Microsoft Interview Questions for Testers (SDE/SDET)

August 15, 2007

Software design engineers(SDE/SDET) at Microsoft apply their technical talents creatively in order to write code, while working closely with program managers to define and prioritize features. They work in a supportive network of smart, diverse colleagues who share a passion for pushing the limits of technology in order to delight and enable customers.

There’s tremendous potential for impact. A software development career at Microsoft is much more than just an opportunity to create great products; it can be an opportunity to leave your mark and create a lasting technical legacy. What you do will have a positive influence on the lives of millions around the world, now and in the future.

Software Design Engineer
Codes and designs new software, often collaborating as a member of a software development team to create and build products.

Software Design Engineer Lead

Oversees a team of software engineers assigned to a product, product upgrade, or software research project.

Learn more about the SDE and SDET position at Microsoft

Microsoft Interview Questions

for Software Design Engineers(SDE) and Software Design Engineers in Test(SDET)

1. How would you deal with changes being made a week or so before the ship date?

2. How would you deal with a bug that no one wants to fix? Both the SDE and his lead have said they won’t fix it.

3. Write a function that counts the number of primes in the range [1-N]. Write the test cases for this function.

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Earn Your College Degree Online

July 16, 2007

There comes a point in our lives where we need to take a step back and evaluate ourselves. After doing a honest review, you might think that your potential is not being tapped at your work place. Could the lack of growth be due to the fact that you just have an associate degree or a bachelors degree or a degree in the wrong major. Maybe you decided that a career in Computers might help you grow faster than in your current field. How about Nursing … the hottest field right now. Maybe Legal/ Paralegal?

You want to do this, take the next step and continue your education but lots of factors are coming in your way. Could it be that you can’t afford to leave your present job to go to school and that the schedule and timings of classes at your nearby university simply do not match with your present work schedule. Could it be that the nearest school is more than an hour drive? With the growth of Internet and broadband, you are not restricted to attending a physical traditional school anymore. Welcome to the world of online education.

One of the leading pioneers of online education is EarnMyDegree.com which would help anyone especially working professionals where you can continue in your current career while you attend school at the same time.

At EarnMyDegree.com, they help you match your educational goals with your personal goals. You can search for the degree levels you want where you can choose from Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, Doctoral and also Certification programs. You can search for a degree by degree subject and evaluate which major would be the right one for you with featured degree programs across accredited online and traditional schools. Besides searching for online schools and programs, if you wish to go the traditional route and are looking for programs in a traditional school, the same search options are available here too.

* Programs: Hundreds of online degrees - Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, Doctoral, & Certification Programs
* Online Degrees by Subject: Business, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Design, Education / Teaching, Engineering, Healthcare, Hospitality , Management, Human Services, Legal / Paralegal, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Religious Studies, Science & Math, Technology
* Convenience: You decide when and where to take your classes
* Fast: Earn a degree online in as little as ten months
* Financial Aid: Flexible financial aid options
* Priorities: Continue to work full-time and spend time with your family - while you earn your degree or diploma!

Start browsing today, find a degree, and discover a rewarding new career at EarnMyDegree.com!
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May SAT Scores are available now at Collegeboard

May 24, 2007

Collegeboard.com is announcing that the May SAT Scores for the SAT Reasoning test and SAT Subject tests are now available at College Board.

Send and View SAT Scores

Visit SAT Reg & Scores to see if your SAT scores are available and to send scores to colleges and programs.

If you do not have a collegeboard.com account, sign up today.

Why Aren’t My SAT Scores Online Yet?

Do not panic if you cannot see your SAT score yet. Collegeboard releases most scores on the first score release day which is today Thursday May 24th but a small percentage cannot see their scores online today. In case of this scenario, you will see a message asking you to check back your score at a later date. College board.com suggests that you check back about a week later for your SAT scores and also your full score report.

The reason for such late release of scores for this small percentage of students varies. It could be missing information on your answer sheets or maybe some information on your sheet that is inconsitent with your registration information, something that might trigger a red flag. In this scenario, your test will get individual attention to verify all the details and available information. 

Overview of SAT Scores and SAT Scoring Process in 6 Steps

Here is an overview of how the SAT Scoring process typically takes place right from your handing in of your answer sheet to the time your scores are mailed in to the choice of your universities/colleges indicated.

1. After you turn in your answer sheet, your answer sheet and any forms you turned in will be handed over to the College Board’s processing center.

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Professional and Personal Affiliations section of a Resume

May 6, 2007

Professional and personal affiliations can offer the prospective employer insight into important personal characteristics, such as dedication to your profession or a strong desire to learn and develop professionally. Involvement in a professional organization indicates that you are up-to-date with current industry trends. 

Additionally, participation in industry and trade associations can offer you the opportunity to gain a variety of skills, such as team-building, leadership, problem solving, and management that potential employers find valuable. 

Include all professional affiliations related to your job target and personal affiliations that demonstrate characteristics important to the job you are applying for.

Insider Tip:  When listing affiliations, use the organization’s full name followed by the appropriate acronym in parentheses:

American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)

This helps maximize your search results based the appropriate keywords managers use to locate qualified candidates when publishing your resume on the Internet or forwarding electronically to hiring managers.
 

Determining What Information to Include

If you have a list of Affiliations within your career field, you can consider listing only the names of the organizations 

However, you may also consider listing the months and years of your membership, the name of the association, your title within the organization, and its location. You may want to include any additional information that will add to your qualifications.

·        If you held a leadership position within the organization, list your title and briefly summarize your duties. 

·        You might also consider listing any important committees on which you served.

·        List any honors or awards you’ve received within the organization.

·        If you belong to an organization that may be unfamiliar to a prospective employer, describe the nature of the organization including its charter and any community related service it provides.

Questions & Answers - Professional Affiliations

Should I include organizations if I’m no longer an active member?

If you are not an active member, you should still consider listing your affiliation if it is relevant to your job target. You may list the dates of your membership or affiliation along with the organization.

What if my affiliations are religiously, politically, or ethnically specific?

Ask yourself this question, “Is this information guaranteed to create a positive impression?”  Political, religious or ethnic issues should usually be avoided during the hiring process. If you are confident that listing an organization of this nature will highlight a positive quality and not run the risk of alienating you with a prospective employer, you might consider including this information in your resume.  For non-career specific organizations, you could also put this information in a Volunteer or Personal section.

I’m involved in a community organization. Should I put this in my resume?

Many employers prefer candidates who demonstrate a commitment and focus to their career. If your membership in the organization demonstrates a quality desired by your prospective employer, or is directly relevant to your career objective, then include this information.
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Frequently Asked Questions on ‘References Available’ section of a Resume

May 6, 2007

We previously talked about the References section in a resume and informed you that it is no longer a common practice to include a References section on your resume, even one that states “References Available Upon Request.” Most employers today will assume you can provide references if they are requested. Therefore, you do not have to include references on your resume. Here are so other common questions asked about the References Section of a Resume.

Questions & Answers - References Available

Q: Should I include the phrase “Available upon request”?

It is obvious to today’s hiring managers that references are available from a job seeker. Since an employer will assume you have references, you do not need to include this information on your resume.

Q: How many references will I need?

Generally, your list of references should contact three to five contact names, unless you are in a profession, such as medicine, law, or education, or in a specialized field, where a longer list may be required. If you have been asked for a specific number of references, then you should provide several additional contacts, in case the hiring manager has difficulty reaching any of your contacts.

Q: Whom should I consider asking to serve as a reference?

Preferably, you will want to ask your former manager or supervisor. However, you can also consider business colleagues, customers, professors, advisors/mentors, community leaders, department heads, or members of the executive team at your current firm. Obviously, you will want to add friends and family members as a last resort, as most hiring managers realize that these people are not unbiased.

Q: What should I look for when selecting my references?

Ideally, you will want references that possess good communication skills, know you quite well and would speak positively about your previous work experience, skills, knowledge, and characteristics. Include people who can describe your performance and value to your previous employer as well as characteristics, such as teamwork, strong work ethic, and leadership ability that any future employer would find valuable.

Q: How should I prepare my references for a phone call?

Once you have received permission from your references to add them to your list, you should always send a copy of your resume and a letter that lists the three to five key points that you would like them to share with employers who contact them.

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Including References Section in a Resume

May 6, 2007

It is no longer a common practice to include a References section on your resume, even one that states “References Available Upon Request.” Most employers today will assume you can provide references if they are requested. Therefore, you do not have to include references on your resume. 

If an employer is seriously considering you as a candidate, be sure to have a separate list of references ready to provide during the interview. Always ask permission of your references beforehand and discuss the kind of recommendation they will give.

Preparing a List of References

You should have a list of three to five references prepared, unless you are in a specialized field where a longer list may be required. Gather your list from any of the following contacts: 

-         Former Managers

-         Previous Supervisors

-         Department Heads

-         Members of the Executive Team

-         Business Colleagues

-         Professional Contacts

-         Customers

-         Professors or Advisors

-         Mentors

-         Community Leaders 

Insider Tip:  Be sure to add the contacts you would most prefer someone to contact at the top of your list.

Choosing the Right References 

Ideally, you will look for contacts that: 
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Writing about Volunteer Experience in a Resume

May 5, 2007

If you do not have much on-the-job experience, volunteer activities can be a gold mine for a great resume. For seasoned professionals, listing volunteer work demonstrates valuable personal characteristics and a commitment to community. For recent graduates or people changing careers, volunteer work can form an important part of your qualifications. Whatever your volunteer work has been, you can turn it into valuable experience on your resume.  

If you have performed volunteer work that is relevant to your job target, you should list volunteer experience in a resume in the same way you would list any paid work experience.

Advice for Seasoned Professionals

Volunteer work demonstrates initiative, commitment, perseverance, and other personal characteristics and skills that potential employers might find valuable.  If you are listing volunteer work to demonstrate personal characteristics or a commitment to community, briefly mention the professional or community organizations where you have volunteered, any offices or committee memberships you have held, and any honors or commendations you have received in relation to your work. This information is typically included at the end of your resume. 

Advice for Recent Graduates of Career Changers 

If you are a recent graduate or are changing careers and your volunteer work demonstrates valuable skills, abilities, and qualifications that are not communicated through your work experience, then list these skills and abilities in the appropriate Accomplishments, Capabilities, or Skills sections. Additionally, if you have worked with an organization for a long period of time, consider listing this volunteer experience as you would any other organization in an Experience or Employment History section. Remember, non-paid experience is equally as valuable as paid experience.

Questions & Answers - Volunteer Experience

 Should I list volunteer work from religious, political, or ethnically specific organizations?

 Ask yourself this question, “Is this information guaranteed to create a positive impression?”  Political, religious, or ethnic issues should usually be avoided during the hiring process. If you are confident that listing volunteer work of this nature will highlight a positive quality and not run the risk of alienating a prospective employer, include this information in your resume.
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