Success Story: How Sinuhé Guerra landed a role at Microsoft

Welcome to Formation’s Fellow Spotlight, a blog series introducing you to former Formation Fellows who landed their dream jobs. Today, we’ll meet Sinuhé Guerra, now a Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft. 

Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background?

I’m a software engineer with 15 years of experience, and I’m currently working at Microsoft. I’ve worked on everything from front-end and back-end development to infrastructure and DevOps, both at big companies like Microsoft and smaller startups like Blink Health. I have a degree in computer science and engineering, and I’m originally from Mexico City. I’ve been in the U.S. for nine years and now live in Seattle, Washington.

What made you decide to join Formation?

My journey with Formation is a bit different. I first joined as a Mentor, helping Fellows with mock coding interviews. I’d done a lot of coding interviews before, and I wanted to share what I knew. 

What really stood out to me about Formation was how engaged the team was with the Fellows—you just don’t see that level of commitment in other places. It was obvious during the mock interviews I hosted, where the Fellows performed really well. Later, when I got laid off and saw how tough the job market was, I decided to switch from being a Mentor to a Fellow to get some targeted help with behavioral and system design interviews.

How did Formation help you in your job search?

Formation made my job search a lot quicker and more efficient. I ended up getting two offers—one from Microsoft and another from Walmart—for senior roles. This was a big jump from before, when I was only getting mid-level offers. Formation really helped me prepare at a higher level, which was exactly what I needed to take the next step in my career, especially with how competitive the job market is right now.

As someone who has been both a Mentor and a Fellow, how would you recommend others get the most out of Formation?

The best part about Formation is access to the Mentors. Make sure to engage with them as much as you can—they’re there to help!

Did you know which areas you needed to work on when transitioning from a Mentor to a Fellow?

Yes, I knew I needed to focus a lot on behavioral interviews and system design. Those interviews are big components of leveling, and I wanted to land a senior position. Being able to effectively communicate in the behavioral interviews was important, too, because at a senior level, communication and collaboration become critical to the evaluation process. 

What is your biggest takeaway from your time at Formation?

One of the things I found most impressive about Formation is how well their platform is put together. You can easily track your progress, see what you need to work on, and how close you are to reaching your goals. The integration with tools like Mattermost for instant messaging is also great. 

Did anything unexpected come up during your interview process that you were glad you prepared for?

Yes, actually! There was an algorithm I had reviewed just a few days before my interview with Walmart, and they ended up asking about it. Since it was fresh in my mind, I could answer quickly and confidently, which really helped me during the interview.

Having worked at both startups and large companies, do you have a preference? Why did you choose a big company like Microsoft this time?

At this stage in my career, I’m more interested in the impact of my work and the people I work with rather than whether the company is big or small.

Microsoft has been my dream company since I started coding, especially because I began my career using .NET, a Microsoft product. Joining the .NET framework team at Microsoft was like a dream come true. I’ve come full circle. It’s incredible.  

What would you say to someone considering joining the Formation fellowship?

People often ask about the program's cost, and I always say to think of it as an investment in your career. You spend way more on a computer science degree without any job guarantee, but Formation guarantees you’ll get a job offer by the end of the program. The mentorship and structured guidance you receive are definitely worth the investment.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Actually, my wife joined Formation before I did. She was a junior developer struggling to find a job after an internship didn’t turn into an offer. I encouraged her to try Formation, and she ended up getting a job at Microsoft, too. Seeing her success was one of the things that convinced me to join as a Fellow.

Get holistic interview prep and negotiation support with Formation

The Formation Fellowship gives mid-level and senior engineering job seekers everything they need to land their dream roles—including personalized skill brush-ups, unlimited mock interviews with experienced software engineers and hiring managers from top-tier tech companies, and offer reviews and negotiation support. 

Apply here for unconditional support from a team of engineering mentors, technical recruiters, career coaches, and more.