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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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Original post by Meltboy7778
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?

I typically get 8 hours of sleep each night, so definitetly no genetic condition. :wink:

Honestly during university I was completely slammed with coursework and my extra-curriculars. I did most of my project development that is on my GitHub during the summer. I also put my dissertation project on my GitHub.

I usually spend about an hour each night doing extra work and always use my commute (45min each way). Finding a proper balance and knowing how you work best is a learning experience, but once you figure it out the rewards are worth it. I have an tech focused Instagram called HerHelloWorld where I cover my tips on being productive, organized, getting into Microsoft, etc which could be useful to you.

I know a couple people who have worked there and I know people who know people who work there. I don't have many specific tips for getting into MSR, but I'd look to see what roles are available online and see what universities partner with them to see if you can work your way towards working at MSR. I suspect you will at least need a masters degree, if not a PHD.

Well releasing confidential data would probably get me fired hah. I am not trying to find out!
Original post by MaherphD
what advise would you give to someone who is aspired to self learn programming?

what's the best language to start with?

I lifted this response directly from my FAQ series on my tech focused Instagram HerHelloWorld - I'd recommend taking a look at the other FAQs and reading people's comments as they sometimes have other useful advice:

What is the best way to learn programming?

Programming is all about practice. You will never learn to program well by just watching someone else or by reading about it. You need to create project and MAKE MISTAKES!! You will learn far more by making mistakes, learning what caused them, and figuring out how to resolve them. Programming is not a quick thing to learn, it is a process. You will never stop learning in a development role, so get used to it.

So how do you find ways to practice, you ask? Look up online classes on website like Udemy, EDX, free Code Camp where you can follow along video lessons. My favorite online classes have sections where you create mock applications of real products because you can see how the different components come together to form a functional application and with enough personal adjustments or additions can be great things to put on your GitHub.

Another option is to participate in hackathons where you create a project over usually a 24-48 hour period. Those are great learning opportunities and can give you experiences to talk about during interviews.

Finally, create a list of applications that you would like to use and refer back to it when you want to try something new but aren't sure where to start. I have a (forever growing) list of apps, games, programs, etc on my phone which I would like to create that I add to whenever somethings sparks in my head. It means that I am never blocked for ideas and can focus on the technical implementation instead of the idea generation.

Regardless of how you go about it, to really learn to program you need to get your hands on the code and start writing!

What language should I learn?

A language is just a tool you use to accomplish a task. Your first step should be to look at what you want to achieve - whether that be working at a specific company, product, or technology - and then choose the best language for that goal. Work backwards. Certain languages are better at performing different tasks.

Often I'm asked "What language should I learn to work at Microsoft?". However, because the company is so large and works on so many technologies, the answer is not clear-cut. I have used predominantly C#, C++, and XAML at Microsoft, but all the products I worked on were Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications. Those who work on AI, iOS, web, etc. will all require a different mix of languages.

I suggest you identify what technologies interest you, find a job role that works with/on those technologies, and see what skills they suggest in the job spec. Tailor your learnings to your passions. You will be much more likely to be able to learn what you need to and meet the job requirements if you understand what they are from the outset.

If you are just looking to learn programming and try out a new skill, some common first languages are Python, Java, C#, or JavaScript combined with HTML and CSS to make websites.
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!

Um can you give me some advice since i am new to programming on which is the best source to make your own custom software visual studio or github
Do you think a Computer Science degree is worth doing or would you say it is better (in terms of the lack of debt) to find an apprenticeship gain real work experience?

Currently in Year 12 and not sure of what to do.
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!


Is it possible to be a part - time programmer whilst in medical school?
Reply 65
Avatar for S2M
S2M
22
Original post by Holly TSR
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.


Thank you for this! Is the pay decent ish?
Reply 66
Avatar for ron202
ron202
14
I know Microsoft is improving it's diversity in terms of gender & i know that the CEO of Microsoft is Indian "Satya Nadella" but how diverse is Microsoft in terms of the race of their employees from your perspective?

What's the differences between software engineers , project manager, data analyst & so on ? Do they all program different pieces of software?
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by cullen454545454
can you please get an Xbox 1 s controller as i have no money for anew one so my Xbox is useless


respect the graft
Reply 68
Avatar for IWMTom
IWMTom
20
How does it feel to know that absolutely no one likes Cortana?
What extra circulars do you suggest doing at university
if youre looking at doing a computing course at uni, what do you suggest i should do as extra curriculars/ extra things to make my application look good
How would you be able to get references to get into jobs like Microsoft or do they look at your portfolio and grades from uni?
Can I say you must have worked really hard! It's really inspiring!
if you are doing an engineering BTEC can you get anything else out of it accept from engineering. I picked it because i thought it would be interesting, i’m aiming to be more the design part of DT, like architecture, PD, media, industrial etc... Ive always been in in between art and science person, that’s why i thought i would enjoy it. Now i don’t know weather i regret choosing it and not choosing art or product design or something. Please help, what is your experience, is engineering just higher DT that can get you into more pathways rather than just having DTif you could help that would be appreciated thanks
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!


- In your opinion, what is/are the best coding language(s) to learn?
- What university course did you do?
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!


Tell me about project Xcloud pls!
Original post by ScoutLeopard
- In your opinion, what is/are the best coding language(s) to learn?
- What university course did you do?


It says her course in her intro
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 kind of applications do you think that Cortana will have in the tech industry? I saw at a conference the AI Microsoft was developing and how they planned to use it in farming, teaching and transport I just wandered what plans you have for Cortana? I also wandered if it would become as smart as Jarvis in Iron man but maybe I should dream on.
Original post by zaink34
Um can you give me some advice since i am new to programming on which is the best source to make your own custom software visual studio or github


GitHub is really a place to store your code and do version control. Visual studio is a development environment where you write your code. Depending on what technologies you are interested, the best IDE will differ. For C#, C++, and class development for Unity, I use Visual Studio. For web development, I'd recommend VSCode or Atom.io. For Android development, then I'd use Android Studio.
Original post by Greywolftwo
What kind of applications do you think that Cortana will have in the tech industry? I saw at a conference the AI Microsoft was developing and how they planned to use it in farming, teaching and transport I just wandered what plans you have for Cortana? I also wandered if it would become as smart as Jarvis in Iron man but maybe I should dream on.

Cortana has lots of applications, but I am excited the most for the productivity features as this is where Microsoft excels. AI in Microsoft is vast, so Microsoft will be able to make enormous impact on the world through its AI services, particularly those available in Azure. While a lot of these are not Cortana related, the AI technologies are still very cool and have many applications. Reaching Jarvis levels of intelligence is still many years off, but amazing research is underway to get closer to this. Microsofts acquisition of Semantic Machines will help get Cortana closer to this goal by having increased context awareness of the user and what they are doing.

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