Facebook interview experience

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Jun 2, 2018 38 Comments

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Had an onsite at Facebook last week. 1 behavioural, 2 coding and 2 system design. The interviewers seem very friendly.

Had 2 problems in each of the coding rounds. Though I arrived at the optimal solution for all the problems, I feel like I received quite a few hints, it felt more like a collaborative effort. Is this normal? Or are you expected to come up with a solution by yourself entirely?

The system design ones were both focused on product frontends, is that normal? Thought they would do one frontend and one backend one? Even this seemed more collaborative rather than me driving the interview.

The interview prep material sent by the recruiter mentions the interviews should be driven by the candidates and not the interviewer. But, that was not the case in my interviews. Do you think this is a bad sign?

Has anyone faced similar interviews at Facebook?

Update: The recruiter contacted with positive feedback.

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TOP 38 Comments

LinkedIn BzingaPunk

In fb interviews, the minute you even think a bit, you get flagged in their feedback.

Jun 2, 2018 2 12
- LinkedIn BzingaPunk
  
  Also this could happen at Linkedin as well
  
  Jun 2, 2018 0
- Facebook cynical.ly
  
  That is pure bs. I am an interviewer, and I never penalize anyone for thinking things. But if they stay quiet too long, I prompt them to speak up so I can 1) understand their thinking, and 2) offer hints, if they need.
  
  Jun 3, 2018 7
- Tesla LEETCODER
  
  Thanks cynical. That was helpful advice.
  
  Jun 3, 2018 0
- LinkedIn BzingaPunk
  
  I pointed out saying few instances. You would be unlucky but not unfair when it happens to you. These are biases and it is not just with fb.
  
  Jun 3, 2018 0
- Facebook cynical.ly
  
  You did not. Here is your entire comment: "In fb interviews, the minute you even think a bit, you get flagged in their feedback." And even when you talk about instances in a comment later, you have zero facts and just your speculation passing off as fact.
  
  Jun 3, 2018 2
- LinkedIn KingKong12
  
  I agree. Recently interviewed at FB and in a coding interview everytime interviewer points a bug in my code he was noting it down in his notebook as well which I felt pretty odd and looked like he was setting me up for failure. Interviewer was chinese just for reference.
  
  Jun 3, 2018 0
- Facebook cynical.ly
  
  So, you didn't like bugs in your code to be pointed out? Or you didn't like that the interviewer noted them down? What do you think the interviewer is supposed to do, just ignore all the bugs, and just hand you a hire decision?
  
  Jun 3, 2018 4
- LinkedIn BzingaPunk
  
  Cynically, you are defending something that is very subjective and inherently biased. I was talking from my experience and my friends. I never generalized this at all. Also I mentioned that this kind of bias could happen elsewhere. I’m not sure what’s tripping you.
  
  Jun 3, 2018 0
- LinkedIn KingKong12
  
  @cynical.ly what I am trying to say is he was not even giving me chance to correct myself. Like any misstep and he pointed that out right away. Come on man give atleast some time to candidate to correct himself. Yes if the candidate doesnt find the bug then you point it out. Do not act like an impatient wannabe interviewer
  
  Jun 3, 2018 1
- Facebook cynical.ly
  
  @KingKong12 You're right. The interviewer should give you time first and hints later, to help you find and fix your own bugs. I don't know why they didn't.
  
  Jun 3, 2018 0
BetterWorks plymouth

It's fine to be collaborative and have a discussion, bouncing ideas, unless you feel like they were driving most of it.

Jun 2, 2018 1 5
- Google / Eng relusmore
  
  In Facebook interviews it’s not. Not in my experience at least. Later HR told me I was expected to give the full 45 minute speech on the design question if the interviewer chose not to interrupt. Simple question like ‘now I am going to analyze capacity, does that sound right’ is interpreted as lack of leadership and using hint. On the other hand, my friend who rehearsed the whole speech before going passed the interview with good feedback.
  
  Jun 2, 2018 4
- Tesla LEETCODER
  
  So saying "does that sound right" is negative? What do you mean by whole speech?
  
  Jun 2, 2018 0
- Google / Eng relusmore
  
  Like you’re a system design teacher, you may interact with students when they ask questions, but you should be well prepared to talk nonstop for the whole session.
  
  Jun 2, 2018 0
- BetterWorks plymouth
  
  Hmm I think there's definitely a bit of luck involved -- like what your particular interviewer prefers. My experience was that interviewers keep the system design vague and expect you to ask questions. Bouncing ideas and solutions off of interviewer, ex: "here's what I think XXX because YYY. Do you think I missed anything?" is okay. That's how a normal day to day eng discussion might be like, and I figured that interaction is what they'd be looking for too. But yeah YMMV.
  
  Jun 2, 2018 1
- Google / Eng relusmore
  
  I guess so.
  
  Jun 2, 2018 0
Facebook Scurry30

This is normal. When the interviewer does a good job, it should feel like a conversation, not a quiz. They want to see how you work on each stage of the problem, not only whether you come up with a solution.

Jun 2, 2018 6 0
Accenture / Eng RimRax

Can someone give an example(s) of a frontend system design question?

Jun 2, 2018 6 0
Amazon Jeff Bеzоs

Yes. It’s a bad sign.

Jun 2, 2018 4 2
- Amazon 🚹☣️
  OP
  
  Could you elaborate please?
  
  Jun 2, 2018 0
- Intel IntelAlummore
  
  No
  
  Jun 2, 2018 0
Amazon / Eng acef

@OP, what happened? You got the offer?

Jun 11, 2018 0 2
- Amazon 🚹☣️
  OP
  
  Not yet. The recruiter said he's waiting on finance team for the offer
  
  Jun 11, 2018 2
- Amazon / Eng acef
  
  Nice, that means, you got through the interviews. Can you share your learnings from the interview in terms of interviewer expectations.
  
  Jun 11, 2018 0
Facebook / Eng TCYOE

Good job sounds like you did well. Should place E5+.

Jun 3, 2018 2 0
Apple / Eng Descartesmore

I had a similar experience - but I am not hopeful . 2 coding, 2 system design and 2 behavioral. At the end of a behavioral they asked me another coding question with 10 minuets left. I did that ok. For the other coding questions the interviewer gave me quite a few hints- as I hadn’t seen these questions before . Also like another commentator pointed out above- they do not give you time to think and point out errors before you can get to it yourself. The first coding interview I was able to solve 2 - first with hints second without. The second coding interview was harder because interviewer was far ruder ( maybe he had a bad day) and wanted everything done in some particular way - even though complexity wise it doesn’t make a difference. I came up with an optimized solution but used more space but used more space .. Anyways the dynamic between me and interviewer was just not there ( I figure a large part of a successful interview is how much an interviewer likes you) .

Jun 13, 2018 1 2
- Tesla LEETCODER
  
  Were coding questions similar to leetcode hard?
  
  Jun 13, 2018 0
- Apple / Eng Descartesmore
  
  Mostly medium - but I think expectation is for you to solve 2 in 40 minuets. 5 minuets go for introductions etc.. Time pressure is the key factor .
  
  Jun 13, 2018 0
Juniper Hjjnk

@OP, any update with offer

Jun 13, 2018 1 0
Microsoft YsTJ07

What level?

Jun 2, 2018 0 1
- Amazon 🚹☣️
  OP
  
  Not sure. How do you gauge the level? The recruiter didn't mention any levels
  
  Jun 2, 2018 0
Tesla LEETCODER

What was the difficulty level for the questions? What do they ask in behavior round? Previous experience?

Jun 2, 2018 0 1
- Amazon 🚹☣️
  OP
  
  The questions were mid leetcode I'd say.. behavioural was about previous experience
  
  Jun 2, 2018 0
New DKEs08

I think I've mentioned everything in the post above. Didn't get any feedback breakdown, so a bit hard to say what exactly the interviewers were expecting.

Jun 13, 2018 0 0
Medallia VLEK11

What were ur questions for system designs and coding. Would be helpful if you could share.

Jun 2, 2018 0 0

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