I just went through an interview loop for a data analyst role at Stripe and thought I’d recap the process for other people. I’ve gotten a lot from Blind and wanted to give back a little bit. The role was SQL/Tableau focused, with R/Python as “nice to have”. Step 1: Recruiter Call Standard stuff, work history etc. Step 2: Video call w/Data Science manager Talked through work history, behavioral questions, walked through a product sense question (given a checkout page, describe metrics etc.). This was NOT the hiring manager for the role. Step 3: Take Home This is where things get wonky. I was given three (large) data sets with sales data for one year. The ask was (1) to forecast what the sales for the first day of the next year, (2) what the sales would be if you added more stores of a specific type, (3) create a presentation. They insisted that this could be solved using SQL, but no one in their right mind would do that. I used pandas and Facebook Prophet, but I don’t really use them day to day so not sure if that was the way to go. Step 4: Virtual On-Site I submitted my code and presentation and made it to the virtual on-site. There were 5 parts: product sense (HM), presentation, SQL/metrics, stakeholder management, conflict management. Outcome: The virtual on-site was split over two days, with the first three sections on the first day. I got feedback after the first day that they didn’t want to do the second part. Overall Experience: There were a couple of red flags: Not meeting the hiring manager until the on-site, only getting 30mins with them. Getting a take home that was out of scope for the role. The interviewer during the presentation section picked Most of the interviewers were nice and obviously Stripe is a rocket ship. There were definitely a lot that I can improve on and learned a lot in the process. I do think I dodged a bullet in that the group didn’t seem organized and I think I could have been set up to fail. Feel free to DM with any questions. TC: $140K YOE: 7
Thanks for sharing your experience. I am also applying for DA roles and waiting for interviews. Can you share resources that you had referred for interview prep? You have mentioned Python, Tableau, DS, Product Sense etc as topics you were quizzed on, so if you can point to any resources that you had referred, that would greatly help. Thanks and Best of Luck!!
SQL - Leetcode + Stratascratch Pandas - this was mostly StackOverflow and Medium articles. I didn’t really know any pandas before working on the presentation. Product Sense/Metrics - work experience + random articles online, mostly around product management
Thanks for the reply. This is helpful
Go for it
damn thats intense! what unicorn they are after. I mean at the end of the day its a DA role!
Thanks for the the thorough review! I agree the forecasting part is odd for an Analytics role. And I don't like take home assessments, especially for non entry level applicants.
Did they ever give you a TC range for the role?
Can I DM and ask about your approach to 2nd problem?
Hey I was invited for an onsite.. but don't know TC range; did you happen to know TC range for this role?
Forecasting in sql is weird…I mean you can do it with bqml but stilll….
I was asked to use Python, R or SQL. Did mine in R
ARIMA!!
I am going through the exact same process (even the take-home is the same). I moved to onsite. Can I please DM you?
thanks for sharing! that sounds like quite a very intensive process. at least they saved you some time by forgoing the 2nd day! best of luck!
Yeah def was bummed that they called quits on the process (would always rather be the one to say yes or no). It’s probably for the best in the grand scheme of things