The Interview Process for the Backend Engineer Role at Spotify

As a recent hire in the backend engineering team at Spotify, I wanted to share my experience of the interview process for this role. I hope this will give you an idea of what to expect if you are considering applying for a similar position at the company.

Applying with a Referral

First, let me start by saying that I strongly recommend applying with a referral. When I first applied for the backend engineer role at Spotify, I did so without a referral and waited a month without hearing back. However, when I applied again with a referral, I received an invitation to interview within just three days. This is not surprising, given that Spotify receives around 130,000 applicants per month, so having a referral can definitely increase your chances of getting noticed.

The HR Call

Once I received the invitation to interview, the process began with a call with a member of the HR team. This was mainly an opportunity for me to share more about my background and why I was interested in joining Spotify. The HR representative was friendly and professional, and we had a good conversation about my experience and career goals.

The Technical Interview

Next up was the technical interview, which was conducted over a video call. This had three parts: a deep dive into the projects I had worked on in the past, some general computer science questions, and a problem-solving exercise. The deep dive portion of the interview was the most challenging for me, as the interviewer asked me a lot of detailed questions about the technologies and approaches I had used in my previous projects. However, I found that the more I talked about my experiences, the more I was able to demonstrate my knowledge and skills.

The Onsite Interview

The onsite interview was the final stage of the process, and it consisted of four parts: a backend case study, a problem-solving exercise, a systems design exercise, and a culture fit discussion. The case study was probably the most intense part of the day, as I had to work through a complex technical problem and present my solution to a panel of engineers. However, I found that the more I talked about my thought process and the approach I was taking, the more comfortable I became. This Spotify Backend Case Study Interview is unique to Spotify. I wrote another article about its details.

Conclusion

Overall, the interview process for the backend engineer role at Spotify was challenging but rewarding. I learned a lot about myself and my abilities, and I was able to showcase my skills and experiences to the team. If you are considering applying for a similar role at Spotify, I hope this behind-the-scenes look at the interview process has been helpful. Good luck!