Table of contents

• Where do I apply for a Netflix interview?
• What topics should I study for?
• What are some example Netflix technical questions?
• What are some example Netflix behavioral questions?
• How long is the entire Netflix interview process?
• How are Netflix interviews different from other companies?
• What is the Netflix interview like for a full time software engineering role?
• What are the levels and salary for a software engineer at Netflix?

Where do I apply for a Netflix interview?

You will need to upload your resume and provide other relevant information using their Netflix jobs dashboard. If you pass the initial screening, a recruiter will reach out to you.

You can also try using this LinkedIn strategy to find a recruiter to contact.

What topics should I study for?

• Domain knowledge in the team you apply to
• Data structures
• Time/space analysis
• Object oriented programming
• System design

What are some example Netflix technical questions?

• What are some use cases of system concurrency?
• What's the difference between Flask and Django? When would you use each?
• What's the difference between an SDK and API? When would you use each?
• How would you design a shortlink service?

What are some example Netflix behavioral questions?

• Wat projects have you worked on?
• What stands out to you the most from the Netflix Culture Memo?
• Why are you job searching?
• Why is Netflix a good fit for you?
• What's a challenge you had with your team, and how did you resolve it?
• Recall a time where there was an unexpected production issue. How did you resolve it?
• What are your strengths and weaknessses?
• Tell me about a time where you handled conflict with someone at work.

How long is the entire Netflix interview process?

It usually takes four to seven weeks to get to the offer stage after a recruiter reaches out, and it can move faster. Senior and specialized roles run longer.

Since each application is specific to individual teams, we do recommend you schedule your interviews as soon as you can. They can possibly hand another candidate an offer because that candidate made it through the interview pipeline faster, even if you're in the middle of interviewing for the same role.

How are Netflix interviews different from other companies?

They have a page dedicated to the Netflix Culture Memo. Read it before applying. Read the current version, on their site, not a summary. Netflix rewrote the memo in June 2024: "Freedom and Responsibility" is no longer a pillar, and the four current pillars are The Dream Team, People Over Process, Uncomfortably Exciting, and Great and Always Better. Candidates who prep from an old copy quote a document Netflix no longer publishes, and interviewers notice.

The behavioral round maps directly to the memo. Expect questions like "tell me about a time you acted without waiting for approval" (People Over Process), "tell me about blunt feedback you gave or received," and the classic trap: "which part of the culture memo resonated with you least?" That last one rewards honest engagement and punishes both flattery and unprepared criticism, so have a real answer ready.

Most candidates get Netflix backwards: coding is the least weighted of the three round types. System design matters most, and failing the behavioral round is disqualifying no matter how well you coded. If you're splitting prep time, put it into system design and culture stories, not more LeetCode.

Netflix's hiring process is also very specific to each team, so you're expected to have excellent domain-specific knowledge based on the type of projects you'll be working on. Because hiring is team dependent, each candidate's interview structure will vary. One nice quirk: Netflix lets you interview with multiple teams at the same time, which most big tech companies don't.

What is the Netflix interview like for a full time software engineering role?

Optional: Online assessment

You might be expected to finish an online assessment.

Recruiter phone screen (15-30 minutes)

Prepare to talk about your professional background, skills, and career goals.

You can also read Netflix's Culture Memo and find experiences you've had that align with it.

Technical phone screen (45 minutes)

Your first interview will likely be with a hiring manager or someone in the team.

This will be a technical conversation. It can involve talking about your background, talking through a technical problem at a high level, or talking about domain-specific knowledge.

Optional: Take-home assessment

Depending on the team, you may be given a take-home assessment that determines the number of technical interviews you'll get. The assessment can be something like building an app.

Onsite (one day, sometimes split across two)

• 4-8 total interviews, 1 hour each, depending on level and team:
  • 2 behavioral interviews, at least one of them with the hiring manager or someone on the team. Senior candidates often also meet a director.
  • 1-2 coding interviews. Expect practical, under-specified prompts ("build a content manager with CRUD operations") where asking clarifying questions is part of the test. Interviewers expect code that runs, and often unit tests too.
  • 1-2 system design interviews (one for L4, usually two for L5 and above). Netflix's design rounds are conversational, and some candidates finish without drawing a single diagram. Practice describing architecture out loud, component by component. You may also get a "reverse" version where they dig into a system you actually built.

What are the levels and salary for a software engineer at Netflix?

*Note that compensation varies based on location. These estimates are likely based on the USA HCOL market.

Unlike other FAANG, Netflix's compensation comprises only of a base salary. For example, while another company may give a base salary + stocks + bonus equal to $150k, at Netflix they will pay you the full $150k in cash.