As of 2024, Microsoft now recruits interns from the Caribbean, as a result of the efforts by the Project Blue Mountain team. The first cohort of Microsoft interns studying in the Caribbean were from Jamaica (University of Technology & University of The West Indies Mona) and Barbados (University of The West Indies Cave Hill). 17 students in total.
We've put together this guide to assist the next groups of interns in landing an internship at Microsoft. These are our own reflections based on personal experience.
- Software Engineer Intern
- Technical Program Manager Intern
- Product Manager Intern
- Explore Program Intern (1st and 2nd years)
- Software Engineer (Full-time)
Applications are done on the Microsoft Careers page. Internship roles typically open around October to March each year. As of writing, not all roles are officially open to the Caribbean, only the ones above.
NB: There are hundreds of available spots for each role.
- Be in university, pursuing a bachelors or masters in Computer Science, IT or related field.
- Have atleast 1 semester remaining after the summer.
- Click each role above for more specific requirements.
- Update your resume, LinkedIn and GitHub (if applying for SWE).
- Research the role and the company.
- Leverage your network.
- Prepare for interviews.
- Stay authentic!
- After applying, you can expect to hear back around 2 weeks, although it can take up to a month for some.
- If you are selected, you will be invited to interview.
- Interviews are split into multiple rounds with different persons on the same day. Number of rounds may differ by role.
- Everyone does atleast one behavioural round.
- For SWE, expect 1 or more technical rounds. You may or may not be asked to write code, however, what is important is explaining your thought process.
- For TPM, you can expect 3 interview rounds.
- Roughly 1 to 2 weeks after interviewing, you will recieve a decision via email
- If you are given an offer:
- Review and sign offer letter and other documents in Action Center
- Pick your intended start date. Allow yourself atleast 2 months of time to gather documents and obtain a visa.
- Immigration team will reach out to begin the j-1 visa process.
- If you have not yet obtained a visa by your selected start date, your start date will be pushed back.
- If you are unsuccessful in obtaining a visa, your internship may be changed to be done remotely.
This round of interview(s) is the perfect chance to connect with the interviewers.
- Although it may be cliche, the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method of responding to questions will allow you to clearly articulate your answers in an order that will not confuse the asker.
- Ensure you are aware of Microsoft Corporate Values: Accountability, Respect and Intgerity. In your responses, try to ilustrate how you embody these characteristics
- A common quality that Microsoft tries to push is the idea of having a "growth mindset." This is defined as an applicant being very curious and willing to learn new things and accept corrections.
- When asked about an experience or skill on your resume, while talking about the technical skills are expected. ensure to state the challenges you had there, how you overcame them, and how you will use your growth mindset to employ your newfound knowledge in your next workplace or life, as a whole.
- Check out behavioral_questions.pdf for examples of questions you may be asked during this round.
This round is designed to assess your abilities as a software engineer
- You may be given a Leetcode style question and about 30 mins to formulate a solution
- Practice your data structures and algorithmns (DSA)!
- Interns are typically given leetcode easy to medium, while FTEs may be given a leetcode medium or hard question
- Communicate with the interviewer! Don't just start coding.
- Ask clarifying questions. Ensure you fully understand the problem before you write code.
- Ask for examples of inputs and expected outputs
- Come up with and run through test cases
- Identify edge cases and plan for them
- During this round it is extremely important to articulate your thought process as you write your solution
- Check out interview_patterns.py for common algorithms you should know for your interview.
- Everything on your resume is fair game for questioning. Know your resume well.
- Lastly, be honest! Interviewers can often tell if you've seen a question before by how you answer. It's ok to say that youve seen something similar.
It is important to note that every round is a behavioural round. Always present yourself as someone people would want to work with.
Specific team placement happens closer to your start date, however, from our experience it is most likely that you will be placed in the same team or business group as your interviewers. You do not get to pick which team you work with. You may state your preference for a team or product you'd like to work on, but keep in mind your placement is entirely up to your interviewers and hiring manager.
Note that Linkedin and GitHub, while owned by Microsoft, operate as separate companies. Don't expect to be placed on any team within those companies.
Are the roles available remotely?
No, all the available roles mentioned above are for on-site employment in Redmond, Washington, USA.
Does Microsoft sponsor visas for Caribbean students?
Yes! if you are given an offer, a Microsoft visa sponsor will reach out to you.
Can I get in with no previous internships?
Yes. While it is recommended to have a previous internship under your belt, you can still get an offer if you can demonstrate you have equivalent experience via projects and other non-employment activities.
Is there a minimum GPA to get the internship?
While Microsoft does not explicitly state a minimum GPA to get an internship offer, it is a requirement to have a GPA of 2.7 or higher to be eligible for a J-1 (intern) visa.
How long are internships?
Internships are typically 12 weeks (3 months) long, during the summer.
How do I improve my chances of getting an interview?
HAVE A GOOD RESUME!! Ensure that your resume is up-to-date and is ATS friendly. Avoid images, and overly decorative graphics. Maximize your use of space to include important info.
Can interns get full-time return offers?
Absolutely! While it is not guaranteed, interns entering their final year of school may be extended a full-time return offer. Interns who have more time remaining in school may also be offered an internship return offer for the next summer. Return offers are based on your internship performance and business need (Is there space for you? Is there enough budget for you? etc.).
Can I apply to the FTE (full time employee) role even though I graduated [number] years ago?
FTE roles are open to all graduates, however the current role open to the Caribbean is more targeted at recent graduates.
What is the common structure for a [position] interview?
Each person's interview may vary but the general structure is: - For interns: Atleast 1 behvioral round and 1 techical (coding or problem solving) round taking place in one day. Be prepared for both. - For FTE: Atleast 1 technical assessment prior to the interview. Then 2 or more rounds of behavioral and technical interviews.
Can I apply to other roles on the Microsoft Careers website?
Currently, ONLY the roles stated above have been approved for applicants from the Caribbean.
Can I apply to roles in other locations, other than Redmond?
Currently, ONLY the roles stated above have been approved for applicants from the Caribbean.
Am I guaranteed to get an offer if I apply?
No, you are competing with thousands of applicants from across the world, there is no guarantee you will be given an offer.
Can I do the internship even though I just graduated or should I do FTE?
Internship roles are for students currently enrolled in university and will have at least one semester remaining AFTER the internship. Recent graduates should apply to FTE roles.
Be part of empowering the next generation of tech leaders in the Caribbean! Connect with us on LinkedIn to stay informed about exciting opportunities and initiatives tailored for students. Together, we can inspire innovation and drive digital transformation in our region.