I don't know if these answers are brilliant or not, but if you're reading this and are an entry level software engineer trying to get a job at Microsoft, don't

I don't know if these answers are brilliant or not, but if you're reading this and are an entry level software engineer trying to get a job at Microsoft, don't take this advice, it's terrible. But I don't think you'll be asked these questions. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Why should we hire you? Come on, that's ridiculous. All the interviews I've been in were trying to get answers to those questions, of course, but I've never seen them posed directly. Focus first on algorithms, leetcode, etc. As for salary: if you approach Microsoft and talk about options you will sound uniformed, because equity at companies like MSFT is in the form of RSUs. You should say something vague about how you expect an overall compensation package in line with the market, and let it be known that you are comparing various options. Once they make the offer, you will counter by telling them that company X offered you such and such, and they will raise their offer. Sometimes markedly.