My Feb 2025 Interview Prep Flashcards
Get ready for awesomeness!
What is Microsoft’s Mission Statement?
“To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”
We empower the world-Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
What are Microsoft’s Values?
Respect – Treating others with dignity and valuing diverse perspectives.
Integrity – Being honest, ethical, and trustworthy.
Accountability – Taking responsibility for actions and outcomes.
Innovation – Pushing boundaries to develop new technology and solutions.
Diversity and Inclusion – Fostering an environment where everyone belongs.
Corporate Social Responsibility – Using technology for social good and sustainability.
What is Purview?
Microsoft Purview addresses these challenges below by providing a unified AI-enabled platform that enhances data governance, compliance, and risk management across the entire data estate.
How did Data Governance work before Purview?
Before Microsoft Purview, data governance was typically managed through a combination of manual processes, disparate tools, and legacy governance solutions. Here’s how organizations handled it:
- Traditional Data Governance Tools
Companies used standalone data cataloging, data lineage, and metadata management tools (e.g., Collibra, Alation, Informatica).
These tools were often siloed, requiring manual integration across platforms. - Manual Data Policies & Documentation
Data governance policies were often documented in spreadsheets, SharePoint, or internal wikis.
Enforcing policies depended on human oversight rather than automated compliance
checks. - On-Premises Data Management
Many organizations relied on SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), Active Directory, and internal security policies to control data access.
Data classification and sensitivity labeling were largely manual processes. - Custom Scripts & Workflows
Companies built custom ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines and scripts to manage data movement, classification, and lineage tracking.
IT teams often had to manually audit and validate compliance. - Role-Based Access & Compliance Audits
Data access was typically managed through role-based access control (RBAC) in databases and applications.
Compliance audits were periodic, requiring extensive reporting and review.
How did Purview change things?
Microsoft Purview streamlined governance by offering automated data discovery, classification, lineage tracking, and compliance monitoring in a single, cloud-based platform. It integrates natively with Azure services and Microsoft 365, reducing the need for separate tools and manual tracking.
She wants to understand what motivates people and she wants to understand why they want the job.
Manager’s personal brand.
Compare against the resume
Work and life persona are the same. - Introverted?
When did you work at Microsoft?
User Research Project Coordinator / MS Office SME | Microsoft Corporation via Kelly (Redmond, WA) | 5/2014 – 12/2014
What is your biggest weakness? Use the STAR method to answer this question.
Situation:
Earlier in my career, I felt nervous speaking in front of large groups. While I was comfortable in one-on-one or small team discussions, presenting to a big audience felt intimidating.
Task:
I realized that improving my confidence in public speaking would help me communicate more effectively and contribute more in meetings.
Action:
To work on this, I started volunteering for small speaking opportunities, such as leading team updates or presenting in smaller internal meetings. I also joined Toastmasters at my last company, where I practiced structured speaking, received feedback, and refined my delivery in a supportive environment.
Result:
Over time, I became much more comfortable speaking in front of groups. While it’s still something I continue to refine, I now approach public speaking with more confidence, preparation, and a clearer delivery, making it a much less intimidating experience.
What is your greatest strength (STAR Method)?
STAR: Problem-Solving & Adaptability
Situation:
At my previous company, we were preparing for a high-profile executive meeting, and at the last minute, a key presenter had to cancel due to an emergency.
Task:
I needed to quickly find a way to keep the meeting on track without causing delays or confusion for leadership.
Action:
I immediately reached out to another team member who had relevant knowledge of the topic and worked with them to prepare a condensed version of the presentation. I also adjusted the agenda to allow for a more interactive discussion rather than a formal presentation.
Result:
The meeting went smoothly, and leadership appreciated the quick pivot. Instead of the cancellation derailing the conversation, it turned into a valuable discussion that led to new insights. My ability to stay calm, adapt, and find a solution in real-time helped maintain the meeting’s success.
STAR: Communication & Relationship Building
Situation:
A department I worked with frequently was slow to provide approvals for key projects, which often caused delays.
Task:
I wanted to improve collaboration and ensure smoother communication to keep projects moving efficiently.
Action:
I scheduled a meeting with key stakeholders to better understand their concerns and workflow. By building rapport and openly discussing the challenges, I was able to identify a few small process adjustments—such as a more structured approval request format and clearer deadlines—that made it easier for them to respond in a timely manner.
Result:
This improved our working relationship, and approvals started coming in much faster. Over time, our collaboration became more seamless, and the team was able to meet deadlines more effectively without last-minute bottlenecks.
What are Microsoft’s Corporate Values?
Our values align to our mission, support our culture, and serve as a declaration of how we treat each other, our customers, and our partners.
RESPECT
We recognize that the thoughts, feelings, and backgrounds of others are as important as our own.
INTEGRITY
We are honest, ethical, and trustworthy.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We accept full responsibility for our decisions, actions, and results.
What is the inclusion is innovation initiative?
Inclusion is innovation
We’re developing solutions to diversity and inclusion challenges by activating the same ingenuity, intention, and experience behind our groundbreaking technological innovations.
What is the diversity and inclusion initiative?
Diversity & Inclusion
We believe our continued work to build diverse workforces and strengthen our culture of inclusion helps foster innovation.
What does it mean when Microsoft says because impact matters?
Because impact matters
At Microsoft you can live your purpose every day. With our scale and reach, your personal impact becomes part of a collective force for global progress.
What are some of Microsoft’s key initiatives?
Key initiatives Microsoft is currently focusing on:
* Artificial Intelligence (AI): Establishing a new AI engineering division and integrating AI features across Microsoft 365 products.
* Secure Future Initiative: A multiyear commitment launched in November 2023 to enhance the security of Microsoft’s technologies.
Sustainability: Aiming to become carbon negative by 2030 and investing in climate technologies through the Climate Innovation Fund.
Tell me about yourself
- I’m a problem-solver who loves making things run smoothly.
- I’ve supported execs for 5+ years, managing calendars, travel, and budgets.
- I thrive in fast-paced environments and love optimizing workflows.
- “I believe that when leaders feel truly supported, they can focus on what they do best—leading with vision, clarity, and impact.
That’s why I’ve made it my purpose to be a trusted partner, creating the space and structure that allows them to thrive. Whether it’s managing the details, anticipating challenges, or simply being a steady presence in the midst of chaos, I take pride in helping things run smoothly so leaders can focus on what really matters.
At Microsoft, where the mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, I see my role as an extension of that vision that call to action. By ensuring that leaders have the support, tools, and bandwidth to drive innovation and collaboration, I help make space for the kind of work that transforms teams, organizations, and communities.
More than just support, I see my role as a collaborator, an advocate, and a force multiplier—helping leaders move forward with confidence, knowing they have someone in their corner every step of the way.”
How do you handle complex calendar management?
- I stay ahead by prioritizing and anticipating conflicts.
- Used Outlook’s tools + strong communication to cut last-minute changes by 40%.
- I build great relationships, making scheduling seamless for everyone.
How do you ensure executive travel is seamless?
- I plan ahead, optimize itineraries, and prep for the unexpected.
- Always provide detailed travel briefs with backup plans.
My goal? No surprises—just smooth, stress-free trips.
Tell me about a time you managed a budget or expenses. (FIX THIS ONE)
- At Milliman, I processed 150+ expense reports/month—error rate dropped 75%.
- I streamlined approvals, cutting manual workload by 30%.
I make finance simple and hassle-free for my team.
How do you handle confidential information?
- I treat sensitive info with the highest discretion—trust is key.
- At Milliman, I managed performance improvement plans, any HR issues, exec reports and hiring details securely.
I follow strict protocols to keep everything private and protected.
I have handled and been privy to all types of confidential information.
Can you describe a time you organized a large event?
- Led a 700+ guest holiday party—handled vendors, logistics, and budgets.
- Also planned exec retreats and all-hands meetings, making them seamless.
- I thrive on event planning—big or small, I make them run smoothly.
How do you handle competing priorities and tight deadlines?
- I triage tasks, focus on impact, and stay flexible.
- When last-minute changes hit, I find solutions fast.
- Staying organized and adaptable keeps everything on track.
How do you collaborate with cross-functional teams?
- I build strong relationships and keep communication clear.
- Led an 18-person team at Milliman—streamlined workflows and boosted efficiency.
- Implemented/designed/created the ticketing system workflow that improved response times for admin response time and task completion time.
Legal
Finance
Security Team - Developers
What experience do you have with Microsoft tools and internal systems?
- Deep experience with Outlook, Teams, Excel, and internal tools like iCIMS.
- At Microsoft (contract), I handled Employee Central, MyExpense, and MS Travel.
- I pick up new systems quickly and love making tech work for me and always continue to keep learning to be better at what I do.
Why do you want to work at Microsoft?
- I love Microsoft’s mission to empower people with great tech.
- My skills in admin support and efficiency fit perfectly with this team.
I’ve seen the culture firsthand as a contractor, and I’m ready to be all in!
I really enjoy the comradery and the diversity and inclusion.