Hello! If you’re a student or new grad who is interested in joining Microsoft one day, you’re in the right place. I joined as an Aspire (new grad) back in 2020 and am a huge fan of the program and experience. Today, I am sharing all the details that you need to know to apply—and hopefully get the gig!
What is Microsoft Aspire?
The Microsoft Aspire experience is for new grads (undergrad and MBA) who join Microsoft right out of college or university. Once selected for a role, you become a full-time employee and there are no rotations.
- Microsoft Aspire Experience | Microsoft Careers
- Aspire NextPlay | Microsoft Careers (psst…can you find my testimonial on this page?)
- Aspire Program (microsoft.com)
Who is eligible?
You should apply for Microsoft Aspire when you’re about to enter your final year of university. Applications come out the summer before the official start date (which is usually in July or August). As long as you’re within 1 year of graduation (pre or post), you should be able to apply for the program.
When can you apply?
The job postings come out on my Microsoft Careers site during the summer. I would start checking in mid-July, but they may come out later in August depending on your country. My tip is to apply as soon as you see the postings because recruiters start scheduling the first round of interviews very soon after (even while the postings are still up). You can also apply for multiple postings depending on your interests and experiences.
Where can you work?
Your best chances of securing an Aspire role would be with your home country. From what I understand, it is highly unlikely to get visa sponsorship for Aspire roles. For example, if you’re a Canadian who wishes to work in the U.S. For those of you who are interested in working abroad, I would still encourage you to apply to Aspire roles in other countries because you never know what can happen in life… so don’t count yourself out! However, expect that your application will most likely be filtered out based on your country of residence.
How does the process work?
The process differs each year but takes place throughout the fall semester. Once you apply, it can take up to a couple of months to hear back from the recruiting team if you have made it to the next round. If you did, you will receive an email asking you to schedule a screening interview.
After the screening interview, the recruiters will shortlist candidates for additional rounds of interviews with team members, managers, and stakeholders. The number of rounds depends on the team and region. The types of interviews (technical vs. non-technical) will depend on the nature of the role. For some application rounds, you may be asked to do a case study or presentation.
Every country has a limited number of Aspire roles that start each fiscal year. In Canada, the average is around 20. In the U.S., it is over 100. These headcount decisions are determined by HR and hiring managers in the spring or summer. My tip is to start reaching out to hiring managers around this time to show your interest in their teams!
For those who make it through to the final round and pass, you should expect to have an offer by late November. Typically, your start date will be the following summer but this can vary depending on your team’s needs. For example, I had to start in January because my predecessor was going on maternity leave in February.
#MicrosoftAspire Resources
Check out my past resources as you start thinking about applying and stay tuned for more tips and content:
- Microsoft Aspire: What You Need To Know About Joining Microsoft As A New Grad
- Microsoft Aspire 101
- Applying To Microsoft: Your Academic Background Doesn’t Really Matter
- Applying To Microsoft? Make Sure You Do This.
- What Career Impact Means At Microsoft
- Aspiring Through Ambiguity
- Listen To My Microsoft Aspire Podcast Episode!
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