Pinterest Interview Questions: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Pinterest Interview Process

Pinterest, a visual discovery engine in the tech industry, is prime for software engineers passionate about large-scale data and engaging user interfaces. As you prepare for your interview, focus on understanding Pinterest's unique blend of social media and e-commerce, and hone your skills in React, which is integral to their platform development. Successfully showcasing a project-centric portfolio with an emphasis on visually driven software solutions can set you apart.

At Pinterest, the interview process typically begins with a resume screening. Candidates who catch the recruiters' eyes move forward to one or more online assessments (OAs), focusing on coding and problem-solving skills. The OAs are designed to test fundamental software engineering expertise and gauge analytical abilities.

Following the initial screenings, successful candidates undergo one or two phone interviews. These are primarily technical interviews, involving coding exercises and algorithm questions. The process culminates in an onsite interview, which consists of multiple rounds with different team members. Here, candidates are not only tested on technical skills but also on system design and cultural fit, ensuring a comprehensive assessment. The overall difficulty level is competitive but fair, aiming to identify candidates who align with Pinterest's values and technical standards.

Initial Screen

At Pinterest, the first step is resume screening focused on relevance to the position’s key skills and prior project experience. Expect to hear back within two weeks if selected.

Following this, a preliminary screening call usually occurs, designed to assess cultural fit and technical background understanding. Only about 20% of applicants progress past this stage.

Phone Screen

At Pinterest, the initial phase of the hiring process typically involves a phone screen. This preliminary interview checks for a cultural and technical fit and usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

The phone screen primarily includes discussing your past projects and experiences, as well as solving one or two coding problems. This step is critical for advancing to the onsite interview phase, where a deeper evaluation of skills occurs.

Onsite Rounds

At Pinterest, the onsite interview round typically comprises four to six interviews, focusing on coding, system design, and a project review. These sessions also include a behavioral interview to assess cultural fit and collaboration skills.

Interviews are conducted back-to-back over a single day. Each session lasts about 45 minutes, with coding interviews using a whiteboard while system design and behavioral interviews may incorporate a mix of discussion and practical assessments.

Final Rounds, Negotiation, Offer

At Pinterest, after completing the interview rounds, candidates may undergo team matching to ensure a good fit. This is followed by offer negotiations, and in some cases, meetings with executives could be part of the final process.

Pinterest Technical Interview Questions and Patterns

The coding interview at Pinterest requires candidates to study a standard range and distribution of coding patterns that include significant topics such as Basic Data Structures and Algorithms, Two Pointers, Depth-First Search (DFS) and Breadth-First Search (BFS). Start learning today with AlgoMonster's page on getting started, and also about other company patterns.

Sample Classical Behavioral Questions and Answers

Tell me about a time when you had to learn a new programming language or framework to complete a project.

Highlight the importance of adaptability and eagressive learning. Discuss the specific steps taken to master the new technology efficiently and how applying this new knowledge effectively contributed to the project’s success.

Describe a situation where you identified a problem in your code. What steps did you take to troubleshoot and resolve the issue?

Focus on demonstrating problem-solving skills and attention to detail. Explain the process of debugging, how you isolated the error, and the strategies used to solve the problem. Mention any tools or resources that were particularly helpful.

Can you provide an example of a project where you had to collaborate with multiple departments or teams? How did you ensure effective communication and collaboration?

Show your teamwork and communication skills. Talk about how you managed interactions and workflow among different groups. Include methods for keeping everyone updated, such as regular meetings or project management tools, and how these efforts led to the success of the project.

Explain a situation where you had to work under a tight deadline. How did you manage your workload and priorities to meet the deadline?

Display time management and prioritization abilities. Describe the situation, your approach to managing tasks, any adjustments made to ensure the deadline was met, and the outcome. Mention any lessons learned from the experience.

Share an experience where you had to provide feedback to a peer about their work. How did you approach this, and what was the outcome?

Illustrate interpersonal and communication skills. Explain how you approached the situation with constructive feedback, ensuring clarity and empathy. Discuss how the feedback was received and any positive changes that resulted from the discussion.

Sample Teamwork Behavioral Questions and Answers

Describe a time when you had to work closely with a team to implement a complex feature on a tight deadline.

Focus on detailing the planning and communication strategies employed, the role you played within the team, and how you collectively managed to meet the deadline despite challenges. Emphasize collaborative skills and ability to work under pressure.

Tell us about an instance where you disagreed with a team member on a project. How was the issue resolved?

Highlight your ability to handle disagreements constructively. Talk about the importance of active listening and empathy in understanding other perspectives, and how finding a compromise or a mutually agreeable solution helped advance the project.

Can you discuss a time when your team had to adapt to a significant change partway through a project?

Illustrate your adaptability and resilience. Describe the change (e.g., shifting project goals, new technologies), the steps your team took to adapt, and the positive outcomes that resulted from this adjustment.

Give an example of a project where you helped a team member who was struggling.

Showcase your teamwork and mentoring skills. Explain how you identified the struggle, the support you offered, and the beneficial impact this had on the project and the team member’s development.

Pinterest values creativity in its engineering solutions. Can you share a scenario where you and your team came up with a creative solution to a technical problem?

Discuss a specific technical challenge that required an innovative approach. Describe how creativity was encouraged within the team, the brainstorming process, and how the innovative solution effectively addressed the problem, aligning with Pinterest's emphasis on creativity and initiative.

Sample Role Specifc Behavioral Questions and Answers

Describe a time when you had to use your coding skills to solve a problem that helped improve a product’s performance.

Focus on a specific project or problem, explain the technology stack involved, your role in finding the solution, and the impact of your contribution on the product’s performance.

Tell me about a project where you used data structures or algorithms to enhance the efficiency of a software solution.

Highlight your choice of data structure or algorithm, the rationale behind it, and its effect on the software’s performance.

Can you discuss a situation where you had to work collaboratively with multiple teams to develop a software solution?

Describe the cross-functional nature of the project, your specific contributions, the challenges faced, and how the collaboration improved the final outcome.

Pinterest prides itself on creating highly visual and user-friendly experiences. Describe a project where you developed user-friendly software solutions.

Talk about your approach to understanding user needs, how you incorporated those into your design, and the tools and technologies you used to enhance the user experience.

How do you ensure the scalability and security of a software application you are developing?

Discuss specific strategies or techniques you’ve implemented to address scalability or security challenges, including any frameworks, languages, or methodologies used.