Technology · Placement Year (Various Roles)

Microsoft Placement Year (Various Roles)

Quick answer

Microsoft UK's placement year offers software engineering, technical sales, marketing and business roles for a year in industry. Selection includes an application, online assessment and interviews mapped to Microsoft's growth-mindset culture. Placement students take on real product and customer work with strong graduate conversion.

About the Microsoft Placement Year (Various Roles)

Microsoft's placements embed students in real teams for 12 months, assessed on growth mindset, collaboration and delivery. Many convert to graduate roles.

Eligibility & entry requirements

Undergraduates with a placement yearRight to work in the UKRole-appropriate skills (coding for engineering)Growth-mindset evidence

The application & selection process

Microsoft selection process1Online application2Online assessment3Interviews4Placement
Microsoft selection process
StageWhat to expect
Online applicationApplication and role selection.
Online assessmentRole-relevant assessment (coding for engineering).
InterviewsTechnical/role rounds plus growth-mindset behavioural questions.
Placement12 months in a real team.

Likely Microsoft interview questions

  1. 1Tell me about a time you learned from failure.
  2. 2Solve this problem and explain your thinking.
  3. 3Why Microsoft?
  4. 4Describe collaborating across a team.
  5. 5What Microsoft product would you improve?

How to get the placement

  • Frame stories around learning and growth.
  • Prepare role fundamentals.
  • Have a product point of view.
  • Show collaboration.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Fixed-mindset answers.
  • Weak fundamentals.
  • No product opinions.
  • Generic motivation.

Application deadlines

Applications typically open in autumn for the following summer.

Pay & benefits

Microsoft UK placements are among the best-paid years in industry, typically £25k+.

Frequently asked questions

What does Microsoft look for in placement candidates?

Growth mindset (learning from failure), collaboration, role fundamentals and genuine product curiosity.

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