Microsoft Careers: Apply Now

Submitting Your Application

Submitting your application

General Submission
If you like this company, but haven’t quite found the right job, you can still express your interest by submitting a general resume/CV. Just click on General Submission and follow the instructions. We’ll keep your resume in our system in the geographic region in which you applied, but your information won't be tied to a specific job opening. Our recruiters will contact you if there’s a fit with one of our opportunities.
Using our Resume Builder
What’s the best way to format your resume/CV to get yourself noticed? If you’re a little unsure what you should include—and what to leave out—get it right with Resume Builder. This tool will help you build a solid resume, step by step.
Student or Graduate Applications
We offer employment programs for students and graduates in many locations. Visit the Students/Graduates page to learn more about those programs and to apply for a job.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to find open positions?
You’ll find open positions by clicking on the Quick Search box, found at the top of each page on this site, and choosing your preferred search parameters. You can also use our Advanced Search tool found in the Apply Now section.
How can I find out where my skills and experience might fit?
Learn more about what we offer in the Find Your Fit section that provides an overview of our many professions and technologies and should help you make the right match for your background and interests.
Will I have opportunities for training and development after I am hired?
Absolutely. Continuous learning, both formal and informal, is a key component of each employee’s career development. We offer more than 2,000 courses, taught by instructors from leading educational institutions online, virtually, and in classrooms worldwide. You can learn more about our award-winning and extensive learning opportunities by visiting the Career Development page.
What if I don’t know what job to apply for?
Learn more about what we offer in the Find Your Fit section that provides an overview of our many professions and technologies and should help you make the right match for your background and interest
Can I apply for more than one job at the same time?
Yes, and we encourage you to review our many opportunities to find those that are the best fit with your qualifications. If you need some help determining which jobs match your background and interests, visit our Find Your Fit section that provides an overview of our many professions and technology
Can I withdraw an application if I change my mind?
Yes, if you change your mind about a particular job, you may withdraw your application for that job.
Will my application be treated confidentially?
Yes, we will treat your application with full respect and confidentiality. Initially, one of our recruiters and the hiring manager for the position will confidentially review your application. If they agree that you should progress to an interview, they will share your application with an interviewer—also a Microsoft employee trained in our recruitment processes and confidentiality requirements. In fact, all Microsoft employees sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement that covers our policies about confidential information. You may also be asked to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement; this will enable us to discuss compensation, business strategy, or other confidential information with you. If you are not hired for this particular job, we will retain your personal information and contact you again only if you give us permission to do so.
What’s the best way to submit my application?
We prefer to receive applications electronically on this Web site. If you build your application through our online system, the information you provide will be retained and you can update it any time. Your application and resume/CV should summarize your education, accomplishments, and employment history, plus any other information you think we should know. (For tips on what to include in your resume/CV, see Resume Builder, and Resume Tips.) Microsoft does not accept unsolicited inquiries from recruitment agencies on behalf of job candidates.
Do you check references?
Yes, we may perform extensive reference and educational qualification checks at any point in the recruitment process.
Does Microsoft do background checks?
Yes, we perform background checks on all new hires before their start date. A typical background check will verify employment and education and include a criminal record check. For certain positions, we may also perform a credit check.
How will I be evaluated for a job at Microsoft?
We will carefully assess your application, resume/CV, and experience related to the job for which you’re applying. We’ll also consider you for other openings that might match your background and expertise. If you are being considered for a job, a recruiter will contact you for an interview.
What is the Microsoft interview process like?
Our interview process typically begins with a phone screen from one of our recruiters. This is sometimes followed by a conversation with a member of the hiring team (we call this a tech screen). The phone screen tends to focus on your experience and interests, while the tech screen is often more technical or skills-based.

Following your phone and tech screens, you may be invited for final interviews either at Microsoft or at a location near you. During these interviews—which last about 45 minutes each—you’ll typically meet one-on-one with three to six interviewers, who might be peers or managers, over the course of a day. We like to reach a decision on applicants within five businesses days, but your recruiter will let you know more specifically when you can expect to hear the result.

The interview process differs slightly for college students since we often conduct on-campus interviews.
What degree should I have if I want to work at Microsoft?
We don’t require specific courses of study. But if you’re interested in a technical job, a degree in computer science (CS) is usually helpful. (While we don’t require a degree, it typically provides the kind of experience we need.) Solid experience in the CS field, work on CS projects outside your regular course work, and a great GPA are also nice to have on your resume. For any technical position, regardless of your degree, we look at the skills you’ve gained through your education and experience.

Degree programs other than computer science also may give you the knowledge and training we’re looking for. But if you don’t have a CS degree and are interested in pursuing a CS career, consider applying for our nine-month Test Apprentice Program. To qualify, you must have at least a four-year degree, some basic CS skills—and a passion for computer science. Once you successfully complete this program, you’re ready for a Software Design Engineer in Test position.

To fill non-technical positions, we look for graduates with skills in areas such as finance, business, and marketing. Most non-technical positions require a college degree.
Does Microsoft have part-time or telecommuting positions?
Occasionally, part-time positions ranging from 15 to 39 hours of work per week become available. Interested employees work with their managers to evaluate whether a flexible work arrangement—such as part-time employment, job sharing, or telecommuting—can meet the employee’s needs and those of our business.
Does Microsoft hire students, interns, and new graduates?
Yes, we offer employment programs for students and graduates in many locations. Visit the Students/Graduates page to learn more about those programs and to apply for a job.
I applied for a summer internship but I haven’t heard back. What does this mean?
Generally, we fill our summer internship positions by mid-May. However, we do keep all internship applications on file. So even if you haven’t heard by mid-May, we’ll still have your application in case an opportunity that matches your skills and interests becomes available.
How do I create a job agent?
It's easy to get preferred job listings sent directly to you through a job agent RSS feed. To set up a feed, sign in to your account and perform a job search. On the search results page, click "View RSS." Then click "Subscribe to this feed." Job listings that match your search requirements will be sent to you as soon as they're posted.
What does Job Cart do?
Job Cart stores positions you select, allowing you to review them all in one location. Once you sign in to your account, Job Cart allows you to submit your resume for up to five positions per day, and save the contents of your cart for later reference. You don’t need to sign in to save jobs to your cart during your current session, but if you haven’t signed in, the information you’ve viewed will not be saved after you leave the site.
Do I need to speak English fluently to work at Microsoft?
English is the language we use to conduct business around the world, though you may also need to be fluent in the local language(s) of the country(s) in which you work.

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