Hiring Process FAQs

You’ll need either your preferred personal email address or your LinkedIn login details. You’ll also be asked to answer a few questions about your preferences. Finally, you can upload your resume—which will be parsed to create your profile (and can be updated anytime)—or manually enter your basic contact details. 

Click Sign in, select Create a new account, and follow the prompts. Creating a profile allows you to: 

• View personalized job recommendations based on your skills and experience 

• Set up job alerts 

• Save jobs 

• Apply for open jobs 

• Complete tasks related to your recruitment activities if you advance in the process 

When you upload your resume, the system uses parsing to extract details such as name and contact information, skills, work experience, education, and certifications. These elements are automatically populated into your profile to save time. It is critical that you review and confirm the information extracted from your profile to ensure that it accurately reflects your information, skills, and experience.  

Joining the Microsoft Talent Network is a quick way to stay connected and receive job alerts without committing to a full profile. Here’s what you can expect: 

• Receive job alerts: Receive email notifications about roles that match your skills and experience. 

• Profile visibility to recruiters: Your profile and resume can be viewed by Microsoft recruiters for relevant roles—even before you apply. 

• Stay connected: Receive emails from Microsoft Recruiting, including updates about events, news and career opportunities. 

You can search for jobs with or without creating a profile by navigating to the Search page and entering a keyword, location, job ID, or using filters to narrow results. 

Creating a profile on the Microsoft Careers site unlocks richer personalization, editing options, and deeper engagement with recruiters. 

To apply for a job, you’ll need to create a profile if you haven’t already, confirm you meet the required qualifications, complete all required questions, and submit your application. 

Job recommendations are refreshed regularly as new roles are posted and when you update your profile. The platform continuously reviews your information and available jobs to keep recommendations current and relevant. 

Sign in to your profile and navigate to Action Center > Applications > Referrals. There, you’ll see details of the referral, including the job title, link to the job description, and the name of the employee who referred you. 

To be considered for the role, you’ll need to complete and submit your application. A referral does not replace the application process—it simply helps connect you to the opportunity.

When you apply for a job, your profile is visible to Microsoft Recruiting to help determine if your skills and experiences align with the job opening. If your application is advanced after the recruiter's review, it will be visible to the hiring team (hiring manager, screeners, and interviewers). 

Yes. You must meet the required qualifications for a job regardless of match recommendations. These indicators only serve as a point of reference when you are reviewing jobs. Use your best judgment when determining which job is right for you. Neither indicator guarantees or implies any specific outcome for a candidate’s application to any role. 

Visit the Transparency FAQs for details on how AI is applied in job recommendations, profile insights, and resume parsing. 

Sign in to your profile and go to Action Center > Interviews. From there, you can: 

• Accept or decline the interview request 

• Select a time if multiple options are provided 

• Download the meeting invite and add it to your calendar 

If none of the available times work, request assistance directly through the Interviews module to coordinate an alternative time.  

Forms Manager is the central location where you can access and complete documents or requests Cto your hiring process. This includes: 

• Accommodation requests during the assessment stage 

• Reference letter requests for Microsoft Research roles 

• Travel requests and expense reimbursement if you’ve traveled for on-site interviews 

• Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and other required documents 

Access Forms Manager by signing in and navigating to Action Center > Forms Manager. 

Microsoft provides accommodations to ensure a consistent recruiting process for candidates with disabilities or those needing adjustments for religious reasons. 

Examples include: 

• Extra time for assessments 

• Accessible content formats 

• Sign language interpreters or captions 

• Scheduling adjustments 

To request an accommodation or read full guidance, visit the Accessibility page. Requests are confidential and handled case by case. If you’re unsure what to request, your recruiter or scheduling partner can assist.  

Click Support in the site footer, then complete and submit the form. 

Complete the survey that appears after you apply for a job or use the persistent Feedback button on the home page to share your input anytime.

After the new recruiting system and careers site goes live on November 17, job postings will begin posting over the week. It may take some time for all roles to appear, but postings will populate progressively as recruiters move requisitions into the new system.  

Check the legacy site Action Center on the Global Career Site for the status of your application. 

If you are selected to move forward with your application, you will receive an email inviting you to reapply for the open position on the new Microsoft Careers site platform. At that point, you will reference the Action Center on this new site to check the status of your application.  

Inactive applications are positions you applied for that are no longer open; you withdrew from, transferred from or weren't selected for. 

Yes. You can view job descriptions in the Action Center until March 31, 2026. Once the requisitions close in the legacy recruiting system, applications will show as “inactive.”