana for Windows. Code she has written is currently on over 800 million devices world-wide!

Between developing applications, she an active advocate for diversity and inclusion for women in STEM. She is on the Technical Women at Microsoft board and works with the Microsoft DigiGirlz team and external organizations like Code First: Girls and the STEMettes to empower women and help others realize their full-potential.

She grew up in the Seattle area before moving to England five years ago to study Computing and Information Technology, consisting of a mix of computer science and business classes, at the University of Surrey.

Ask her (almost!) anything by replying below!


what advise would you give to someone who is aspired to self learn programming?

what's the best language to start with?
Original post by S2M
I


How hard was it to get a job at Microsoft?

I definitely put in quite a bit of effort to get into Microsoft. This work started by making sure that my CV was tailored to Microsoft and was reviewed by multiple people. I followed this up by taking interview training at my university and interviewing at other companies for practice. My interview process had probably 5 stages or different tests. I would say though that it is totally feasible to get in. You just need to be passionate, be able to express your thought process during the interviews, and have a strong foundational knowledge in programming fundementals (if you are aiming to be a software engineer). Feel free to DM me on my tech Instagram HerHelloWorld for more specific advice.
Original post by DJWatson
Hi Holly, I’m an economics student at one of the top London unis so I was wondering whether you could put me in touch with a colleague in your business/ finance division for a chat. Thank you!

Hey, unfortunately I don't have any connections in that area of the business. I'd recommend looking up some people on LinkedIn and connecting with them there. There is no harm in reaching out and increasing your name recognition. Also reach out to your Microsoft recruiter for your university. They are a great resource that you should lean on to get you in the door. Also attend networking events to meet people in person because those connections will be really useful.

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