As candidates, we know that interviewing can be nerve-wracking. Interviewing for a new role can take you outside of your comfort zone. People often ask us, “As members of Pinterest’s Recruiting Team, what tips do you have for aceing my interview?” So, we talked to some of our team members to get their best advice on how to do well in any job interview. They want you to be your best self.
Hello, my name is Patrice Williams (She/Her), and I work with the Accounting organization to help them hire people for the Finance, Accounting, and Business Operations team. My two major keys to interviewing are the following:
Hello, my name is Victoria Perez (they/them), and I work with our great Recruiting Team and candidates like YOU to make sure you are ready for and excited about the interview process. Here are my favorite tips for feeling good about your conversations:
My name is Juliana Chua and I work on our International Recruiting Team for the APAC Region.
My name is Philip Floyd and I work on our International Sourcing Team for the EMEA Region. Some candidates think of the interview process as a one-way street. Try to think of each interview as a two-way conversation, and be eager to learn more about what it’s like to work at Pinterest. You can do this in a number of ways:
Who?—If you know exactly who you are meeting, you can prepare the right questions and imagine how that interviewer would work with the person in this post. Take a look at your interviewers on LinkedIn to learn more about them.
Why? – Ask your interviewers why they chose Pinterest. What makes them stay and grow their career? What makes them feel inspired?.
Why? Because the people you meet during the interviews know about the company where you want to work. Feel free to ask any questions you have throughout the process.
My name is Adam Gorelick. I am a technical recruiter on our engineering teams. LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeRust are just a few of the sites that can help you practice and get ready for the technical parts of our interviews. One skill that is of equal importance is communication. There are a few elements I get into here:
Interviewing is a skill that we practice and perfect over the years. You can learn general ways to do well in an interview, but three things you can’t learn are style and being yourself. You are the only one who knows what shaped your life, how to be yourself, and what events led you to where you are now. We encourage and support you to make sure that during any interview process, you speak up for yourself, show off your unique skills and abilities, and keep shining just for being you. For more interviewing tips, check out our Life at Pinterest board.
Landing a job at one of the world’s leading visual discovery engines takes more than just creating great pins. With over 400 million monthly active users, Pinterest receives thousands of applications for roles across engineering, design, marketing, sales, finance, and more. Standing out requires thorough preparation and insight into what Pinterest looks for in candidates.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to ace your Pinterest interview and join the Pin phenomenon.
What to Expect in the Pinterest Interview Process
Pinterest utilizes a range of interview techniques to assess applicants Here’s an overview of what you may encounter
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** recruiter phone screen** – A 30-45 minute call to discuss your background, skills, and career goals Helps determine if an onsite interview will be scheduled
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One-on-one conversations – Typically 4-5 interviews onsite with hiring managers and team members. Assess culture fit and capabilities.
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Panel interview – Interviewing with 3-4 Pinterest employees at once. Tests presenting yourself to a group.
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Technical assessment – Applicable for engineering roles. Tests your coding skills and problem-solving.
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Design challenge – If interviewing for a design role, expect to complete a short design test.
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Culture conversations – More informal meet-and-greets with future coworkers.
Take-home assignments – For some roles, you may receive a sample work project to complete at home.
Most Common Pinterest Interview Questions
Now that you know what to expect, let’s look at specific examples of Pinterest interview questions:
General Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself and your background.
- What appeals to you about working at Pinterest?
- How do your skills and experience make you a strong fit for this role?
- What do you know about Pinterest’s mission, values, and products?
- Describe a time you collaborated successfully on a cross-functional team.
- Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you handled it.
- Where do you see your career in 3-5 years?
- Do you have any questions for me about Pinterest or this opportunity?
Behavioral Interview Questions
- Give an example of how you’ve solved a difficult problem in the past.
- Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.
- Describe a goal you achieved and how you accomplished it.
- Share an experience showcasing your creativity or innovation.
Technical Interview Questions
- Explain your experience with [required programming language/skill].
- Walk me through how you would design the architecture for [example platform, product, or feature].
- How would you go about debugging [complex technical issue]?
- What techniques and tools do you rely on to write clean, maintainable code?
Design Interview Questions
- Describe your design process from concept to final product.
- Share some examples of impactful design work you’ve completed and why they were effective.
- How do you balance business goals with creative vision when approaching a design challenge?
- What inspires you and where do you look for creative inspiration?
Tips for Preparing Winning Pinterest Interview Answers
With practice and preparation, you can develop compelling responses to impress your Pinterest interviewers. Here are some top tips:
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Practice out loud – It’s easy to think you sound smooth in your head. Verbalizing your answers allows you to refine your phrasing.
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Use real examples – Don’t just describe what you would do in a situation. Use past experiences to illustrate how you applied your skills.
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Show your passion – Pinterest looks for truly engaged candidates. Let your enthusiasm and positivity shine through.
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Ask thoughtful questions – Interviewers want candidates who are curious about Pinterest. Research the company thoroughly so you can ask smart questions.
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Be specific – Don’t just claim you have certain skills. Provide detailed accounts of successfully applying those abilities.
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Review your background – Be intimately familiar with the details on your resume since it will guide much of the conversation.
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Practice, but sound natural – Rehearse responses to be smooth and eloquent, but don’t sound over-rehearsed.
Questions to Ask the Pinterest Interviewer
Along with practicing your responses, prepare several thoughtful questions to ask each interviewer. Smart questions demonstrate your engagement and interest in Pinterest while helping you gain valuable insights.
Recommended questions to ask in your Pinterest interview:
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What do you enjoy most about working at Pinterest?
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How would you describe Pinterest’s culture and work environment?
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What key skills or mindsets make someone really thrive here?
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What metrics and goals will my role be evaluated on if I join your team?
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Where do you see the biggest growth opportunities for Pinterest moving forward?
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What team initiatives or projects would I likely be involved in early on?
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Is there anything that gives you pause about my background for this role?
Asking your interviewer strong, well-researched questions makes you stand out as an engaged candidate worth remembering.
How to Prepare for Your Pinterest Interview
You only get one chance to make a first impression. Use these tips to show up ready for your Pinterest interview:
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** thoroughly research Pinterest** – Review their website, press releases, Glassdoor, and news articles to gain insights.
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Practice responding to common questions – Rehearse answers out loud to polish your phrasing and tone.
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Review your qualifications – Be intimately familiar with the details on your resume since it will guide the discussion.
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Prepare questions to ask – Develop a list of thoughtful, intelligent questions that show your engagement.
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Assemble professional interview attire – Dress sharp. Neat, conservative business wear makes a solid impression.
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Review the job description – Refresh yourself on the required qualifications and responsibilities for the role.
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Arrive 10-15 minutes early – Give yourself extra time to get settled in and review your notes before the interview starts.
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Bring copies of your resume – Most interviewers will have your resume already, but doesn’t hurt to have extra copies handy.
Follow these tips, and you’ll make a stellar first impression at your Pinterest interview. Show them you have the skills, passion, and vision to help Pinterest users discover more ideas to enhance their lives. Now get out there and nail that interview!
Interview Process: General Software Engineering Interns and New Grads
This blog post will explain how to get an interview for general software engineering internships and new graduate jobs, such as security and mobile roles.
Monday, April 01, 2024
Interview Process: Machine Learning and Data Science Interns and New Grads
This blog post will explain how to get an interview for Machine Learning and Data Science Internships and New Grad Jobs.
Thursday, January 04, 2024
Pinterest software engineering interview and how I got my offer
FAQ
How hard is a Pinterest interview?
Is it easy to get a job at Pinterest?
What is the interview process like?
First was a recruiter screening, followed by interview with the hiring manager, followed by a presentation to the interview panel of 5, and interviews with those 5 individuals. Each person on the interview panel offered up their emails for further questions. Tell me about a time you worked on a project where each team had different goals?
What questions do you ask in a Pinterest interview?
Below is a list of our Pinterest interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view six answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you’ll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers. 1. Communication Questions 2. Competency Questions 3. Diligence Questions 4.
Should you speak to an employee at Pinterest before an interview?
If you have the opportunity to speak with an employee at Pinterest before your interview, that can shed valuable information. In the end, the culture and values of an organization are often a key indicator of long-term success in a job, so make sure that you reflect your values into what the company values.
What should you say during an interview?
Naturally, if you encounter a problem you’ve already seen, you should point that out during the interview. For example, you might say something like, “I saw this problem last month, and I know it can be solved by x, y, or z methods. Do you want me to proceed with either of these methods?”
