Nick’s previously held Software & Data roles at Facebook, Google, & SafeGraph (a geospatial analytics startup).
Currently, he’s the best-selling author of Ace the Data Science Interview, and Founder & CEO of DataLemur.
Nick’s also active on LinkedIn, where he shares career tips with his 160,000+ followers.
At Remitly, SQL is often used to look at transaction data to find fraud and improve customer service by making the best use of remittance flow patterns. This is likely why Remitly usually tests candidates for Data Analytics, Data Science, and Data Engineering jobs with SQL queries.
So, here are 8 Remitly SQL interview questions to help you prepare for the real thing. How many can you answer correctly?
Remitly is a fast-growing fintech company that provides online money transfer and remittance services. With operations across North America, Europe, and Asia, Remitly has become a leading global remittance provider
As Remitly continues to expand, interviewing for roles at the company has become highly competitive Candidates need to demonstrate strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and alignment with Remitly’s mission and values.
This article covers the most common Remitly interview questions along with tips and sample responses to help you ace your next interview:
Overview of Remitly’s Hiring Process
The typical Remitly interview process consists of
- Initial phone screening with a recruiter
- Take-home coding assignment (for technical roles)
- Remote video interview focused on cultural fit and core competencies
- On-site interviews covering both technical and behavioral skills
- Reference checks
Interviews are conducted by peers, hiring managers, and senior leaders. Remitly cares deeply about cultural fit, so expect questions about your work style, values, and motivations. Technical roles feature complex code challenges and system design problems.
Throughout the process, communication is key. Remitly wants candidates who collaborate with teams and maintain transparency.
Most Common Remitly Interview Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked Remitly interview questions with tips on how to craft winning responses:
Tell me about yourself
This open-ended question is often used to kick off Remitly interviews. Keep your answer concise and focused on highlights relevant to the role. Avoid rambling or discussing personal topics.
Example response: “I’m a product manager with 5 years of experience leading analytics and growth projects for fintech startups. I’m passionate about leveraging data to inform product strategy and enhance user experience. Most recently, I led the redesign of the web app for Company X, which increased conversion rates by 35%. I’m excited by the scaling challenges here at Remitly and the opportunity to optimize a product used by millions globally.”
Why do you want to work at Remitly?
Hiring managers want to gauge your passion for Remitly’s mission. Research the company thoroughly and identify specific aspects of the role and culture that appeal to you.
Example response: “I’m inspired by Remitly’s mission to transform lives through reliable financial services. As someone with family abroad, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of sending money internationally. The seamless customer experience and innovation at Remitly are unparalleled. Beyond the mission, I’m drawn to Remitly’s values around transparency, inclusion, and making an impact. If hired, I’d be excited to contribute to a diverse team focused on driving real change through technology.”
How would you handle a situation where a client is upset regarding a transaction error?
At Remitly, customer satisfaction is critical. This question tests your empathy, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. Demonstrate how you would take ownership of the issue, reassure the customer, and identify solutions.
Example response: “First, I would listen carefully to understand the customer’s perspective and express empathy for their situation. I would then apologize sincerely for the error and assure them I will do everything I can to help resolve the issue quickly. Next, I would investigate the source of the error and determine if it is an isolated incident or part of a larger issue that requires troubleshooting. Finally, I would walk through options with the customer to correct the transaction in a way that is fast, transparent, and meets their needs.”
What is your experience with Agile software development methodologies?
Agile is used extensively at Remitly, so this question gauges your familiarity with frameworks like Scrum or Kanban. Discuss past projects where you implemented aspects of Agile successfully.
Example response: “In my last role at Company Y, I worked on a marketing analytics platform built using Scrum. We worked in 2-week sprints and held daily standups to discuss blockers. This frequent cadence and collaboration helped us adapt quickly to evolving requirements. We also heavily leveraged unit testing, continuous integration, and automation to accelerate development. The key benefits I saw were faster release cycles, higher transparency, and more engagement across teams. I’m excited to bring my experience with Agile to help streamline processes and innovate quickly here at Remitly.”
How would you go about debugging a transaction failure?
For technical roles, expect coding challenges and questions testing your debugging skills. Discuss your systematic approach to isolating the root cause, such as reviewing logs, running tests, and validating assumptions.
Example response: “To debug a failed transaction, I would start by reviewing application logs during the time of failure to identify anomalies. I’d recreate the issue if possible and run diagnostic tests to pinpoint the problematic component – whether API, payment processing, or something else. If the source isn’t apparent, I’d look to isolate potential causes through test transactions with various use cases and payloads. Beyond the application itself, I’d work cross-functionally to see if the operations or business teams have additional insights based on user complaints or trends. Throughout the process, I’d document my findings in detail to feed into long-term solutions for preventing similar failures.”
How would you improve the user onboarding experience on Remitly?
When asked a product or UX design question, interviewers want to assess your problem-solving process. Start by asking thoughtful questions to clarify objectives and constraints. Present your ideas clearly and explain your rationale.
Example response: “First, I’d want to learn more about the specific bottlenecks in the current onboarding flow. Are users dropping off at certain steps? Is the interface confusing or slow? This data would shape my approach. Some ideas I’d explore are: simplifying the UI for key tasks like adding a recipient, providing engaging tutorials to guide new users, and offering personalization like suggested recipients based on location. I’d also consider gamification elements to incentivize completing your profile and verifying identity. Any solutions would need rigorous A/B testing focused on driving conversions from sign-up to first successful transaction.”
What questions do you have for us?
Closing interviews, you’ll be asked if you have any questions. Bring at least 2-3 thoughtful queries focused on the role, projects, and culture. This shows your engagement.
Example questions:
- “How do you see this role evolving in the next 2-3 years as Remitly continues to grow?”
- “What are the main attributes that would make someone successful in your team?”
- “What excites you most about the product roadmap ahead?”
How to Prepare for Your Remitly Interview
With some strategic preparation, you can ace your Remitly interview:
Research the company – Study Remitly’s website, press releases, and news articles. Understand the products, company goals, culture, and competitors.
Practice answering questions – Use the sample questions above to craft and rehearse your responses. Practice aloud or with a friend.
Brush up on technical skills – For technical roles, review coding concepts, data structures and algorithms. Reimplement past projects or solve practice problems.
Prepare smart questions – Develop thoughtful questions that show your interest in and understanding of Remitly.
Review your resume – Refresh yourself on your skills, achievements, and past responsibilities so you can provide detailed examples.
Get enough rest – Arrive well-rested and ready to think on your feet. Sleep, hydration and nutrition are key.
With preparation and a genuine interest in Remitly’s mission, you can make a winning impression and land your dream role at this leading fintech innovator. Best of luck with your upcoming interview!
SQL Question 4: Average Transaction Amount
As an online service that sends money between countries, Remitly, it’s important for them to know how much money is sent on average. For this question, lets consider a table that stores the details of every transaction made through Remitly. Write an SQL query to find the average transaction amount per country (receiving country) for the last month.
| transaction_id | sender_id | receiver_id | transaction_date | amount | receiving_country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 1 | 2 | 08/12/2022 | 200.00 | Philippines |
| 102 | 3 | 4 | 08/13/2022 | 150.00 | India |
| 103 | 5 | 6 | 08/15/2022 | 500.00 | Mexico |
| 104 | 7 | 8 | 08/17/2022 | 300.00 | Philippines |
| 105 | 9 | 10 | 08/18/2022 | 250.00 | India |
This query first filters out the transactions from the previous month using the WHERE clause. Then it groups transactions by receiving country and calculates the average transaction amount for each country. The average amount could show which countries are getting bigger amounts of money from Remitly transactions on a regular basis.
SQL Question 7: What is a database index, and what are the different types of indexes?
With a database index, you can speed up your database by cutting down on the amount of data that needs to be searched to find a record.
There are several types of indexes that can be used in a database:
- Primary index: a unique number is used to go straight to the row
- Unique index: this is used to make sure that each indexed column in a table is unique.
- A composite index is made up of several columns from a table and is used to speed up the search for multiple columns.
- The physical order of the data in a table is set by the clustered index.
To give you an example, let’s say you had a table of Remitly customer payments with four columns: payment_id, customer_id, payment_request, and payment_date.
Heres what a clustered index on the column would look like:
With a clustered index on the column, the records in the table would be in the right order based on the In this case, the records with the earliest payment_date values would be stored together in the table, followed by records with later payment_date values.
If the column has a clustered index, it can speed up queries that sort or filter the data based on the payment_date because the records are already arranged in the table. For instance, if you want to get a list of all the payments that were made in January, the database can use the clustered index to quickly find and get those records without having to look through the whole table.
Remitly Review (2024)
FAQ
Why do you want to work for Remitly?
What is the interview process like at Remitly?
I interviewed at Remitly altogether four rounds, including a people interview, a hiring manager interview and a meeting with teammates. The meeting with teammates is quite technical, they asked about specific questions on paid social, paid search, etc I applied through an employee referral. I interviewed at Remitly in Mar 2023
How did the recruiter’s interview go?
Recruiter asked questions and then provided time for applicant questions. The recruiter was cordial during the interview, and it went well enough. Recruiter did not bother to reach out afterwards to close the loop on yes/no, even when applicant reached out seeking courtesy/professional follow-up.
How do I filter interviews?
To filter interviews, Sign In or Register. Your trust is our top concern, so companies can’t alter or remove interviews. Starts with an HR screening round followed by Hiring Manager rounds. Hiring Manager rounds have more behavioral questions and product sense or design type Qs. HR rounds have the understanding situation type Qs.
