How does a phone screen interview for a Data Science position at FAANG look like? Possible type of questions? Tips?

Wayfair
bigdipper

Go to company page Wayfair

bigdipper
May 17, 2020 25 Comments

I have heard one faces some of the hardest problems when it comes to interviewing for an SWE position at FAANG, Microsoft, etc.

But what if it's for a data science position. Is the level of difficulty the same?

What would be your one tip to prepare for Data Science positions at FAANG?

Please don't say Leetcode or Hackerrank, consider that trivial.

And yes, consider interview experiences on Glassdoor are covered.

#datascience #phoneinterviewquestions

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 25 Comments
  • NIO
    GraySky

    Go to company page NIO

    GraySky
    FB is easier than G
    May 17, 2020 8
    • Wayfair
      bigdipper

      Go to company page Wayfair

      bigdipper
      OP
      How about a Machine Learning role? I have experience in Machine Learning / DS and Analytics
      May 17, 2020
    • NIO
      GraySky

      Go to company page NIO

      GraySky
      ML interviews are hard and they drill down deep to test you on your fundamentals. Basically at any FAANG for IC technical roles, the best way to prep is to know your fundamentals inside out.
      May 17, 2020
  • Facebook / Data
    Facebonk

    Go to company page Facebook Data

    Facebonk
    Be able to explain statistical concepts in plain language, but also know some common formulas. Break down a business problem and how you would approach it start to finish. If you've been doing DS work for a few years and own the whole life cycle of your projects, you'll be fine.
    May 18, 2020 0
  • Facebook / Data
    SrcD06

    Go to company page Facebook Data

    SrcD06
    In my experience you get asked some fairly trivial SQL questions and some less trivial how would you structure this analysis questions.

    I'd probably focus on the latter but to be honest I think the phone interviews and even the onsites are pretty easy for someone who's actually working as a professional analyst. Smaller companies may actually give you harder questions in my experience.

    If you're looking at ML roles that's a SWE position at many places like FB. Different interview track and much more technical.
    May 18, 2020 3
  • - Do we need to notify users that we collect their data for better ad targeting?
    - Um, I don’t think so, we do no harm, just trying to make some money
    - Seems that someone passed to the onsite!
    May 17, 2020 1
  • TD
    poBj05

    Go to company page TD

    poBj05
    Interviewees will drill down on specific ML projects you worked on to see if the quality of the work was good enough. You will be asked some in-depth questions across a WIDE range of possible ML topics, so it’s nearly impossible to prepare for it by googling possible questions ahead of time. My recommendation is to be able to discuss a variety of ideas and methods, but also so in depth understanding of the models you worked on.
    May 22, 2020 2
    • Wayfair
      bigdipper

      Go to company page Wayfair

      bigdipper
      OP
      Thanks for the reply. But is this possible in a a phone screen? I'm guessing this is something I can expect in on-sites. I could be wrong, your thoughts?
      May 24, 2020
    • TD
      poBj05

      Go to company page TD

      poBj05
      It always happens by phone, by the time you are gong for an inside you should have already been screened by an experienced DS.
      May 24, 2020