Introduction – Brief overview of Microsoft’s presence in Hyderabad as a tech hub.
With its silver jubilee being celebrated this year since its operations started in the year 2000, Microsoft—the premier software giant now employs 20,000 people in Hyderabad half of its workforce in india. With the launch of their new office, Microsoft plans to hire 4,500 employees. This brings us to the focus of our article. Microsoft is currently hiring Product Designer II and Senior Product Designers based out of Hyderabad.
Understanding the Roles
Product Designer roles play a crucial part in any product company, designers create products with the end user or customer in mind. They design products that are either digital or physical, from Microsoft’s perspective they design user experiences for websites, apps and other digital products etc., some of the key skills that one should possess as a product designer are immersive storytelling, user-centered idea generation, conceptualized sketching, user-focused prototyping, contextual user research, and usability testing code.
Roles & Responsibilities for Product Designer-II at Microsoft:
- Design Leadership – Take ownership of creative process, foster collaboration through influence on both designers and non-designers, deliver UX artifacts, conceptualize and deliver subsystem design.
- Experience vision – Present design strategies that balance user needs, business goals and technology feasibility.
- Cross-functional Collaboration
Work closely with designers, researchers, product managers, and engineers to create interaction and visual designs that align with overall UX goals. - Design System Advocacy
Champion the use of design systems, share learnings, and partner with other designers to evolve and improve them. - Communication & Storytelling:
- Clearly articulate design work, craft compelling narratives, and foster proactive collaboration. Explore innovative storytelling formats to inspire stakeholders with impactful narratives.
- Detail Design & Feedback
Create task flows, wireframes, and prototypes to test ideas, gather input, and refine designs. Always push for small, thoughtful improvements that lead to great user experiences.
For Senior Product Designer – along with the above these are the additional roles and responsibilities
- UX storytelling – convey design visions and user journey through storytelling, inspire stakeholders with compelling narratives by transforming complex ideas. Evoke empathetic user needs by aligning with teams.
- Mentorship
Support and mentor team members by helping them grow their skills, align on design direction, and consistently push for high-quality results. - Effective Communication
Clearly communicate with stakeholders and leadership, tailoring messages to different audiences while encouraging collaboration to keep everyone aligned and focused.
Along with these roles our team has done extensive research and put together a few more skills that would help one not only ace the interview but also excel after they’ve landed the role. And they are:
- Translating business goals into design solutions while meeting user needs.
- Conducting extensive research about the product to understand customer problems. In case of a new product to foresee customer problems and address them during prototyping.
- Design visuals that are functional, appealing, and right for the audience.
Navigating the Application Process
Step 1: On the Microsoft India Careers portal, search for ‘Senior Product Designer” or “Product Designer -II” on the portal search for job number – 1817017 for senior product designer and job number – 1818712 for product designer -II.
Step-2: Go through the job description relevant for your role.
Step-3: based on the JD identify common responsibilities that have performed in your past roles.
Step 4: Tweak your resume and portfolio (highlight relevant projects, tools like Figma, Adobe XD.
Step 5: Submit the application online
Step 6: Initial recruiter outreach and screening
Tips for standing out:
- Showcase measurable outcomes in portfolio
- Align experience with Microsoft’s design philosophy
- Reach out to HR representatives and Microsoft employees in your network on Linkedin
- Ask for a referral from these employees.
- Stand-out by following up regularly in case you don’t receive a response.
Preparing for the Interview Process
Overview of Microsoft’s interview structure for design roles:There is an entire page or group of pages dedicated to interview tips on Microsoft careers portal. Please review them before you go through the interview. Even though they are generic and might help you, our team can curated these from various discussions with Microsoft employees and from online sources. Keep in mind the process may vary depending on the specific job role.
What to Expect from the Microsoft Product Design Interview Process
Recruiter Intro Call (15–30 minutes)
You’ll start with a friendly chat with a recruiter. They’ll want to know a bit about your background, why you’re interested in the role, and walk you through what the interview journey will look like.
Portfolio Review (60–90 minutes)
Next up is your chance to showcase your work. You’ll walk through a few key projects—what problems you solved, how you approached them, and the impact they had. They’ll be paying close attention to how you think, how you tell your design story, and whether your approach fits with Microsoft’s design values.
Whiteboarding Session (1–2 rounds, 60 minutes each)
This is a hands-on, live problem-solving exercise. You might be asked to sketch out a user flow or brainstorm a design solution on the spot. It’s less about getting it “right” and more about how you think through problems, communicate your ideas, and collaborate in the moment.
Behavioral Interviews (1–2 rounds, 45–60 minutes each)
Here, you’ll talk about real situations you’ve faced—how you handled feedback, dealt with tight deadlines, or navigated tricky team dynamics. They’re looking to understand how you work with others and if you’re a good fit for the team culture.
Final Round / Onsite Loop (Varies)
This is a mix of everything—portfolio deep dives, more design challenges, and chatting with cross-functional folks. It’s a great opportunity to show the full range of your skills and to get a feel for what it’s really like working at Microsoft.
How Long Does It Take?
On average, the full process takes anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks, depending on role specifics and how quickly interviews get scheduled.
Sample Questions You Might Get
Tell us about a time you had to balance user needs with business goals.
- Tell us about a time you had to balance user needs with business goals.
- How do you design with accessibility in mind?
- What’s an example of critical feedback you received—and how you handled it?
- How do you prioritize features when time or resources are tight?
Average Total Compensation: ₹11.8L – ₹13L per year
Typical Range: ₹7.5L – ₹20L per year
Experience Level: 1–6 years
Average Total Compensation: ₹20L – ₹24L per year
Typical Range: ₹12L – ₹31L per year
Experience Level: Typically 4–10+ years
Conclusion
- Review the Job description, make necessary changes to your resume, review and apply on the Microsoft portal. Post your application, reach out to your network and HRs on LinkedIn to stand out of the crowd.
- For interview preparation go through the interview tips pages on Microsoft careers portal, prepare as per the details mentioned in this article,
- Final advice: Be authentic, showcase your unique design perspective, stay confident and present your best self.
To Apply for Product Designer II Role at Microsoft, Hyderabad – Click here
To Apply for Senior Product Designer Role at Microsoft, Hyderabad – Click here
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