MS Grad Program

joe316

Hi all,

Im doing the aptitude test for the commercial grad program on Monday, has anyone here done this test before? What is the format of the interview and any tips? Any help much appreciated.

Ive searched the archives for anything related but only could find two threads that dealt with the technical grad program not the business one.

thanks

joe316

since the test is on monday, i hope the mods dont mind me bumping this.

apologies if so.

joe

damnyanks

And since you are at it. Anyone know what the story is with the online technical test? Just got back from one of their development centers where I had lots of questions on whiteboards. Is it gonna be like that ?

poker_face

I know someone who done the online technical test, he said it was pretty hard. Alot of java and C++.

Raskolnikov

damnyanks wrote:

And since you are at it. Anyone know what the story is with the online technical test? Just got back from one of their development centers where I had lots of questions on whiteboards. Is it gonna be like that ?

The online technical test is a bit of a joke, the questions on testing and quality assurance were ridiculously hard.

damnyanks

yeah just did it there. Think you just had to reason it out yourself as I'd never done any of that metric based questions.

The system itself made me paranoid. I'm very much a fan of control-c then control-f which threw up a big warning!

Peteee

I did the technical aptitude test the other day. I thought it was pretty hard.

Definetly bone up on programming and especially SQL (Outter joins, inner Joins....God, I didn't have a clue) before you do it.

I thought the C# questions were rock hard (Probably because I've never done it!), the C++ and JavaScript ones were reasonable I thought. Java questions were quite difficult and a bit unfair (We learned Swing not AWT, and some of the options were ridiculous in similarity)

the questions on testing and quality assurance were ridiculously hard

I actually thought these were okay (But then I'm after a semester of Software Quality!)

Raskolnikov

Well if you pass the online assessment, then you'll be invited to do the same thing in MS Ireland HQ in Sandyford apparently.

damnyanks

Yeah I didn't see the point in the Java SQL API specific stuff. I can understand testing OOP type questions as you should know that stuff but API specific questions (AWT included) are pointless.

Are they looking for database programers or soemthing?

Does anyone know what sort of positions they actually give graduates? I'm hoping to go forward for something on their actual products as opposed to localisation or operations.

Raskolnikov

damnyanks wrote:

Does anyone know what sort of positions they actually give graduates? I'm hoping to go forward for something on their actual products as opposed to localisation or operations.

The roles are for Software Test Engineer and Software Localisation Engineer, from what I've heard, I wouldn't expect a highly technical role.

tootall200

so basically no one knows anything about the commercial grad test as appose to the technical? ive the test tomorrow morning as well and theres not much on the web to give me an idea as to what to expect.

damnyanks

Hi tootall,

Sorry for wrecking your thread!

While I've no idea what exactly is going to be on your test I've done a quick google just to find out what exactly the program offers.

Business Analyst
Technical Business Analyst
Supply Chain Analyst
Operations Program Manager

So putting my experiences of the tech exams down I'd reccomend you do the following.

Make yourself familiar with the core tasks of the above positions. Obviously your exam will reflect this technica knowledge to some extent. So trawl through the microsoft blogs and website for information relating to those specific areas. If you are going throught he online system we've all gone through perhaps you could do 5 questions first see how prepared you are and then step away from the exam.

You can drop it at any stage and return to where you were previously. The questions are divided up into categories so for instance the technical exam consisted of 5 or 6 different topics in total.

Peteee

damnyanks wrote:

Yeah I didn't see the point in the Java SQL API specific stuff. I can understand testing OOP type questions as you should know that stuff but API specific questions (AWT included) are pointless.

Indeed, If you want to know the API look it up in documentation. I shouldnt need to show arcane knowledge of a particular API.

AFAIK, the roles are Localisation Engineer and SW Test Engineer, however, from what they said in a MS presentation I went to, it's not hard to get transferred to a division where your interests lie.

I'm hoping to go forward for something on their actual products as opposed to localisation or operations.

Most dev roles are in Redmond I imagine.

damnyanks

Nah in Europe its Denmark and Dublin. Just did interview for a dev position in Denmark, the products they work on there aren't as interesting as the ones in Dublin it would seem.

Talking with people that its really easy to move around.

Raskolnikov

Got a call from MS earlier thanks to my "excellent" results on the online assessment. I wouldn't mind but half the people in my course got told the exact same thing. Now have an assessment day this Tuesday.

Does anyone know if they'll make their decision based on the assessment day or whether we'll have to go to Sandyford again?

damnyanks

Same story here , hope its a once off I've to come from abroad can't really afford to be galavanting back home!

Raskolnikov

damnyanks wrote:

Same story here , hope its a once off I've to come from abroad can't really afford to be galavanting back home!

The whole thing smacks a little of bullshít to me though. I mean, we have to prepare a presentation on DRM technology, it says a lot about the company if that's what they peg us at. Also, how do they measure "Technical Passion & Drive" or "Cross Boundary Collaboration"?

Bah, I guess we'll just have to preform like animals in the hope we'll get picked out.

damnyanks

I've know 1 or 2 places that require you do a presentation before hand. I guess it's a way to guage your interest and understanding of technology in general might also be related to the work you could potentially be doing.

The rest of the stuff is typical microsoft, basically they try to avoid hireing people who don't like tech so much. As you are probably aware some people on your course will graduate with a good degree but aren't really interested in technology. While these people are capable they don't have the level of interest in technology that a tech company wants.

But doesn't mean they dont get hired

damnyanks

Raskolnikov wrote:

Got a call from MS earlier thanks to my "excellent" results on the online assessment. I wouldn't mind but half the people in my course got told the exact same thing. Now have an assessment day this Tuesday.

Does anyone know if they'll make their decision based on the assessment day or whether we'll have to go to Sandyford again?

Turns out it isn't the final stage. Just another weeding out process

Raskolnikov

damnyanks wrote:

Turns out it isn't the final stage. Just another weeding out process

:rolleyes:

If they can't decide whether to employ me after 5 and 1/2 hours of testing, when will they?

damnyanks

Well from what I gathered they are assessing what you are good at and where you could fit in within the Irish operation.

Consideration they have localisation, product development, testing the various support functions and then operational or consultancy based roles I guess it makes sense.

Makes sure you dont get hired into an area you arent good for or uninterested in

Raskolnikov

Well I'm all set. It sounds like they're bring an awful lot of people to these assessments so our chances of actually getting the job don't sound too good!

Boo!

damnyanks

Welcome to the world of graduate programs

Raskolnikov

damnyanks wrote:

Welcome to the world of graduate programs

Heh, what day are you having your assessment? We could team up and sabotage the opposition

damnyanks

I'm in on the day after yourself. How's the presentation coming along ?