Anyone in the quality field, be it Software (IT), Engineering, Production, etc., should be able to differentiate between the two. Depending on what specific role you have with a quality task, it will be wide-ranging. To help you understand the difference between the two, let me give you a better idea of what they are and what they do. In short, Quality Assurance checks if proper processes are being followed, while Quality Control deals with maintaining the quality of a software product. If the Microsoft hiring manager you are meeting with has any responsibility for QA or QC in their department, they will likely ask you to differentiate the two. Things that they might want to hear are things like the following:
Quality Assurance - Assures that the approach and/or method used to produce a part are designed and implemented correctly.
Quality Control - A process used to test, verify, and identify a defect. It also ensures that the approaches, techniques, and methods are designed and followed correctly.
