By Mike Simpson
Facebook is a social media giant and tech powerhouse. A shocking 2.6 billion people use the platform, outpacing every other social media site significantly.
That’s what makes working at Facebook so enticing. The platform is part of so many people’s lives, which could make your work incredibly impactful. Plus, it could mean a chance to be at the cutting-edge of technology. How can you become a part of that world? By nailing your Facebook interview questions, of course.
But how do you bend those Facebook questions to your will? Well, with a bit of preparation and planning. That way, you can set yourself up for success.
Don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry! We’ve got your back. If working at Facebook is your dream, we can help you achieve it. Let’s get started.
How to Answer Facebook Interview Questions
Before we dig into the Facebook interview questions, let’s take a second to discuss strategy.
Why?
Because Facebook has some incredibly stringent rules about applying for a job there, and you want to make the most of every opportunity.
For example, you’re limited to three job applications. Additionally, if you aren’t selected, Facebook wants you to wait one year before you try again. That’s a pretty long time.
But don’t panic. You can prepare for many of the Facebook questions you’ll face during the interview, increasing the odds that you’ll shine.
First, you’ve probably heard about those off-the-wall questions tech giants used to screen candidates. Many job seekers worry about dealing with those challenging brainteaser questions. But the real question is, should you?
Luckily, the answer is no. They aren’t as common as you’d expect. At least, not today. Some evidence came out showing that the obscure brainteasers don’t actually lead to better hiring. So, most companies abandoned them.
With that out of the way, let’s cover what you want to showcase when you answer Facebook interview questions. Precisely what you want to discuss varies depending on the position you want to land. Facebook, after all, is a massive company. It hires for all kinds of niches, including technology, operations, and administrative, just to name a few.
Highlighting critical traits – like organization, accountability, and attention to detail – is always a smart move. Additionally, if you aren’t interviewing for a technology role, make sure you come across as tech-savvy. After all, Facebook is a technology company at its core, so it’s a good idea to show that you’d fit into that environment.
Additionally, do a bit of research before you head into your Facebook interview. Read the job description and review every usable tidbit of information you can find. That gives you some clues about the kinds of job interview questions you may face.
Then, spend a little time reviewing Facebook’s mission and values statements. Those give you insights into the company’s culture and priorities, while also helping you figure out the traits you need to highlight.
Okay, but what about those tricky Facebook behavioral interview questions? How do you handle a question that doesn’t have a right or wrong answer?
For those, the key is adopting a solid strategy. If you take the STAR Method and the Tailoring Method, together, you’ve got a winning formula. You can craft enticing, engaging responses, ensuring you make the best impression possible during your interview.
We also wanted to let you know that we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview. After all, hiring managers will often ask you more generalized interview questions along with their Facebook specific questions!
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Top 3 Facebook Interview Questions
Okay, now you have a general idea of how to answer the Facebook questions. That means it’s time for examples.
Now, it’s important to remember that Facebook hires for all kinds of jobs. Not all questions are relevant to every role. For example, you wouldn’t expect an accounts payable candidate to answer the same questions a data analyst does, right? Of course not.
But that doesn’t mean some questions aren’t fairly common. Here’s a look at the top three Facebook interview questions, along with example answers.
1. Describe the personality of a manager who you’d never want to work for.
Not everyone appreciates the same management style. Employees thrive under different conditions, and many hiring managers want to find out the circumstances that allow a candidate to shine, as well as what holds them back.
This question focuses a bit more on the latter. The hiring manager wants to learn about management styles that don’t meet your needs. That way, they can determine if you’d excel as part of the team.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“Generally, I’m pretty adaptable. However, I think I would struggle if I were working for a manager that didn’t provide constructive feedback. I believe that feedback is an opportunity to learn and grow, but it can only serve that function if it is actionable and can help me enhance my capabilities. As a result, a manager that prefers to berate over being supportive is not ideal for me.”
2. Are there any duties you absolutely hate doing?
This question can feel a little bit tricky. After all, saying that you don’t like certain tasks doesn’t seem like a good idea.
But that doesn’t mean you can tackle this question tactfully. The trick is to be honest, but then to pivot, focusing on the steps you take to remain engaged even when you don’t love a particular responsibility.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“Generally, I don’t enjoy highly repetitive tasks. However, I realize that there are many instances where that’s unavoidable. As a result, I developed a system that allows me to remain engaged. After working on a repetitive task for a period, I transition over to a different duty for a time. This gives me a mental break from the less-engaging activity while ensuring I remain productive. Then, I switch back, allowing to me return with renewed vigor and focus.”
3. Are you able to remain productive while working from home?
Recently, Facebook extended it’s work-from-home policy, essentially preventing any employee from working from the office until July 2021. Plus, many of those working at Facebook are allowed to telecommute permanently, even with the offices reopen.
Since working remotely is going to be the norm for some time (if not forever), hiring managers want to make sure candidates can excel without direct in-person oversight.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“Yes, I feel that I am capable of not just remaining productive but exceeding expectations while working remotely. I set myself up for success by making the most of a range of tools. For example, to support organization and time management, I use a calendaring app to structure my workday. Additionally, I have a quiet space from which to work, ensuring I can focus, and take active steps to limit distractions, such as turning off unnecessary notifications.
I’m also highly tech-savvy and adapt quickly to remote work solutions like collaboration software and VPN connection services. I believe that, together, that ensures I can remain productive.”
17 More Facebook Interview Questions
Here are 17 more Facebook interview questions you need to be ready for, depending on the role you want to land:
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- Why do you want to work for Facebook?
- Why are you looking for new job opportunities?
- If you had a chance to ask Mark Zuckerberg anything, what would you ask? Why would you choose that question?
- How would your last manager describe you? What about your past colleagues?
- Imagine your best possible workday. What did you do during that day? Why was it amazing?
- If you were given a set of words, how would you calculate the average number of letters in the words?
- Facebook has restrictions for users under the age of 13. How would you go about identifying users younger than 13?
- Do you prefer to work as part of a team or independently?
- Describe the use of hashtags on Facebook, as well as how they can be abused.
- Tell me about a time you worked as part of a cross-functional team.
- How would you recommend combating hate speech on social media?
- If you were given a new product, how would you define the target market and position the product for success?
- What is the most challenging problem you ever had to solve at work?
- Describe your proudest achievement. What about your biggest defeat?
- Which of your traits will make you a strong team leader? Why?
- Have you ever managed a large-scale project before? Tell me about it.
- How would you improve Facebook notifications if you could make any changes you wanted?
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5 Good Questions to Ask at the End of a Facebook Interview
As you get to the end of your Facebook interview questions, you usually get a chance to ask the hiring manager a few of your own. You need to view this as an opportunity. You’re getting a chance to learn about nuances of the job that aren’t discussed in the listing, and that’s a big deal.
Plus, asking questions makes you look engaged and excited about the role. That’s important!
While you can definitely ask any questions that happen to come to mind as you’re interviewing, having a few options tucked away in your back pocket is a great idea. If you don’t know what to ask, give these five questions a try at the end of your Facebook interview:
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- What does a typical day in this job look like?
- How is success defined for this role?
- Did anything about working at Facebook surprise you when you first started?
- Are there opportunities for growth and advancement in this position?
- What is your favorite part about working at Facebook?
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Putting It All Together
Ultimately, many professionals consider a chance to work at Facebook to be a dream come true. By nailing your Facebook interview questions, you can join the company’s ranks, doing your part to influence and alter the social media and technology fields. Use all of the information above to ensure you’re up to the challenge.
Remember, if you weren’t a great candidate, you wouldn’t have landed an interview. Show the hiring manager you’d be an exceptional addition to the team, and your dream of working at Facebook might become a reality.
Good luck!!
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Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.
His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern and others.
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