120+ Netflix Interview Questions For Practice (2024)

Be it a technical role or a consulting one, working in FAANG companies is a dream come true. While working in these companies is a great joy, getting into one is surely a roller coaster. Especially, Netflix is known to conduct the toughest interviews in the corporate world. 

The focus primarily lies on technical roles and preparing for them can be unnerving. The set of questions ranges from anything to everything with special emphasis on mainstream programming languages like Java, Python, and SQL questions, along with an in-depth understanding of the data structures and algorithms.

Cracking the Netflix interview largely depends on two aspects. Proficiency in technical skills and behavioral adaptability. The focus is well-distributed on both, but the technical questions can pose a tough challenge to ace.

Preparing for Netflix Interview

Preparing for technical profiles at Netflix is not difficult but requires a lot of effort and dedication. The questions are predominantly structured around, but not limited to product infrastructure, coding, designing, tooling, engineering, data science, design, and security. 

Though Netflix prefers candidates with a prior minimum experience of 3 years but a fresh coding expert who knows their domain in and out can also get in. One thing you need to do while preparing for a Netflix interview is to select your preferred language. It is always good to work across more than 1 language to increase your scope of candidature and also give you options while being interviewed.

While Netflix accepts all mainstream programming languages, the most common are C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, and SQL.

Pro Tip: Take your time to browse and work through these languages and pick the one that interests you the most. Dig deeper into concepts, exceptions, most famous or difficult use cases, etc.

Also, make sure you have walked through their website thoroughly as Netflix is known to include a lot of culturally inclined questions that find their origin in the core values and culture section on their website.  

Netflix Technical Interview Questions

The technical interview questions vary as per the role applied for. However, there are three main drivers of these questions:

• Data Structures
• System Designs
• Algorithms

Here are some frequently asked and most expected questions at Netflix technical interviews based on the selected language.

While the questions cover a majority of the concepts concerning the language, you can expect some changes and twists while sitting for the actual interview. The idea is to strengthen the concepts and solve the programming problems easily which may otherwise sound confusing.

Netflix Interview Questions Based on Data Structures and Algorithms

Data structures are basically the types under which data is arranged in computer memory to be used efficiently. Data structures are broadly classified into the following categories:

• Array
• Linked list
• Doubly linked list
• Binary tree
• Binary search tree
• Graphs
• Matrix
• Stack
• Queue
• Heap
• Hashing
• Advanced data structure

Netflix interview questions based on data structures are miscellaneous from these categories. There is no particular division among these categories, however, the panelists are reported to jumble up the concepts and present combination questions from more than 1 category.

Here are the most commonly asked data structure and algorithm Netflix technical interview questions.

1. How do you find if a linked list has a loop?
2. Without recursion, traverse a binary tree in Preorder.
3. Write a code to find the sum of two linked lists using stack.
4. Find the duplicate in an integer array of 1 to 100 numbers.
5. Write a code to add two numbers represented by linked lists.
6. How can you check if in a given linked list there exists a cycle? Also, explain how to find the starting node of it.
7. Without using any library method, reverse the words in a given sentence.
8. Write a code to detect and remove loops in a linked list.
9. What is the Boolean Parenthesization Problem?
10. How to remove duplicate nodes?
11. Check if the given string is a palindrome.
12. For a given integer array, find out the largest and the smallest number.
13. For a given integer array, conduct sorting using the quicksort algorithm.
14. Write the code for printing all the leaves of a given binary tree.
15. How will you remove any duplicates in a given array without the use of any library?
16. For a given integer array, find all the pairs whose sum is equal to a given number.
17. In a given integer array of numbers 1 to 100, a number is missing. How will you find the missing number?
18. Implement a radix sort algorithm.
19. Implement a bubble sort algorithm.
20. Without using the third variable, swap two numbers.
21. Write a code to design a vending machine.
22. Write a code to implement the counting sort algorithm.
23. Write a code to print all nodes of a given binary tree without recursion. Use Inorder traversal.
24. Write a code to implement the binary search tree.
25. How can you find the exact number of vowels and consonants in a given string?
26. Write a program to find the middle element in a given single list in one go.
27. Write a code to find the largest sub-array formed by consecutive integers.
28. Write a rearrangement for a given array such that for every element A[i], A[A[i]] is set to i.
29. Find out all the triplets Arithmetic progression
30. Write a program to count the distinct absolute values in a given sorted array
31. What is the surpasser count? For a given array, write a code to find the surpasser count for each element.
32. Write a code for a given array such that negative and positive numbers lie at alternate positions.
33. For a given set of constraints in an array, determine the index of an element.
34. Right rotate an array N number of times.
35. Write a code to perform the inversion count of an array.

Netflix Interview Questions on Systems Design

Second in line is the systems design area which holds high importance if you are applying for a senior level position.

The role is focused on creating detailed documentation of the system catering to current and future business needs. At Netflix, the system design role is very demanding and requires expertise in the core area.

Here are some systems design questions you can expect at your Netflix interview.

1. How will you design a universal file sharing and storage app similar to Dropbox or Google Drive?
2. What are the prerequisites to design a web crawler?
3. Justify the pros of designing an application like Airbnb.
4. What is an API rate limiter? How can you design one?
5. What do you mean by requirements determination?
6. What are the different types of documentation in system design? What is the right stage to prepare documentation?
7. How can you shorten a large URL?
8. What are the main concerns in designing video streaming apps like Netflix?
9. What are the major challenges in designing apps like Quora that are both a social media platform and a message board service?
10. What is a proximity server? How can you design one?
11. Layout the blueprint for designing a Twitter-like application.
12. What kind of algorithm will you use in designing the Facebook Newsfeed?

Netflix Coding Interview Questions

Netflix coding interview questions are important to prepare for. The preparation for the Netflix technical interview should rely on questions related to coding aspects, which would include detailed questions on algorithms, data structures, and system design. 

Netflix interview questions in regard to this are meant to test the problem-solving skills of candidates to make sure they can actually write clean, efficient code. While these coding problems may appear complex to you, they were created to determine how good you are technically and how you go about breaking down problems.

1. Reverse a single linked list in both an iterative and a recursive manner. Do not use extra space.
2. Given a string, design a function that returns the longest palindromic substring therein.
3. Given a target, write a function that returns all unique pairs of numbers in an array that sum up to the target.
4. Given K sorted arrays, merge them into one sorted array efficiently.
5. Implement an algorithm to determine if a string has all unique characters without using extra data structures.
6. Given two sorted arrays, find the median of the combined array in O(log n) time complexity.
7. Optimize the standard creation of the Fibonacci series using bottom-up dynamic programming.
8. Maximum Product of Two Distinct Elements in an Array: Given an array of integers, return the maximum product of two distinct elements.
9. Write a function that takes a string of parentheses, brackets, or curly braces as an argument and returns true if it is valid or false otherwise.
10. Design and implement an LRU Cache that supports get and put operations with constant time complexity.
11. Find the node where two single linked lists intersect.
12. Rotate the matrix in place 90 degrees clockwise
13. Given an integer array, find the contiguous subarray that has the largest sum.
14. Code to transform a given unbalanced BST into a balanced BST.
15. Given a 2D grid, where '1' represents land and '0' represents water, count the number of islands.

Java Netflix Technical Interview Questions

Java is one of the most extensively used programming languages globally. All major tech giants prefer their engineers to be proficient in this language. Here are some Java-based Netflix technical interview questions you can expect.

1. Can you do multiple inheritances in Java? Why?
2. Why do you declare Wait and Notify in Object class and not in Thread?
3. Why is a string immutable in Java?
4. Which data structure do you prefer to store passwords in Java? Why?
5. What is operator overloading? Is it supported in Java?
6. What are the different types of maps in Java?
7. In how many ways can you handle exceptions in Java?
8. Explain the purpose of the Yield method of Thread class.

Python Netflix Technical Interview Questions

Python-related questions are asked as a part of Netlfix technical interview questions. Here are some sample questions for practice.

1. What is meant by Pickling and Unpickling in Python?
2. How do you comment on multiple lines in Python?
3. What are docStrings?
4. What happens to memory whenever Python exists
5. What are negative indexes in Python and why do you use them?
6. How do you differentiate between deep and shallow copy?
7. What is monkey patching?
8. Write a program that produces Fibonacci series in Python.
9. What is Flask and is Django better than Flask?
10. Write a VIEW in Django.
11. Explain the map function in Python.
12. What is NumPy? How to calculate percentiles using Numpy?
13. Choose the invalid statement and give reasons for the same.
    1. xyz = 2,000,00
    2. x, y, z = 2000, 4000, 600
    3. x y z = 2000 4000 600
    4. A_b_c = 2,000,000

SQL Netflix Technical Interview Questions

1. Construct a SQL query to find the third highest salary of employees.
2. List down the subsets of SQL.
3. Write a SQL query to find out the maximum and minimum age of a student in a class.
4. What does ACID stand for?
5. Write an SQL query to print the present date.
6. Write a SQL query to find and delete the duplicate rows in a database.
7. What is the role of COALESCE function?

Netflix Behavioral Interview Questions

FAANG companies are known to give extra weightage to candidates who they believe are the right fit, culturally. Throughout the entire interview process, be it the initial HR screening or the on-site interview, you will be gauged for your attitude, learning ability, problem-solving, time management, stress management, perception, and go-getter attitude.

There are several instances when technically sound candidates have been dropped by Netflix on account of being culturally unfit. The cultural deck on Netflix’s website is your go-to thing while preparing for the behavioral interview part.

They have comprehensively laid out the existing culture as one organization across a 100+ slide presentation. They expect the prospective candidates to understand the culture they would come office to and what Netflix as an organization expects from you as a candidate.

For senior positions, the desired skills are- Leadership, mentoring, team leading, team building, problem-solving, project management, etc.

For mid-to-beginner positions, the desired skills are- Teamwork, problem-solving, time management, etc.

Netflix Interview Questions Based on Teamwork and Collaboration

Teamwork is the soul of every organization. Nothing and absolutely nothing in this world works in silos, and when it comes to globally present and flourishing companies like Netflix, teams play an exceptional role.

Here are some teamwork and collaboration-based questions asked at Netflix interviews

1. What exactly does teamwork mean to you?
2. Would you rather prefer working independently? (Do not answer this question with a Yes unless you have an undeniably rocking explanation to it)
3. Tell about a challenging team situation and how instrumental you were in getting it resolved.
4. What steps in your past role have you taken to motivate your team?
5. How can you contribute to our team culture?
6. Share a difficult situation that you tackled as a team lead or team member and how you dig deeper into the situation
7. If you prefer the individual setup, would you still be comfortable if the company later decides to move into a teamwork setup?
8. Have you ever been a part of a group failure? How well did you take it?
9. How will you deal with a team member who is eager to take the team’s credit upon successful completion of a task?
10. Would you be comfortable if we talked to your previous project team members?

Netflix Interview Questions Based on Work-Life Balance and Handling Work-Related Stress

Work-life balance is among the most talked about features and perks of working for a culturally strong company. FAANG companies are known to have exceptional work-life balance and expect the employees to value and deserve it.

Here are some work-life balance questions Netflix panelists can ask you

1. How comfortable are you in working for an overly demanding project that requires you to ask your team to stay late in the office
2. What is your typical workday?
3. Do you have any interests and hobbies outside the office?
4. Have you ever dealt with a tough boss?
5. Imagine a situation where your senior criticizes you in front of your subordinates for a mistake you never committed. How will you react?
6. How will you rate yourself in terms of success?
7. How comfortable are you in discussing your salary in front of your team members?
8. Imagine you were on the hiring team and you have narrowed it down to two candidates. One is an exceptional programmer but might prove to be an individual player. The other one is an above-average programmer but has strong a foundation of beliefs and values and seems culturally fit for the organization. Which one would you choose and why?
9. There is a lot of travel involved in this position. Would you be able to justify the role and take care of your family too?
10. You have been here for quite some time. What flaws did you find in this process?

Netflix Interview Questions Based on Client Management Skills

Whatever position you are at, you will be dealing with clients- internal or external. It is crucial to possess sound client management skills and also expect to be questioned for the same.

Have a look at some most expected questions regarding client management skills at Netflix.

1. Have you ever gone the extra mile while working for any client
2. What exactly is good customer service in your eyes?
3. Are you a ‘Yes’ Man/Woman? Or have you ever said ‘NO’ to a client? How did you explain yourself?
4. How highly do you value collaboration for your organization?
5. Do you follow the same approach and strategy working with all clients? How differently do you deal with difficult clients?
6. This role requires you to deal with multiple clients on a daily basis. How do you prioritize your clients?
7. Do you always make decisions that are client-pro? Have you ever made a decision that has cost you a client?
8. What do you think are the trigger points that indicate that your company needs a robust CRM?
9. Are there any strategies you follow to gain the trust of your clients?
10. How do you stay updated with the latest market trends.

Netflix Interview Questions Based on Relationship with Manager and Supervisor

Bosses and supervisors are like pineapples who might seem harsh on the upside but soft on the inside. While being on your interview at Netflix, you can expect to be asked questions relating to your relationship with your manager or supervisor.

Prepare yourself for these questions

1. Describe your boss in 5 words
2. Describe an ideal boss
3. Have you been on the receiving end of criticism? What was the biggest criticism you received?
4. Imagine you have been working with a client for the last six months. Your boss is insisting on taking up some of the major operations you handle and is headed towards a wrong decision. What will you do?
5. Have you ever purposefully participated in some cross-functional activities just to increase your interaction with fellow members or seniors?

Netflix Interview Questions Based on Adaptability

Adaptability is one of the key ingredients in getting you settled at a new place, be it a job, location, relationship, etc. If you are a rigid personality, you may find it difficult to focus on your new job. Moreover, the FAANG companies may restrain from hiring you even if you aced your technical rounds. While you prepare to sit for your interview at Netflix, train yourself to become universally adaptable.

Here are some adaptability-related questions you may find helpful.

1. The culture of Netflix is quite different from your last organization. How are you planning to get settled?
2. It is not necessary that you will have control over everything. How do you react to situations you have no control over?
3. Imagine you have prepared the blueprint of a project you have been working on for the last two months. Late evening you receive a call from the client stating there has been a major change in the requirements. How will you react?
4. You came across a new technique or process that can double the efficiency of your team. Your teammates, however, are not ready to adapt to the change and get trained over it. what will you do?
5. Have you ever been stuck in a situation where you had to adjust to a team member’s inefficient practices to complete a project? How did you deal with it?

Netflix Interview Questions Based on Netflix Products and Company

1. What is your take on Netflix’s advertising approach?
2. Are you sure you want to work at Netflix? Why?
3. Who do you see is the biggest competitor for Netflix?

Netflix Interview Questions Based on Past Projects

Past projects are a mirror to your personal and professional growth. Recruiters at Netflix want to know about your learnings, challenges, and growth while working on previous projects.

1. Have you ever been stuck in a project you did not want to take up? What did you do?
2. What was the toughest project you have worked on? Why was it tough?
3. Have you ever failed? How did you react or make up for it?

Netflix Interview Process

Round 1: Screening or Phone Call with the Netflix HR representative; this is more of a qualifying round that screens for the general capabilities expected in a potential employee. This round is generally close to 30 minutes revolving around the details in your resume. The HRs filter the candidates who are technically qualified and culturally fit as well.

Round 2: Telephonic interview with the hiring manager is the second screening round that assesses the interviewee’s general know-how of the domain. The round is focused on understanding your previous roles and projects and how sound you are in your selected programming language. This round also focuses on the cultural adaptability of a prospective candidate and how aligned they are to Netflix’s Core Values. You will also be judged for your eagerness and enthusiasm to join the organization and what made you apply (refrain from giving Google-searched answers).

Round 3: On-site interview comprises assessment across technical skills gauging the level of expertise. There may be several rounds of interviews and the panelists can range from engineers, HRs, mid-level executives, developers, and designers to high-level executives.  

Round 4: Background Check where the HRs get in touch with your previous employer (if any) and verify the shared credentials.

Round 5: Group Interview and Problem-solving exercise is the concluding round that primarily comprises behavior-based interviews and exercises.

As mentioned earlier, Netflix does not follow a rigid process in conducting interviews across different roles. However, the idea is to gauge the technical expertise of the interviewee across each stage. The first two rounds are generally telephonic and aim at filtering candidates on their technical know-how, coding skills, domain knowledge, and behavioral traits.

The next three rounds are knowledge-intensive rounds that assess your expertise in programming and coding. The questions are generally structured around system design, algorithm, and data structures and sometimes even touch SQL-based queries along with your preferred language.

Final Offer

If you are looking forward to sitting for a Netflix interview anytime soon, you must start preparing for technical questions around your core areas. The final offer is made based on the aggregate score of all rounds, but the on-site interviews (the ones focused on technical skills and programming aptitude) grab the highest weightage.

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FAQs: Netflix Interview Questions

Q 1. How do I prepare for a Netflix interview?

Before starting the Netflix interview procedure, thoroughly research every one of the organization's key values. Consider earlier experiences that are relevant to each one. Create a Story Bank for yourself that you can use whenever you have to answer behavioral interview questions.

Q 2. How much do Netflix employees get paid?

The standard Netflix salary varies between roughly $72,371 per year for an Associate Creative Director and $400,000 per year for a Technical Program Manager. The normal hourly wage at Netflix is between $15.23 per hour for an Administrative Associate to $200 per hour for an Owner.

Q 3. How many employees work at Netflix?

About 12,800 full-time employees are working for Netflix as of February 2023.

Q 4. What does a Netflix tagger do? 

A Netflix tagger is in charge of watching movies and television shows on the streaming service and labeling them with appropriate tags. These tags assist the algorithm in making content recommendations to users depending on their watching history and likes.

Q 5. Is Netflix hard to get a job?

Due to the competitive nature of the company, landing a job at Netflix might be challenging. It is important that you show a line with the corporate culture, commitment, and attributes such as confidence, interest, and sound judgment. The hiring process at Netflix is not always easy.