Staffers published a three-page article on Microsoft Research Asia's talent recruitment and development, with an inside look at the organization's working environment. Insight is given on what Microsoft Research Asia looks for in its interns, what questions are asked during interviews, and how the differences between the interns allow them to exchange ideas and gain knowledge. Photos of interns, personnel, and office spaces are included.

The interns at Microsoft Research Asia come from a variety of academic fields, from economics to engineering to law and medicine, covering 64 subject areas. It is stressed that what's important is not your academic field but what you want to do. Once accepted, they may choose to join a research team based on their strengths and preferences, or may even begin their own research. Appropriate information and guidance is given to interns to aid in their learning. Interns are also offered about 100 events every year, covering cultural panels and entertainment activities. These knowledge interaction opportunities raise interns' skills and broaden their mind scope, offering them a rich learning experience. With its motto "Work Hard, Play Harder," Microsoft Research Asia's principle is to drive research with interest and fun.

One of the interns has revealed that the type of people working around you is very important – if you work alongside thoughtful "soldiers" everyday, you will be able to come up with new and innovative ideas all the time, and also discover your own potential in creative thinking. It is emphasized that innovations come with group thinking and not isolated work.

For these interns, Microsoft Research Asia may serve half as an enterprise and half as a school. The interns are all paired with individual tutors, who are all researchers. The majority of employees are involved in intern development. Jingyu Cui, one of the interns at Microsoft Research Asia, comments that despite the tutor-student relationship, "the age difference between the tutors and [interns] are not that great, so it is quite relaxing to work together." Great attention is paid by the tutors to the interns' homework to ensure progress. This type of rich experience attracts the attention of myriad applicants.