Facebook Software Engineer Interview Questions

Facebook has been successful in establishing itself as one of the most prominent multinational tech companies. Owning almost every other social media organization, like Instagram and WhatsApp, Facebook has turned into a tech mammoth. 

Getting hired as a software engineer at Facebook is extremely tough. With the hiring process becoming more stringent as the company grows, cracking a tech interview at Facebook is becoming more and more tricky. Facebook interview questions for software engineer developers can be challenging and confusing. The interview process is intense and excruciating, enough to give you sleepless nights. 

However, with solid preparation, you can nail every Facebook interview question. Being well-prepared might be the most underrated aspect of preparing for the interview, and we are here to support you in this process. 

We’ll cover:

1. Facebook Interview Process for Software Engineers
2. Facebook Interview Questions for Software Engineers
3. Tips to Prepare for the Facebook Software Engineer Interview
4. FAQs on Facebook Software Engineer Interview 

Facebook Interview Process for Software Engineers

The Facebook interview process for software engineers and software developers lasts roughly four to eight weeks and consists of nearly seven interview sessions. The interview is grueling and requires you to be fully prepared. 

Once you complete the initial application process at Facebook and get shortlisted, you will go through the following  three interview stages: 

1. Phone Screen

During the tech phone screen, an HR representative will ask you about your experience and your skills. This is the rudimentary level where your abilities, drive, and competitiveness will be gauged. Typically, in the first few minutes, HR will explain how things work at Facebook and about the role. 

The last couple of minutes of the interview are reserved for you to ask questions and get a clear idea of the company's workings. The rest of the questions will follow the classic resume questions pattern. 

Important tip: Make the interviewer aware of what you are thinking. The interviewer cannot see you; therefore, it is important to communicate so the interviewer is on the same page as you are and can grasp your thinking process. 

Once you successfully clear this first level of interview, the next round would include a technical screening.

2. Technical Interview

This part of the interview process requires you to go through at least two rounds of a 45-minute technical screen with a Facebook engineer. Be prepared to answer some coding questions alongside some typical behavioral questions. 

An applicant's technical skills are assessed in this step of the interview. Typically, the technical interview is conducted on the phone. However, the recruiter informs the applicant whether it will be conducted over the phone, video chat, or in-person.

Here too, your prior work experience and qualifications will be discussed. You must be prepared with a crisp, succinct, and engrossing account of your career choices and experiences. The questions are followed by an ask-me-anything session, where you can pose any questions you have for the recruiter.

3. Coding Interview

This is where things get tough. The coding interview lasts 45 minutes and can be quite draining. Here’s what you can expect:

• An introductory session where you talk about your background and aspirations.
• The second part includes solving coding problems. Facebook interview questions for software engineers focus more on a generalized knowledge of algorithms, data structures, and time complexities.
• The last few minutes are reserved for your questions. 
  

Coding interviews fall under the category of “onsite interviews.” You have to be present at the Facebook office and spend a day among professional engineers. This is a good opportunity for you to get acquainted with the working environment at Facebook. 

Note: During the Covid pandemic, the on-sites were converted to video calls. For the current process, please check with your HR recruiter.

Check out the Facebook Interview Guide for more information.

Facebook Software Engineer Interview Questions

When hiring software engineers, Facebook looks for coding experts who are also a good fit for their work culture. Quick problem-solving skill is what would make you stand out amid the fierce competition. 

Following are some common Facebook software engineer interview questions that you can practice to develop your problem-solving skills:

1. Add two numbers and then return them as a linked list. (Solution)
2. Carry out the next permutation, where numbers are rearranged into the lexicographically next greater permutation of numbers. (Solution)
3. How do you implement an insertion sort algorithm? (Solution)
4. In a given list of interval pairs, merge overlapping intervals and return a new array as output. (Solution)
5. A string containing parentheses (, ), {, }, [, and ], numbers from 0 to 9, and operators +, -, and *.  Find out if the input string is valid — an expression containing only parentheses is considered valid if it contains the correct opening and closing parentheses. Example: “{()}” is considered valid. (Solution)
6. Write a function to compute the intersection of the given two arrays. (Solution)
   

More Facebook Software Engineer Practice Interview Questions:

1. Show the algorithm to reverse a string.
2. Explain a palindrome string with an example.
3. How to get matching characters in a string?
4. List the procedure to show that two strings are anagrams.
5. Show the step-by-step process to verify a string.
6. Show a simple procedure to calculate the total numerical digits in a string.
7. Search for a missing number in a string containing integers from 1-100?
8. List the steps to delete repeated numbers in an integer string.
9. In any integer array, try moving all elements that are 0 to the left (in-place).
10. Display the node values of the given binary tree.
11. In the given two strings, find the minimum window in one string, which will contain all the characters in the other string.
12.  In the given array of strings, try grouping the anagrams.
13.  Compute the length of the diameter of the given binary tree.
14. Determine whether the given graph is Bipartite or not.
15. Serialize a binary tree.
    

Behavioral interview questions:

1. Have you ever had a tough time with your superior at work? Recount that experience.
2. Tell me about the best project you worked on and what you accomplished while working on it.
3. Have you ever struggled with a software project? Tell me about it.
4. How important is this job position for you?
5. The culture of Facebook is quite different from your last organization. How are you planning to get settled?
6. How hungry are you for control? How do you react to situations you have no control over?
7. How will you accommodate sudden and abrupt last-minute changes from the client side?
8. What is your take on Facebook acquiring Instagram?
9. How will you justify a decision that costs you a valuable client?
10. How do you gain the trust of your clients? 

Click here for more Facebook Behavioral Interview Questions.

Tips to Prepare for Facebook Software Engineer Interview

Here are some tips to ensure your Facebook interview prep covers all ground:

1. Create a list of all the topics you need to cover and tackle them one by one.
2. Expand your knowledge about Facebook's office culture and the core values practiced by their employees.
3. Practice for the interview by solving problems and going through step-by-step methods to answer common questions. Click here for more practice problems.
4. Go over all the critical technical projects you completed and your experience and learnings while working on them.
5. Practice mock interviews with hiring managers who are well-experienced and know the level set for Facebook interview questions for software engineer developers. 
   

At Interview Kickstart, you get the unique opportunity to learn from and practice mock interviews with actual hiring managers and tech leads from FAANG and Tier-1 tech companies. Join our FREE webinar to learn more. 

6. Practice some tough interview-style coding questions on a whiteboard without using a compiler.
7. Most importantly, be prepared with at least three questions to ask at the end of each interview session.

Are You Ready to Nail Your Next Facebook Interview?

Since its inception in 2014, Interview Kickstart has helped thousands of experienced engineers realize their true calling. We aim to help engineers get better acquainted with the intricacies of their chosen field and provide them with all the guidance they need to clear interviews with tech giants. 

Knowing very well that clearing an interview requires much more than sound technical knowledge, we train you in a manner that helps you develop a winner's stride. IK is your golden ticket for all engineers who want to land the job they deserve.

Want to learn more? Sign up for our FREE webinar on How to Nail Your Next Tech Interview.

FAQs on Facebook Software Engineer Interview

1. What are the typical stages of the software engineer or software developer interview at Facebook?

The most commonly followed pattern for conducting software engineer interviews at Facebook involves dividing the whole process into two main stages: the initial tech screen and the onsite interview. The first stage takes place in four parts:

• Introduction
• Career aspirations
• Coding
• Asking questions
  

The second stage has four technical rounds:

• Coding interview
• System design and product design interviews
• Behavioral interview
• Asking questions
  

2. For how long do Facebook’s onsite interviews last?

Each onsite interview lasts for about 45 minutes, where the last few minutes are reserved for answering the questions put forth by the applicant. 

3. How should I prepare for Facebook’s behavioral interview questions?

A behavioral interview is used to gauge a candidate's adaptability to the culture at Facebook and his competitiveness. The questions asked in a behavioral interview pertain to the candidate's past work experiences, learnings, and inspirations. Hence, to prepare well for this interview:

• You need to be well-equipped with your work history and have ample knowledge about the projects you handled and completed.
• Be prepared to answer one of the most repeatedly asked questions asked in interviews "what is your motivation behind coming to work each day?"
• Support each of your essential experiences and learnings with examples.