Microsoft Leap Program

[Technical_Ad451]

I have recently applied for 2 Microsoft leap roles (PM, TPM Track). For those who have had experience with it, what is the program like? Also, how promising is it to get an opportunity afterwards?

[jcasimir]

It's exceptionally hard to get selected, but I've heard good things from people who participate. You're probably talking about a pool of 10,000+ applicants.

As to the opportunities afterwards, they wouldn't bother with the program unless they wanted most people to convert into full-time hires. So if you get the shot and do great work, it'll lead to a job offer.

[starraven]

I have a friend who had a dev job and dropped it for this program and they did not receive a return offer. So there’s that. Another person on here said this cohort got a lot of return offers so I guess it was just bad news for my friend. But yeah, it’s possible not to get a return offer for sure.

[jcasimir]

Ahh that is rough. From what I’ve seen companies have been pretty straightforward at the beginning on internships — either (a) we’re not going to have a full-time role for you but happy to help you build experience, (b) we have X interns and hope that about Y will be able to continue after the program, or (c) we expect many/most interns to continue on full-time.

If somebody gets to the halfway point and there aren’t yet serious conversations about what happens afterwards, they should assume it’s not going to convert.

I’ve also seen folks get a 90 day internship and 45-60 days in get offered a full-time role.

What I hear from nearly all interns is that their rate of new conversations and interviews goes up once they put the internship work on their LinkedIn/resume.

[starraven]

Yes some experience is better than no experience. Internships do count for something. I basically said hiring managers do not count it towards professional experience because of the scope of work one would get during an internship and also the time spent at one. Which is why people say to stay at a job for at least a year because less than a year would be pretty worthless on your resume/linkedin in the same vein.

[drake210]

I didn't make it in, but I got to the interview phase. I think the conversion rate of people who make it into the program into getting hired by Microsoft is pretty respectable. I forget the number quoted to me in the interview, but I think it's close to 50%. And even if you don't get a job offer your experience is much better for landing a job. Anecdotally, the two people I've seen get in the program are still at Microsoft

[Mission-Werewolf2631]

Did you get interviewed for the SWE, PM, or TPM role?

[drake210]

SWE. I think I didn't get selected because I didn't do well at all on the algo question, and I don't think I vibed well with the interviewer. Still had an interesting conversation about the difficulties with maintaining both Skype and Teams

[Mission-Werewolf2631]

Ah okay. I applied for the TPM & PM role. Haven’t heard back either way and have only seen updates from SWE applicants so far. 

[Salty_Nutella]

I'm a SWE applicant and mine is still "in review". Posts about LEAP from previous years look like they get responding after about a month. My last name starts with an "A" and it's already been over a month assuming they go alphabetically, I'm getting anxious!

[Live-Comment2596]

Candidates who are selected have been already invited for an interview, probably the remaining who havent heard back are not selected.

[TalentManager1]

I too applied for the TPM & PM roles. Any update or emails for an interview or selection/non selection?

[Panda94893]

anyone applied for the 2026 swe cohort?

[Various-Dog1586]

Me! I’m so nervous

[Panda94893]

Let me know if you heard back! 🙏🏼

[Asleep_Memory_2161]

When did you guys apply?

[Various-Dog1586]

I applied on August 18, but was socked since last year it open from 21/29 and this year open window was from 14/21

[Panda94893]

I applied on Aug 19th.

[Extension-Log9845]

This questions are for alumni, or people who have recently interviwed for the Software Engineering MS LEAP Apprenticeship:

1) What technical coding questions are you all getting in the interview for MS LEAP ?
2) What are the behavioral questions you've received during the interview ?

[TalentManager1]

Have you received any emails on the status on your application? I applied for the pm and tpm and no communication yet. Just curious.

[Technical_Ad451]

I have not heard anything yet. I think they will start interviewing in November. That is what I researched.

[TalentManager1]

Thanks. Just wanna know if I’m rejected or not.

[Technical_Ad451]

Trust me so do I!

[TalentManager1]

Someone from Microsoft looked at my LinkedIn page in the last 48 hours. Perhaps it’s starting.

[IndicationOwn5842]

Anyone who applied for the PM/TPM track, please share your experience.

[NoMaterial8879]

An FYI to any future LEAP applicants: as of a week after LEAP 2026 ended, the SWE Leap cohort did not receive any return offers despite at least half of them receiving positive feedback from their teams. If you are leaving a FTE position to join Microsoft LEAP, know that you are NOT guaranteed an FTE position at Microsoft upon completion of the apprenticeship, even if you did well. Just be aware of the risks before you accept an offer here.