What is a meta interview?

A Meta interview is the hiring process used by Meta (formerly Facebook) to evaluate potential candidates across various roles, including software engineering, product management, data science, and more. The interview process is known for being rigorous and typically involves multiple stages, with a strong focus on both technical skills and cultural fit.

Key Components of a Meta Interview:

1. Coding Interviews

For technical roles like software engineering, you can expect coding interviews that test your problem-solving abilities and knowledge of data structures and algorithms. These interviews are typically conducted on a platform like CoderPad or HackerRank, and involve problems related to:

• Arrays, strings, linked lists, trees, graphs
• Sorting and searching algorithms
• Dynamic programming, recursion
• Complexity analysis (time and space)

2. System Design Interviews

For experienced roles (typically L5 and above), Meta conducts system design interviews. In these, you’ll be asked to design large-scale systems that are highly scalable, reliable, and efficient. The goal is to assess your ability to architect complex systems like a social media feed, messaging platform, or recommendation engine. Key areas tested include:

• Database design and data storage
• Load balancing, caching, and sharding
• Microservices and distributed systems

3. Behavioral Interviews

Meta places a strong emphasis on cultural fit, known internally as "Meta Values" (e.g., Move Fast, Be Bold, Focus on Impact). The behavioral interview focuses on how well your past experiences align with these values. Questions in this interview are designed to assess:

• How you approach challenges and adversity
• Your ability to work in teams and manage conflicts
• Your leadership qualities and ability to make impactful decisions

4. Meta Values Interview

This round is unique to Meta, focusing specifically on whether a candidate aligns with Meta’s core values. Questions might focus on how you’ve driven results, adapted to change, and embraced feedback in your past roles.

Interview Process Timeline:

1. Phone Screen: Initial screening with a recruiter covering your background, motivations, and basic technical skills.
2. Technical Interview (Coding): One or two rounds of coding problems to assess your problem-solving skills.
3. Onsite or Virtual Onsite Interviews: Typically includes multiple rounds—coding, system design, and behavioral interviews.
4. Final Round: Focused on Meta Values and cultural fit, possibly involving senior leadership.

Preparation Resources:

• LeetCode for coding practice
• Grokking the System Design Interview for system design
• Pramp or DesignGurus.io for mock interview practice

Meta’s interview process is known for its intensity and breadth, but with solid preparation across coding, system design, and behavioral questions, candidates can succeed.