What I learned from interviewing at Netflix (2024)

Having interviewed at Netflix just a few months ago, I was reminded again about what it is like to be a candidate. It feels exciting, nerve-wracking and a bit overwhelming all at once. There are a lot of resources out there that talk about how to prepare for an interview (questions to ask, how to approach your research, what color tie to wear, etc.), but every company has its own unique approach and it can be challenging to navigate this process on your own. Now a hiring manager at Netflix, I am actively assessing candidates for my team. Given that I have now experienced what it is like to be on both sides of the table, I thought I could share a few pieces of advice to anyone who is interested in exploring an opportunity at Netflix.

One important thing to keep in mind is that the interview process at Netflix does vary based on the team, but here is a glimpse in to my own personal experience.

The first Netflix person I spoke to was from the Talent team and we talked over the phone. The focus of our discussion was on my background, interests, the role, my motivation for joining the company and generally how I might transition into this environment (explained in detail in my previous blog here). The discussion was conversational and friendly, but also very focused. I had plenty of opportunities to explain why I wanted to join Netflix, what my background was, what type of leader I am and how I thought I could apply my skills to this position. By the end of the conversation, I was even more excited about the opportunity based on what I had learned. An on-site interview was then set up directly after our call and I basically spent most of my weekend preparing for it.

The on-site interview itself was split into two sessions, both held on the same day. During the first session, I met five Netflix employees who would either be my peers, members of my team or close collaborators. The emphasis in these face-to-face interactions was on my overall fit for the role, including my technical understanding, leadership experience, and engagement. Some of the things the group dug into were how I operated in past environments, how I would address issues I would be facing in this job and how I would interact with other teams.

The first session went well. I especially appreciated the opportunity to meet my future team members and internal partners that I would work with on a day to day basis. I also had the opportunity to get a lot of my questions answered. I used this as an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how we would work together, what I could do to help them succeed and what kind of challenges these teams were facing. I made sure to be transparent and consistent in my answers to their questions, so they got to know the real me. I also tailored my answers to the specific background and area of expertise of each interviewer, so we would have a more dynamic discussion.

I then proceeded to the second session where I met with several Netflix leaders who expanded on the questions from the first session. They also asked additional questions to assess things like my business sense, ability to work cross-functionally, approach to past successes and failures, strategy for attracting talent as a hiring manager and what value I would bring to the team. This was also an opportunity for me to learn more about the organization’s vision for the product and the company, which gave me more insight into why I should consider joining Netflix.

By the end of the day, I have to admit I was exhausted, but I left with a clear understanding of what the role and mission would entail. I thought the position would be a great fit for me, but I had to make sure the feeling was mutual, so I took a breath and waited for “the call.” Fortunately, Netflix moves at an incredibly fast pace and I heard back the next day with a decision. I was of course very excited when I heard that they wanted me to join the team!

In the spirit of Netflix’s culture of candid feedback, I followed up with my colleagues after I joined to see what their notes were from my interview. They shared the positive comments but also told me that “I spoke too much”, “I came across as very serious and could’ve smiled more” and probably the best one of all: “I had to cut off your description of your career because it took seven minutes to get through five years and you have twenty four years of experience!”. But in all seriousness, it was a great learning experience and their input got me thinking about how I can better prepare others.

After reflecting on my own interview experience, as well as what I now look for as a hiring manager, here are a few things I’ve learned that might help you prepare for your interview at Netflix:

• Read, and then re-read, the Netflix culture deck (here) and spend some time thinking about it. It's for real and the deck describes exactly how we work at Netflix. You will likely be asked how you feel about the Netflix culture, so it’s important that you have reflected on it and are prepared to share your impressions. This is an opportunity to figure out whether or not this is the kind of environment for you, so take advantage of it. By the way, it's OK to have doubts and questions. I had a few myself, such as “how can the highly aligned, loosely coupled culture survive with such rapid growth?” You may discover this is the place for you and you may not. This is the time for you and the team to figure out if this environment will be the best fit.

• Try the Netflix service. Sounds obvious, right? If you don't have Netflix now, sign up. The first month is free. Ultimately, if you are not interested in the Netflix service, why would you want to join a company whose sole focus is on this product? The people here are incredibly passionate about delivering the best streaming experience possible and we want to work with someone who shares this enthusiasm. As you use Netflix, think about how the experience could be improved, what you would like to see done differently, maybe even something you liked before but it changed. Perhaps you have ideas on how the user experience could be better, or another feature to add? I personally have been using the service for years and even decided to cut the cord a while ago, so I was able to provide comments on what I liked about the product, but also what could be improved in terms of search, recommendations, etc.

• If you haven’t received the job description prior to scheduling your onsite interview, take a look at it. Carefully read the specifications on the Netflix Careers page and use that information to your advantage. Think of what parts of your experience match the requirements of the position and what gaps there may be as well. Think about what you have accomplished in these areas as well as the struggles you have had. What problems did you fix? What mistakes did you learn from? How could you bring value to Netflix because of these experiences? Which teams did you interact with to succeed and how did you collaborate? When I reviewed the job description for my current role, it helped frame my understanding as well as develop the questions I could ask to get the information I needed to determine whether or not this position was the best fit for me. It also helped me select from my experience the parts that were the most relevant to the job. This will not only give the interviewers the information they need, but help you figure out if this role is the right match for you.

• Once you get the list of people who will be on your panel of interviewers, take this information as an opportunity to get to know the group before you meet them in person. There are multiple sources out there where you can find information about the people who will be interviewing you. Now, this is not an invitation to become a stalker – be professional and use this to find out what common interests/connections you may have. Knowing which college the interviewer graduated from or which football team they support will not affect the outcome of the interview, but this will help you build rapport and further develop your relationship in a short amount of time. For example, I discovered in my research that one of the interviewers was from San Diego and a Chargers fan, like me. This made a great ice-breaker at the beginning of the discussion. Knowledge of their professional experience will also help you to calibrate your answers to the interviewer. Just remember, you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you.

• If you are being considered for a leadership position, reflect on what you believe makes a great leader in general, but also more specifically at Netflix. Read about the history of Netflix and about Reed Hastings, our founder and CEO. Ask yourself this question: "which parts of my leadership experience would I leverage the most at Netflix?" Be prepared to answer questions about your hiring skills and give examples of successes but also failures when hiring. Think about what leadership means in an environment of “context and not control” and how you would lead your team to success. Also, really take the time to think how this environment could match your leadership style or not. Since I came from companies that operated differently from Netflix, I used this as an opportunity to explain how I operated and planned to adapt if I were to make the move, so I would be successful here. Being thoughtful and aware of my approach enabled me to go much deeper in my discussions, which was beneficial for both me and my interviewers.

• During the interview, make sure you avoid giving answers that sound rehearsed. Take your time and don't be afraid to tell the interviewer you need a minute to figure it out. Your analytical skills are a big part of the interview. Feel free to use the whiteboard if you need to. I know I did when explaining an experience at a previous company where I implemented a technology solution that ultimately failed. In the end, it is better to arrive at a clear articulated answer, then spurting out the first example that you’ve come prepared to talk about. After all, there are no bonus points for the fastest response.

Now that you have this information, leverage your resources and come prepared to have an engaging discussion. We are genuinely interested in meeting you and finding out how you could fit within our growing team here at Netflix.