WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT TIKTOK’S RECRUITMENT PROCESS?
TikTok is growing quickly in the EMEA region, and our engineering teams are developing new and innovative technologies to support that growth. We’re looking for top-tier talent to join these teams, and the interview process helps us find it.
TikTok is a fast-paced and exciting place to work. We conduct our coding tests in a live environment to see how candidates react when given a complex task; how do you approach problem-solving in real life?
Many teams also ask questions during the coding tests to see if individuals are able to articulate why they are choosing certain formulas or models. Some of our roles are customer-facing, so we look for candidates with a balanced blend of communication and coding skills.
In addition to top coding skills, we’re looking for team players who aren’t afraid to jump into the deep end. We operate on a flat structure, so we want to attract people who aren’t hung up on fancy job titles and are willing to be part of the team.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST INTERVIEW QUESTIONS CANDIDATES HAVE ASKED?
Candidates who are truly interested in joining will typically ask about our culture, our values, and the atmosphere in our offices.
AT TIKTOK, DO YOU HIRE FOR “CULTURE ADD” OR “CULTURE FIT?” COULD YOU ELABORATE ON WHY?
A blend of both! We have a unique culture at TikTok: we create together, grow together. This ethos is core to everything we do, so we look for people who identify with the same values. An ideal candidate will be empowered to own their ideas as well as explore outside their comfort zone.
It’s “Always Day 1” at TikTok! We want team members to feel empowered to add value and make an impact from their first day here. We look for people who are hands-on problem solvers and can work with their team to figure out solutions for many “firsts.”
Great ideas can come from anyone – an idea from an intern is valued as much as an idea from the CEO!
WHAT CANDIDATES CAN EXPECT FROM TECHNICAL INTERVIEWS AT TIKTOK?
- Complete between 1-2 challenging coding tests depending on how strong your CV is. We want to see if you are able to write clean code while adopting best industry practices.
- A System Design interview. We want to see if you’re able to think on your feet, design and develop a project, and discuss the methodologies and data models you’ve used.
- A Business Design interview. Depending on the role, you might be supporting a business/client-facing team here at TikTok. We want to see how you build relationships and work cross-functionally to ensure success. We will give you a real-life challenge to see how you respond, not only from a technical perspective but also to assess your decision-making that led you to design and deliver a successful solution.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE, DELIBERATELY DIFFICULT TECHNICAL INTERVIEWS FOR CANDIDATES. WHAT IS THE RATIONALE BEHIND THIS DECISION?
In order for us to continue to be a market leader in how we create and develop innovative technologies, we set the bar high and only hire the best which is why our interview processes can be challenging.
HOW TO BEST PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
- Make sure that you spend a lot of time brushing up on your coding skills and are ready for some tough challenges!
- Think out loud as you make your way through a problem ‒ we want to hear how you tackle challenges.
- Brush up on core CS concepts, data structure, algorithms, and large-scale systems.
- We are full stack, so we are happy for you to tackle the coding tests in the language you feel is your strongest.
Below are some of the sites that we suggest you use to prepare for your interview and get you into the right frame of mind:
