Microsoft Senior Software Engineer Loop Interview – What should I prepare?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been selected for a loop interview at Microsoft for a Senior Software Engineer role, and I’m looking for guidance on how to prepare effectively.

I’d really appreciate insights from people who’ve gone through the process recently or have experience interviewing at Microsoft.

Here are a few specific things I’m trying to understand:

1. Coding / DSA

• What level of difficulty should I expect (LeetCode medium vs. hard)?
• Are there specific topics I should prioritize (graphs, DP, trees, etc.)?
• How important is a clean, production-quality code vs. just solving the problem?

2. System Design (Senior Level)

• What kind of system design questions are typically asked?
• How deep do they expect you to go (APIs, DB design, scalability, trade-offs)?
• Any tips on structuring answers?

3. Behavioral / Leadership

• How important are behavioral rounds compared to technical rounds?
• What kind of signals is Microsoft looking for at the senior level?
• Is the STAR format enough, or do they expect deeper impact stories?

4. Interview Format

• Is it mostly LeetCode-style or more real-world/practical problems?
• Coding environment (IDE, whiteboard, online editor)?

5. General Advice

• Common mistakes to avoid?
• Anything you wish you had known before your loop?

Any advice, tips, or resources would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!