How I Failed My Netflix Interview | Prime Reacts

ThePrimeTime

22 Oct 202330:49

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video details the author's experience interviewing with Netflix for a software engineering role. Despite lacking impressive credentials, he manages to get an interview and intensely prepares by grinding LeetCode problems. However, during the technical phone screen, nerves get the better of him and he embarrassingly struggles with basic Python syntax and dictionary usage. Ultimately, he fails the interview but learns valuable lessons about controlling anxiety, reviewing coding fundamentals, and pacing himself. Though humorous at times, the video offers genuinely constructive advice for acing interviews.

Takeaways

😃 Practice interviewing at companies you're less interested in to gain confidence and experience before applying to your dream job.
📝 Tailoring your LinkedIn profile with relevant skills can unexpectedly lead to job opportunities, even in a humorous context like changing 'cage fighting' to 'mustache analysis'.
👨‍💻 Being active on professional platforms like LinkedIn may increase your visibility to potential employers.
🙌 Don't rely solely on one interview or opportunity; apply broadly to increase your chances of getting an interview.
👍 Prepare for interviews by practicing with coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode to familiarize yourself with common question formats.
🙏 Handling rejection is part of the process. Learn from each experience to improve your skills and interview performance.
💬 Communicate effectively during interviews by explaining your thought process and asking for clarification if needed.
📚 Keep your coding skills sharp and familiarize yourself with the basics of the language you'll use in the interview.
💁🏻 Approach each interview as a learning opportunity, regardless of the outcome, and use it to better prepare for future interviews.
💻 Stay genuine and avoid using shortcuts like AI for coding challenges during interviews, as understanding the problem and being able to explain your solution is key.

Q & A

Why did the person fail their Netflix interview?
-The person failed the Netflix interview due to overwhelming nerves which led them to forget basic coding practices during the technical coding interview, particularly struggling with implementing a solution using a hashmap in Python.
What strategy does the person recommend for interviewing?
-The person recommends interviewing at companies you are less interested in first to gain confidence and experience in interviewing before attempting to interview at your top-choice companies.
How did the person eventually get an interview at Netflix?
-The person believes that changing their skills on LinkedIn, from humorous ones like 'cage fighting' to more professional skills, inadvertently led to them being noticed and contacted for an interview at Netflix.
What online platform did Netflix use for their coding assessment?
-Netflix used a platform called Code Signal for their online coding assessment during the interview process.
What was the outcome of the Netflix interview?
-Despite preparing and solving a similar question beforehand, the person failed the interview due to nerves and later received a rejection letter from Netflix.
What lesson did the person learn from their failed interview?
-The person learned the importance of controlling nerves, mastering coding fundamentals, and managing time effectively during an interview.
What humorous skills did the person initially list on their LinkedIn profile?
-Initially, the person listed 'cage fighting' as a skill on their LinkedIn profile, which they later changed to 'mustache analysis' before being contacted by Netflix.
Why does the person advise against using ChatGPT during interviews?
-The person advises against using ChatGPT because it can lead to a lack of genuine understanding of the code, inability to explain the solution, and ultimately failure in interviews where direct interaction and problem-solving skills are tested.
What kind of projects did the person have on their resume?
-The person's resume included two small internships and simple web development projects, such as a social media clone, a blog website, and a simple cryptocurrency website fetching data from an API.
What advice does the person give about preparing for coding interviews?
-The person advises practicing coding without assistance from tools like LSP or Co-Pilot, to get accustomed to writing code in an unfamiliar environment, which mimics the conditions of a real coding interview.

Outlines

00:00

😁 Getting a coding interview at Netflix

The narrator didn't expect to get an interview at Netflix since he thought they only hired senior engineers. He speculates he got noticed because he updated his LinkedIn skills from silly ones to relevant ones. He applied as a joke but got an online coding assessment.

05:01

😳 Failing the online assessment

The assessment had LeetCode style questions. The narrator only finished 3/4 questions but still moved on somehow despite thinking you need a perfect score. He was surprised to get an email for the next interview step.

10:02

🤓 Overpreparing for the phone screen

The narrator intensely prepared by grinding LeetCode for days. He did 50-75 problems between getting the email and the interview day. He didn't have much time to prepare since he was busy with an internship and difficult college classes.

15:03

😰 Messing up the phone interview

The narrator was very nervous and blanked when it was time to code, even though he had explained the approach correctly. He forgot Python dictionary basics. The interviewer was nice but it was clear the narrator failed. He implemented the solution easily after the call.

20:04

😞 Getting rejected after all

Even though the interviewer said not to worry, the narrator knew he failed. As expected, he later got a rejection email. He would have struggled with system design next. He learned to control nerves and review coding fundamentals.

25:05

🙂 Key takeaways about coding interviews

Don't let nerves take over. Talk through your approach but focus on coding. Know your language fundamentals. Practice coding without IDE helpers. Interview with companies you're less excited about first.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Coding Interview

A coding interview is a technical evaluation process where candidates are asked to solve programming problems to demonstrate their coding skills, logical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. In the video script, the individual recounts their experience of failing a coding interview with Netflix, emphasizing the high stakes and pressure associated with such interviews for software engineering positions. The context underscores the interview as a critical step in the hiring process for tech companies, where performance can significantly influence a candidate's job prospects.

💡Netflix

Netflix is mentioned as the highly desirable tech company where the individual interviewed and ultimately faced rejection. The reference to Netflix not only highlights the company's prestige and the competitive nature of securing a position there but also serves as a backdrop for sharing lessons learned from the interview process. The script illustrates Netflix as a goal for many software engineers, symbolizing both aspiration and the challenges of breaking into top-tier tech roles.

💡Rejection

Rejection is a central theme of the video, referring to the outcome of the coding interview at Netflix. It conveys the emotional and professional setback experienced by the candidate but is also positioned as a learning opportunity. The script delves into how facing rejection can be a pivotal moment for growth, encouraging resilience and improvement in future interviews. It's depicted as an inevitable part of the job search that, while disappointing, can lead to better preparation and success down the line.

💡Interview Preparation

Interview preparation in the script refers to the strategic approach the speaker suggests for improving performance in technical interviews. This includes practicing with companies that are not the candidate's top choice to gain experience and confidence. The emphasis on preparation suggests that success in coding interviews requires not only technical skills but also familiarity with the interview format and the ability to handle pressure, underscoring the importance of practice and learning from each interview experience.

💡LinkedIn

LinkedIn is discussed in the context of how changes to the speaker's profile, specifically the skills section, inadvertently led to being noticed by Netflix for an interview. This anecdote underscores the importance of how professional profiles and social networking platforms can play a crucial role in job discovery and the recruitment process. It illustrates the potential impact of online presence on career opportunities and the unpredictable nature of how candidates might connect with potential employers.

💡Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA)

DSA is mentioned as a critical component of the coding interview process, emphasizing the need for candidates to be proficient in basic data structures and algorithms to navigate technical questions successfully. The reference highlights the commonality of DSA questions across interviews and suggests that mastering these concepts is essential for performing well. It reflects the technical baseline knowledge expected of candidates in software engineering roles.

💡Career Fair

The script mentions attending career fairs, especially for university students starting their job search, as a strategy to secure interviews with multiple companies. Career fairs are presented as opportunities to practice interviewing skills and gain exposure to various employers. This advice underscores the importance of leveraging all available resources and events to improve interview readiness and increase the chances of landing a job.

💡System Design Interview

A system design interview is a common part of the hiring process for software engineering roles, where candidates are asked to design a system or architecture to solve a complex problem. In the script, the speaker anticipates potentially facing a system design interview with Netflix, despite feeling unprepared for it. This highlights the broad range of skills and knowledge areas candidates must be ready to demonstrate beyond coding, including the ability to design scalable and efficient systems.

💡Behavioral Interview

Behavioral interviews assess a candidate's experience and behavior in past situations to predict their future performance. The script briefly touches on this type of interview as a component of the overall evaluation process, indicating its role in understanding a candidate's soft skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. It signifies the comprehensive nature of tech interviews, where both technical prowess and interpersonal skills are scrutinized.

💡Practice and Persistence

The narrative conveys practice and persistence as essential strategies for overcoming interview challenges and dealing with rejection. The speaker shares their journey of using the initial failure at Netflix as a stepping stone to improve and succeed in subsequent interviews. This concept is central to the video's message, encouraging viewers to view setbacks as opportunities for growth and to persistently pursue their goals, highlighting the importance of resilience in the job search process.

Highlights

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The new composite material exhibited enhanced strength and temperature resistance for aerospace applications.

Transcripts

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