Want to get hired by the international streaming giant but aren’t sure what the Netflix interview process looks like? Fed up with figuring out interviews on your own? Don’t worry – you’re in the right place.
Work with one of the reputable MentorCruise coaches to get the knowledge you need. In this article, we’ll look at:
The hiring process
What the interviewees say
The duration of the interview process
How to nail the Netflix interview
Netflix interview questions you can ask
Netflix Hiring Process Overview
Netflix’s interview process isn’t a walk in the park. It involves numerous layers known as ‘screens’. What this means is that you have to pass all of these interviews – without any blunders. Even if you mess up just once, that’s it.
What’s more, Netflix puts a lot of emphasis on culture – often more so than how much technical know-how you have. Essentially, the interview process involves four stages, including:
Pre-screen with the recruiter
Phone screen with the hiring manager
In-house part one
In-house part two
The pre-screen with the recruiter lasts roughly half an hour, while the phone screen with the hiring manager takes between 45 and 60 minutes. The first in-house interview involves four technical interviews then the second in-house involves a discussion with the two directors.
But before we go into each stage, let’s look at what other interviewees say about the process.
Here’s What the Interviewees Say
Most interviewees reveal the interviews are tricky and rate their experience an A+ or 83/100. On average, you can expect to complete five or more interviews and wait for one to two weeks for a response.
Netflix has a total culture score of A+ or 81/100 and ranks in the top five percent of similar-sized organizations. Several interviewees believe the overall interview process could be improved by cutting the number of interview stages from 10 to five.
And others felt calibrated interview questions and real-life problem-solving should be included. On the other hand, numerous candidates describe the interview process as a great chance to speak to loads of different people and that the transparency and feedback were brilliant. Other comments include:
“I really like the welcoming nature of the induction.”
“The interviewers were never late.”
“The transparency and feedback were fantastic. Expectations were clear and representative of the actual work environment.”
“They listen to the people below them and help each individual to fulfill their own personal goals; they really care about people.”
How Long is the Netflix Interview Process?
You can expect the interview process to take around three weeks. As mentioned earlier, there are four stages – an initial phone screening by HR, a telephone interview with an engineer, then two onsite interviews.
The first part involves four technical interviews and one HR interview, and if you receive positive feedback, then you move to part two which involves a conversation with the directors.
Netflix Interview Process Timeline
Step #1: Recruiter Phone Screening
The Netflix hiring process typically begins with a telephone call that roughly 45 minutes. Ahead of the call, you’ll receive a document on Netflix’s core values and company culture. Familiarize yourself with the language and culture, and read this carefully before your interview.
A phone screening interview involves a phone call with the recruiter to ascertain whether an applicant is suitable for the role before moving on to an interview with the employer. Usually, recruiters will ask questions from a template to help guide their questions.
Step #2: Hiring Manager Phone Screening
Part two lasts roughly 60 minutes – the hiring manager will ask you several technical questions about the role you’re seeking. Next, you’ll be asked to complete a remote-based task to certify your abilities.
A technical screening is a process organizations use to assess an applicant’s technical skills and less calculable characteristics such as culture fit and teamwork. During a technical screening test, you’ll complete simulators, be asked multiple-choice questions, and take part in live dialogues to establish your competence.
During a Netflix software engineer interview, you’ll be assessed for your coding expertise, whether you understand technical concepts, and problem-solving.
Step #3: Onsite Interview Panel
As mentioned above, Netflix’s in-house interview entails two parts. Part one includes four technical interviews, then a human resources interview. For instance, you may have to complete whiteboard challenges and Leetcode issues and respond to questions about algorithms and data structures.
Step #4: Application Result (Job Offer/No Offer)
On average, you can expect to hear back in a week or so about a job offer. It takes this long because directors must assess other applicants or need to draft your offer letter together with other logistics.
How to Nail the Interview Process
Use STAR to Adapt Your Resume and Cover Letter to What Netflix Wants
If you want to land an interview at Netflix, use the STAR method in your resume, which stands for ‘Situation, Task, Activity, Result’. Ideally, each CV example in your previous work experience should include a couple of sentences about each of these words.
A regular resume simply lists applicable bullets, while a STAR-orientated resume offers a succinct chronology providing a comprehensive outline of your expertise and how you’ve previously actioned them.
Build Your Network To Get a Foot In The Door
Whether you want to score a job as a Netflix viewer or a software engineer, one of the best ways to land your dream job during your job search is to network. It pays to know someone at the company who already works at Netflix.
An in-house employee with insider knowledge may be able to put in a good word or two about you to the hiring manager and let you know if a position crops up. For example, if you’re just looking to make a little extra money, the full-time Netflix viewer salary is roughly $500 per month – all you have to do is watch Netflix all day!
Practice Answering Behavioral and Technical Questions
Use the STAR method to create standout answers to behavioral interview questions. In other words, respond with examples that show your previous behavior – tell a story and include specific details. Let’s look at some common behavioral interview questions:
How did you handle a time when you failed? What did you do?
Questions like these can make you want to run for the hills. Who really wants to admit failure? But failure is okay, so long as you learned a thing or two in the process. Let’s look at how you can answer this using the STAR framework:
(S)ituation:
Clearly lay out the situation. For example, you could say something like: “I was organizing a presentation at a conference, but one of the speakers had to cancel at the last minute. We discovered a couple of hours before the presentation that there was a 30-minute gap in our schedule which we had to correct.”
(T)ask:
“We didn’t have much time at all, so we, somehow, had to fill up the time slot so the presentation could go ahead.”
(A)ction:
“Being the main organizer of the presentation, I had to use my initiative. Rather than the guest speaker, I needed to present the CEO as the speaker instead. Thankfully, this was an option, as she was working behind the scenes too.
“I then worked with her to get her to transform her 15 years’ worth of expertise into a presentation.”
(R)esults:
“The CEO spoke for 20 minutes, and we then used the remaining 10-minute gap for questions and answers. Following this, all turned out well, and the audience enjoyed the presentation.”
Netflix Interview Questions
Here are just some of the Netflix interview questions you can expect to be asked:
1. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
2. What inspired you to join Netflix?
3. What exactly does teamwork mean to you?
In answer to question number one, tell the hiring manager a bit about your present role, what it involves, and one of your most recent accomplishments. For example, you could say, “My name is [NAME], and I’m [XX YEARS OLD].
For the past [NUMBER OF YEARS], I’ve worked as a [JOB TITLE] at [COMPANY NAME]. Throughout my career, I believe I’m brilliant at data analysis. For instance, when I worked at [COMPANY NAME], I was responsible for transferring all operations information to a new data warehousing system.
This was to reduce costs. The outcome was a much better fit for our organization, ultimately leading to a saving of $50,000 a year.”
Companies want to know what inspired you to join their company. So, connect this passion to Netflix’s core values which you can find on its website. Say something like, “I watched Reed Hastings in an interview and was inspired by what he said about being passionate and honest about what you do.”
And finally, for interview question number three, use the STAR method to answer this. For instance, you could say something along the lines of “Teamwork is integral to me, as it’s essential for success. What’s more, it allows us to get along with one another and develop trust.”
The Takeaway
What Netflix wants to see is your understanding of the job position (the technologies, challenges, and how you fit into its culture), your technical know-how, and, most importantly, whether you’re a good culture fit.
Whether you need career coaches, algorithms coaches, or data structures coaches, find hundreds of mentors on MentorCruise to help you grow your interview skills before the big day.
