Hello, I’m Rachel, a career switcher from liberal arts to coding. After a long learning journey and job hunting in North America, I finally landed a Software Engineer offer at Meta with the help of Drill Insight. This article shares my job search experience, hoping it will be helpful to fellow career switchers.
Meta’s Interview Process
Next, I'll briefly share the process of the Meta interview.
1. Resume Screening & Referrals
- Optimized my resume to highlight personal projects and technical skills.
- Sought referrals via LinkedIn.
2. Technical Phone Screen
- LeetCode medium-level questions (e.g., hash tables, sliding window).
- Strategy: Start with a brute-force solution, then optimize time complexity while explaining my thought process.
3. Onsite Final Round (4 Sessions)
- 2 Algorithm Interviews: LeetCode medium-to-hard questions, assessing code quality and optimization.
- System Design (Simplified): Designed a URL shortener, focusing on database schema and scalability.
- Behavioral Interview: Meta culture-fit questions (e.g., handling team conflicts, overcoming challenges).
Conclusion
Consistent LeetCode practice and mock interviews were pivotal to my success. Additionally, a solid grasp of system design fundamentals is essential, even for new graduates, as it often comes up in interviews. Equally important is behavioral preparation, since clear communication can outweigh raw technical skills. Lastly, securing a referral significantly boosts your chances at top tech companies.
Job hunting in North America is undoubtedly a marathon, not a sprint. But with structured planning, continuous refinement, and persistence, landing your dream offer is absolutely within reach. Stay focused, keep iterating, and success will follow.
Release time:2025-04-01
