I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Pinterest (San Francisco, CA) in Apr 2018
Interview
1. Take an OA with three questions (1) count number of black pixels (2) SQL (3) design rate-limit API
2. Then, I was given a phone interview. The problem is an easy-level problem on Leetcode and the followup is a medium-level problem. Finished everything in 30 minutes.
3. Finally I was given an on-site interview. There are four rounds: two coding rounds, one machine learning round, and one system design round. I had lunch with a manager. The lunch tastes really good.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
I was asked my understanding of the home feed system of Pinterest
The phone screen was a mix of behavioral questions and some basic technical concepts, which was a bit different from what I anticipated. After that, I faced a technical round that focused on implementing sparse matrix operations. To my surprise, the coding question was nearly identical to what I'd practiced in the algorithm section on PracHub just days before. The onsite interview included some more DSA challenges and a discussion on machine learning concepts, which helped me feel well-prepared. Overall, the experience was smooth, and I accepted the offer afterward.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Implement sparse matrix storage, addition, and multiplication
The assessment time was very short and harsh. There were lots of questions with a very limited time. I liked the other big companies' assessments better. For example, Meta and Google assessments are through talking to a person while coding.
I applied for the new grad MLE position. The process included an online assessment, a 20-minute HR call, and four onsite interviews (two coding and two machine learning system design).
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