I applied online. I interviewed at Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Interview
Interview process was your standard:
1. Recruiter Screen
2. HM interview
3. VP interview + 3 technical rounds + 1 ask me anything round
4. Recruiter Sync
Roopali was an amazing recruiter and coordinator throughout the entire process. She consistently kept me informed about key decisions, timelines, and next steps, which made everything feel transparent and well-organized. She was responsive, professional, and genuinely supportive, ensuring I always knew where I stood. Most importantly, she never ghosted me, something that’s unfortunately common in today’s job market, which I truly appreciated. Her communication and follow through made the experience smooth and positive from start to finish.
If you get her as a recruiter, you are in good hands!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Technical:
Python, SQL, System Design
Behavioral:
Background, projects, and how you handle conflict.
Talked to recruiter and they said that you will go through Karat interviews which is a 3rd party interviewing service. A bit strange. They said that if you're not satisfied with your performance, you can schedule a re-do. Keep in mind that both interviews will still be sent for evaluation (not just the best one).
First interview was decent, they ask you 3 random questions about system design or something else. The first coding problem is very easy then it gets harder. I fumbled on the very easy a bit (cuz of nervousness I guess). I still was able to solve it and I was shown the second question. I talked about my approach (which I believe was correct) but ran out of time to code it up. Decided to do the re-do.
Second interview went better. The first question was again very easy. The second portion I had plenty of time for but it was a DP problem. That really threw me off. I tried voicing a few different options but none were correct.
Haven't heard back since.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Very easy question followed by more difficult ones. System design questions at the beginning
Thank you for your feedback, and we’re sorry to hear that you found the process challenging and didn’t receive timely follow-up from our team. We strive for a respectful and transparent process and your input is valuable as we work to improve communication with candidates. We hope you keep CZI in mind for future opportunities!
I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Interview
The phone interview went well, and it was encouraging that they seemed open to engineers with non-conventional backgrounds. However, the technical questions, outsourced to Karat, were more aligned with theoretical concepts typically covered in computer science courses rather than practical skills used in the field. While these questions threw me off a bit, I did my best to navigate through them. It's a reminder that interviews can sometimes present unexpected challenges, but I approached it with a problem-solving mindset. Though the questions weren't directly related to my career experience, I tried to apply logical thinking and communicate effectively. It's an opportunity for reflection and growth, regardless of the outcome.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Name some of the possible memory leaks during garbage time.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience interviewing with us. Your feedback is valuable and helps us to continue to improve our hiring process for our technical roles. We hope you keep CZI in mind for future opportunities!
