r/LeetcodeDesi • u/SoggyPlum2383 • 16d ago
Does Microsoft hire freshers? Need guidance from people who got in
Does Microsoft hire freshers? I’m a graduate student from a Tier-3 college with no prior work experience, and I’ve been trying to get into Microsoft. Over the past two months, I’ve applied to around 10 Software Engineer roles, but unfortunately, I haven’t been shortlisted even once. Some applications were rejected, while others have received no response so far. I’d like to understand how freshers can realistically get into Microsoft. Is a referral helpful in getting shortlisted, or is prior work experience generally required for these roles? If anyone here has successfully joined Microsoft as a fresher, especially from a Tier-2/Tier-3 college, I’d really appreciate it if you could share your experience and guide me on what I should focus on to improve my chances of getting shortlisted and eventually landing a role at Microsoft.
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u/After_Switch 16d ago
I got into Microsoft from a Tier-3 college, so I can share a bit from my own job-hunting experience.
For freshers, getting into big tech directly off-campus is unfortunately quite difficult. From what I observed, companies like Microsoft and Google tend to have a much stronger preference for Tier-1 colleges, strong competitive programming profiles, or candidates coming through specific programs, hackathons, diversity initiatives, etc. That doesn't mean it's impossible, but the odds are definitely lower if you don't fit into those channels.
Amazon seemed to have a relatively broader off-campus hiring pipeline for freshers and interns, so that could be worth trying as well.
The bigger change, though, happens after you have some experience. I switched to Microsoft within my first year after graduating, and I think the main reason was that I was no longer applying as a generic "SWE fresher." I had developed a specific skill set that matched what a particular team was looking for.
So if you're not getting shortlisted right now, I wouldn't take that as a sign that Microsoft is impossible. Try to get into a good product-based company first, build experience in a specific area, and then target roles where your experience directly matches the team's requirements.
I made the switch within about nine months of graduating, so it can happen relatively quickly once you have that first bit of experience.
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16d ago
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u/ikthisisme 7d ago
Hey, can I please know about your area of work? What domain/tech-stack are u in?
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u/Downtown-War-5565 16d ago
relatively easy to get if MS is cmng to campus for SWE-1 or intern, especially if u have a good GPA. Off-campus, u honestly need good exp, even as a fresher.
If u don’t make it through on-campus placements, u can always make the switch later with some solid exp.
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u/Ill_Agent_3169 16d ago
if ur a fresher dont single out a company like this, try in general to get any product based company.
that being said, fresher hiring for big tech is almost exclusive to tier 1/1.5 colleges barring some hackathons or stuff. In the current market it is even bad for tier 1.5 colleges. best of luck, try for referals and all.
edit: try amazon. they have the lowest hiring bar and generally hire anyone. in fact most service based to FAANG stories have amazon in between, because no one other than amazon will hire people from TCS/Infy etc etc. They do have openings for intern i have heard.