FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) interviews are notoriously difficult, grueling, and stressful.

They're designed to be this way.

Here's how their interview process differs from smaller companies, and why you should save them for last during your job search.

Referrals Are Important

If you've been reading my letters, you know that referrals aren't necessary to get your first industry position.

But there's one exception: FAANG companies.

Big tech has big budgets to procure the best talent. As such, there is no shortage of candidates gunning for their high-paying positions. It is very difficult to pass the resume screen if you don't have a referral or prior industry experience (internship, contractor role).

The good news is that referrals aren't hard to get. FAANG companies love PhDs. It is likely that some of your first- or second-degree connections on LinkedIn work at a FAANG company. Send them a connection request. Ask them about their experience. Ask if they are able to refer you.

If they no longer work at the FAANG company you're applying to, ask if they can put you in touch with their sourcer/recruiter.

A Lot More Interview Rounds

Example: Meta

A typical Meta UX Research interview loop looks like this:

You have a first call with the recruiter. Sometimes, you may have a conversation with the sourcer first, who passes you onto the recruiter. If you get to know the role informally from the hiring manager first, you may have a first call with the hiring manager. During the intial phone screen, the recruiter/hiring manager will ask you about your background and experience. They may also ask you to self-rate your skills on a numeric scale.

If you pass the first screen, you will then go through the Technical Screen. This is a hypothetical product scenario to assess your industry knowledge, research skills, and how fast you think on your feet. This is one of the trickiest interviews PhD job candidates can encounter. Many fail because they don't know what to prepare for and what Meta's assessment criteria are.

If you pass this round, huge congratulations. You will now proceed to the Final Round, which consists of 2 research skill interviews, 1 product interview, 1 communication interview, and a portfolio presentation.

Example: Spotify

Yet, this is not the most elaborate interview loop I have encountered. At Spotify, I had a first-round interview, a second-round interview, and a final round that consisted of 1) a portfolio presentation, 2) a data science interview, 3) a product interview, 4) a manager interview, 5) a UX interview, and 6) a LIVE research exercise!

You will find similarly elaborate loops at Google, Apple, Amazon, and Netflix.

Big tech companies will do everything they can to fine-comb and select the "best and the brightest". They know these positions are highly coveted, and candidates will tolerate the drawn-out process just for a chance to work there.

If you've gone on the academic job market and gone through grueling campus visits, the final rounds at FAANG companies will leave you equally as drained, if not more.

More Standardization, Less Personalization

You will notice the interviewers typing up notes throughout the interviews. They are following a standardized interview process often instituted at big companies. The purpose of standardization is to ensure fairness and increase efficiency. (Imagine that you can pass around the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) to any Meta employee without having to train them for an extensive period of time on how to interview candidates?!)

The upside is less bias. The downside is that this could make for a rigid, less personalized interview process. For example, many interviewers follow the format of "peeling the onion" for product questions, where the interviewer asks you a question, then asks a deeper question based on how you answered the first question. A less experienced interviewer who is simply "following the standardized interview guideline" may impede the conversation flow or even hamper your interview performance.

Company-Specific Questions

If you ever hear a UXR question such as "What if your timeline is shortened to 3 weeks instead of 3 months?", it is very likely that the interviewer has worked for Meta.

There is a unique set of questions FAANG companies like to ask. Interview at enough places, you will be able to spot Meta questions vs. Google questions. Some companies like to ask questions that are more product-focused and tactical. Other companies ask questions that are more academic-flavored.

Knowing cultural norms at different companies and what each company looks for is crucial in acing interviews. I will go over company-specific questions in more detail in a future letter.

The above is not as important at smaller companies, where the interviews tend to be less standardized, the questions more generic.

Why You Should Save FAANG Interviews for the Last

1. FAANG interviews are hard to come by. When you get one, you want to be 200% prepared. The best way to prepare is to actually interview as many times as you can at smaller companies, so by the time you enter the FAANG loop, answers to questions like "Tell me about yourself", "Tell me about a time you navigated a conflict with a stakeholder" should roll off of your tongue.
2. If you fail the loop, you can't apply for 3-6 months to the same role.
3. FAANG loops are physically tiring and emotionally exhausting. When you enter the loop, you want all your energy to be focused on the interviews ahead.

Want More Help?

If you are looking for a comprehensive blueprint to break into industry but missed the last program cycle, consider joining my Academic Trailblazer: Career Clear by submitting an application today. We go in-depth in gaining clarity on your career path, targeting roles that highlight your competitive advantage, writing a resume that effectively communicates your skills, and winning interviews.

If you're actively interviewing and don't want to leave your outcome to chance, book a 1:1 mock interview intensive to drill your practice and ace your interview with confidence.

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Until next time 💕