How I Got A Microsoft Internship As A Caribbean National

 

    

    Recently I accepted an offer from Microsoft for an Explore Internship in Summer 2025! In my previous post (yes, it’s been over a year, I know), I talked about the steps I’ve taken and continue to take to showcase my engineering skills internationally, all while still living in Trinidad. Today, I’m writing to say that while hard work doesn’t guarantee success, it does prepare you to seize opportunities and make the most of them when they come your way.

    Let me start by acknowledging how fortunate I am to have received a job offer from Microsoft. In today’s competitive job market, such an opportunity is rare, especially for someone like me, whose hiring process would require additional effort from their team, including relocation assistance, a visa, and more. However, this post isn’t about highlighting those complexities. Instead, I want to share my journey from discovering Microsoft’s growing interest in the Caribbean to the final moments before stepping into my first interview.

Summer 2024

    It all began a few months ago while I was already interning with CIBC Caribbean, a role I landed by consistently seizing every opportunity that came my way ( but more on that next time ). Around this time, I also connected with Whitney Griffith, a Microsoft engineer and fellow Caribbean national who relocated to the U.S. to pursue her career. We first met during a presentation she gave at UWI St. Augustine, which I attended. Afterwards, I connected with her on LinkedIn and (I'm sorry Whitney) persistently reached out with questions, sought advice, and even requested a mock interview.

    Whitney, however, had bigger plans in mind. She mentioned a boot camp she was organizing called "TIPs," designed to prepare Caribbean university students free of charge for Microsoft's 2025 internship and job listings, which typically open in the fall. She encouraged me to sign up, explaining that Microsoft had only started actively considering Caribbean nationals in their recruitment process in 2023.

    Initially, I hesitated. My full-time internship, combined with training for international archery tournaments ( yes, I am also a professional athlete ) and working in my off hours with my startup, already demanded a significant amount of my time. Committing an additional 10 hours each week to this program seemed daunting. After some reflection though, I decided to take the risk. I signed up, joined the cohort, and started our first few weeks.

Post TIPs

    After 12 intense weeks, I had completed the boot camp, finished my internship, attended my international event, and managed my side ventures. I was exhausted, but it was worth it. While I considered myself a good engineer, the boot camp showed me areas I needed to refine to handle the challenges of a Microsoft interview. Even with 50+ interviews under my belt, I knew I couldn’t take any chances.

    When the application window opened, we got to work refining our resumes and practising mock interviews. Through TIPs, we connected with senior engineers and the 2023/2024 Caribbean cohort who had secured Microsoft internships. Their support helped us prepare rigorously, even before hearing back about our applications.

    A few days later, one of my cohort members, Devern, got an email saying he had made it to the final interview round. I was happy for him but also started doubting if I’d even hear back since I had applied earlier than he had. That doubt disappeared when, a few days later, I got an email while waiting on my next lecture, “Congratulations on being selected for final-round interviews with Microsoft!”

    I couldn’t believe it. I quickly shared the news with Whitney, my friends, family, and my girlfriend. It was my first interview with a top tech company, and I knew it was time to prepare.

Pre Interview

    After reading the email, I was instructed to schedule my interview. The available dates were limited, and the only feasible option was just a week away. I bit the bullet and selected the closer date, which happened to be the same date Devern had chosen.

    With such little time, I spent the next few days diving into mock interviews, practising LeetCode problems, and mentally preparing. This was my chance to prove to myself that I had what it takes to be accepted.

The Interview

    The day of the interview finally arrived. Since it was scheduled in PST, I had to wait until the evening for my turn. I was set for two 45-minute interviews, which could be behavioural, technical, or a mix of both. The day began with a group call where the recruiter briefed all the interviewees about the process. Once the call ended, it was just a matter of waiting. I kept checking the time over and over, counting down until it was finally time to hit "Join Call."

    My first interviewer was an energetic lady from the MS Word team. We spent some time discussing my previous work experience and even bonded over our shared appreciation for C-based programming languages ( I code in C++ for interviews ). Then came the technical question and it was completely unexpected. I had prepared for typical LeetCode-style problems, but this was a practical, real-world problem the team had faced when first building their application. These kinds of questions are where I thrive. I’ve always struggled with standard tests, but real-world problems are where I shine.

    I solved the problem successfully, and she mentioned I did well before we wrapped up the call. After a brief five-minute break, it was time for my second and final interview.

    This interviewer was calmer but equally enthusiastic when we talked about my experiences. Like the first, the technical question was practical this time related to a feature his team had worked on for the MS PowerPoint application. It was more challenging, and I didn’t finish all the code, but I thoroughly explained my thought process and approached it methodically rather than rushing to write code. And just like that, after 45 minutes, it was over.

Post Interview & Offer

    During the briefing, we were told to expect a response in about 2–3 weeks, which for me meant the end of November. As the days passed, I kept checking my application status, hoping it would change from "Interviewing" to "Offer." After about four days, I decided to stop obsessing over it.

    A week later, the day after my anniversary with my girlfriend, I was getting ready to sleep when I suddenly received three emails back-to-back. They were from Microsoft. The subject lines didn’t reveal much, but I knew it had to be an update about my application.

    I opened them, and there it was: “We are excited to confirm you are receiving an internship offer from Microsoft.” I couldn’t believe I had done it! I immediately went to my girlfriend to share the news. While I had doubted myself, she had always been confident I’d get in. Then, I messaged Whitney and jokingly told her I was rejected before revealing the truth.

    I won’t go into the details of the offer, but I will say Microsoft gives you a few days to review it. They also assign a recruiter to answer any questions. After clarifying a few points, I officially accepted the offer.

Present Day

    As of today, I’m in the process of completing all the legal documents for employment. Looking back, I hope this blog serves as a helpful guide for anyone aspiring to pursue similar opportunities. If you’re considering applying for this internship or other roles next year, I hope my experiences provide some insight and help you prepare.

    If you have any questions, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn I’d be happy to answer them. Most importantly, I hope that Devern and I are just the beginning, paving the way for many more Trinidadians to showcase their skills on such a global scale.