There are some really great people working behind the scenes at Duolingo who make it the most popular language-learning app in the world. Our software engineers really care about making education available to everyone, making decisions based on data, and coming up with beautiful solutions to problems that affect more than one department.
We’re here to help you get ready for your engineering interview because we want you to do well! Check out our careers page to see all of our open positions.
After a resume review, you’ll be paired with one of our in-house recruiters. During the first phone interview, the recruiter will ask you about your background, skills, and how you feel about working for Duolingo. Also, your recruiter will be the main person you talk to during the whole interview process, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask them directly.
There are two parts to the engineering interview process: (1) a set of virtual interviews, and (2) a virtual “onsite.” Here are the different types of technical interviews we do. Please note that not all of these interviews are required for every role; your recruiter will go over your full interview process with you during your first meeting. See the table below for a full breakdown of accepted programming languages.
You can always ask the interviewer anything you want to know about working at Duolingo after the interview is over.
Depending on the role, you may be asked to do an algorithmic coding task in HackerRank. You will write code in one of our accepted programming languages (see table above). Your code will be automatically graded based on accuracy of the output and time-efficiency. The time to complete the task varies per role, but it’ll take an hour at most. This session is typically given for our University positions.
You will work on an algorithmic coding task with a Duolingo engineer, and HackerRank CodePair will be your live development environment. You will write code in one of our accepted programming languages.
Youll identify issues and suggest improvements to a set of code changes. Similar to the Pair Programming interview, wed like to see how well you work with improving existing code. Do not worry if code reviewing or a code review interview is new to you. We are here to help you get through the session.
You will solve an algorithmic problem with the help of a Duolingo engineer and write your answer on a virtual whiteboard. This interview normally requires more analytical thinking and less coding than technical video interviews. You can use any programming language you want to write the code; we’re not too particular about the syntax because we can’t compile a whiteboard. If the person interviewing you doesn’t know the language you’ll use, make sure you explain your code and your reasoning. They will also be interested in how you talk about how you’ll solve the problem.
You and a Duolingo engineer will work on a coding problem in a codebase that is like the one we use for real. We want you to experience what it’s like to work as an engineer at Duolingo! The main point of our Pair Programming interview is to see if you can learn on the spot while working with code written by other engineers. You will write code in one of our accepted programming languages. The interview will be conducted using Visual Studio Code.
Design interviews are high-level discussions on how to architect a solution. Were not necessarily looking for one particular solution but are more interested in how you approach the problem. This interview is typically administered for industry roles such as Backend, Android, iOS, and Web.
In some roles, you will have to go through interviews where you will talk with a Duolingo engineer about a big engineering problem. For example, machine learning engineers will discuss machine learning approaches and problem framing. In these interviews, were interested in how you reason about open-ended engineering problems.
Preparing for a job interview at Duolingo? You’ve come to the right place! As one of the world’s most popular language learning apps, Duolingo sets a high bar for excellence. Competition for jobs is fierce, with the interview process being notoriously rigorous
This comprehensive guide breaks down the most commonly asked Duolingo interview questions. I’ll provide tips on how to best prepare your answers along with examples to illustrate effective responses. Read on to get fully equipped for your upcoming Duolingo interview!
Overview of the Duolingo Interview Process
While specific details may vary by role, Duolingo interviews generally follow a structured sequence:
- Initial phone screen with recruiter
- Take-home coding assignment
- Multiple technical and behavioral interviews
- “Onsite” virtual interviews
Duolingo prioritizes evaluating real-world skills through take-home projects and technical assessments. Interview questions dive deep into your previous experience, problem-solving capabilities, communication skills, and cultural fit.
It’s a rigorous process, so thorough preparation is key. Let’s look at some of the most common questions asked and how to tackle them smoothly!
Technical Interview Questions
As a tech-focused company, Duolingo places heavy emphasis on evaluating your programming, engineering and analytical abilities during the interview process. Here are some of the most frequently asked technical questions:
1. Walk me through your experience with [Python/JavaScript/Swift/other Duolingo tech stack languages].
This question tests your hands-on expertise with languages integral to Duolingo’s tech infrastructure. The interviewer wants to gauge your depth of knowledge and projects completed using these tools.
How to answer:
- Provide an overview of work done using each language mentioned.
- Use specific examples of projects/tasks where you applied them.
- Highlight cases where you rapidly learned and delivered results in new languages.
- Emphasize adaptability in picking up new technical skills.
2. How have you leveraged agile methodologies in past projects?
Duolingo relies on agile principles like iterative development and rapid deployment. This question evaluates your hands-on agile experience and ability to thrive in a dynamic workflow.
How to answer:
- Share examples of agile techniques used in projects: sprints, daily standups, retrospectives etc.
- Highlight how agile improved team collaboration, communication and productivity.
- Provide metrics showing how agile practices led to better product quality or user satisfaction.
- Discuss tools like JIRA that enabled agile workflows.
3. Explain your approach to diagnosing and fixing performance issues in a web application.
Duolingo needs engineers who can swiftly pinpoint and troubleshoot problems in complex systems. This tests your technical problem-solving skills.
How to answer:
- Walk through a systematic approach to identifying performance bottlenecks.
- Discuss monitoring tools used like New Relic to collect metrics.
- Share specific examples of how you uncovered and resolved performance issues.
- Highlight how your actions improved the user experience.
4. How would you go about developing a new feature for the Duolingo mobile app?
This evaluates your ability to take a concept and bring it to life within Duolingo’s infrastructure. They want to see you can apply technical skills towards enhancing user experience.
How to answer:
- Demonstrate understanding of Duolingo’s architecture and tech stack.
- Propose a structured approach to building the feature: requirement gathering, UI/UX design, development, testing and rollout.
- Discuss techniques for eliciting user feedback to refine the feature.
- Share examples of successful feature development processes you led.
Behavioral Interview Questions
In addition to technical skills, Duolingo also assesses cultural fit and soft skills through behavioral interview questions. Here are some common examples:
1. Tell me about a time you faced a challenging problem on a project. How did you approach and resolve it?
This tests your problem-solving skills and resilience when faced with obstacles. Duolingo wants someone who can keep a cool head under pressure.
How to answer:
- Set the context by explaining the difficult scenario you faced.
- Walk through a logical process to diagnose the root issue.
- Share creative solutions you designed and implemented.
- Discuss metrics showing how your actions overcame the challenge.
- Highlight adaptability, systematic thinking and perseverance.
2. Describe a situation where you had to collaborate closely with designers, product managers and engineers. How did you work together to achieve success?
Duolingo depends on effective cross-functional teamwork. This question evaluates your ability to integrate input across teams and build alignment.
How to answer:
- Provide an overview of the project and different roles involved.
- Share how you facilitated collaboration through meetings, documentation and collaboration tools.
- Discuss techniques used to synthesize diverse viewpoints and reach consensus.
- Highlight how aligning key stakeholders contributed to delivering exceptional results.
3. Tell me about a time you received critical feedback from your manager. How did you respond?
Receiving tough feedback with grace reveals maturity and desire to improve. Duolingo wants team players who can constantly get better.
How to answer:
- Briefly summarize the situation and critical feedback received.
- Emphasize being appreciative for the feedback rather than being defensive.
- Discuss how you worked collaboratively with the manager to improve yourself.
- Share specific changes made based on the critique and your positive results.
4. Where do you see yourself professionally in 5 years?
Duolingo is interested in your long-term goals to assess cultural fit. They want driven team members who see a future with the company.
How to answer:
- Align your goals to growth opportunities at Duolingo like leadership, product expansion and international growth.
- Discuss how you hope to progress technically by mastering new skills and technologies.
- Share your passion for Duolingo’s mission of making education accessible globally.
- Emphasize wanting to remain at Duolingo long-term while accelerating your career.
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Always prepare some thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers as well. This demonstrates sincere interest in the company. Some options:
- How would you describe the culture at Duolingo? What makes it unique?
- What are the most exciting projects or initiatives planned for the next year?
- How does the team collaborate on designing new product features?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and mentorship?
- What do you enjoy most about working at Duolingo?
Prepare to Shine in Your Duolingo Interview!
With these strategies, you’ll be fully equipped to take on any interview question Duolingo throws your way. From thorough technical knowledge to compelling behavioral anecdotes, these tips will help you put your best foot forward. Show them how your skills and experience make you the perfect cultural and technical fit for their team. Now get out there and ace that Duolingo interview! You got this!
Preparing for your interview
- Use coding questions to improve your ability to solve problems and code. Know basic programming and data structures, and be able to talk about the big-O notation complexity of your methods.
- Set up your space for video interviews. For video interviews, make sure you’re somewhere quiet with a good internet connection.
- Get ready with questions to ask the interviewers. We want Duolingo to be a great place to work for everyone, and we want to make sure you believe it fits your career goals. Interviewers will let you ask questions, so you can use that time to learn more about the things that are important to you so you can make a good choice. (If you don’t know what questions to ask, our employee interviews are a great place to start!)
- Please let the recruiter know if you need any special help. We want you to be able to do your best!
- Think out loud: Share your reasoning with the interviewer. We are interested in how you approach a problem.
- Be realistic: you can answer all of the interview questions in the time allotted. Come up with a solution that you can actually code in the time you have. You don’t have to come up with the best answer right away; start with the simplest solution and work your way up from there.
- Our goal is not to trick you, so work with your interviewer. If you get stuck, they will give you hints.
- Ask questions to make sure you fully understand the question and aren’t making the problem bigger than it is.
- If you want your code account to work properly for all input, you need to think about what might go wrong.
We are always looking for talented and passionate engineers to join Duolingo – apply today!
Duolingo English Test Walkthrough 2023: Test overview with all question types
FAQ
Is it hard to get hired at Duolingo?
What is a Duolingo interview?
Why do you want to work at Duolingo?
How long does it take to hear back from Duolingo?
Where can I find sample questions for the Duolingo English exam?
Sample questions for the Duolingo English exam may be found on the website. Take advantage of it and put it to good use. On the Duolingo English test website, you may view video instructions. To familiarize yourself with the structure, read a brief overview of the exam experience.
What questions are asked in a Duolingo interview?
In addition, you may be asked questions about your experience working in education and your ability to work in a fast-paced environment. To help you prepare for your interview, we have compiled a list of sample Duolingo interview questions and answers.
How do I prepare for a job interview at Duolingo?
Prepare for the types of questions you are likely to be asked when interviewing for a position at Duolingo. When it comes to interviewing for a job at Duolingo, you can expect to be asked questions that assess your skills in language learning, teaching, and technology.
How to prepare for Duolingo test?
Sample questions and answers in pdf format can help you get a feel for the Duolingo test. The DET Speaking Sample assesses your ability to speak verbally in English. The elements utilized to evaluate your communication abilities should not be taken lightly. To do well, you must grasp the directions and the Speaking Questions.
