The interview process includes:

• 1 phone screen with a recruiter
• 2 coding phone interviews (coderpad.io) with iOS engineers

Onsite interviews:

• 1 experience interview
• 2 coding interviews
• 1 generalist interview
• 2 culture fit interviews

TIPS:

1. Practice writing a class where you implement a horizontal table view without using UICollectionView.

2. When asked to fix all the problems in a given code file, ensure you address structural errors and appropriate UI layout. The interviewer will not offer assistance, so your solution must be perfect. This is a single-session question that has been asked for years; dedicate the entire session to it.

3. When discussing your experience, highlight your role in making technical decisions on past teams.

4. Review the core values:

   • Be a Host
   • Champion the Mission
   • Every Frame Matters
   • Be a "Cereal" Entrepreneur
   • Simplify
   • Embrace the Adventure

Recruiters will not explicitly mention the two culture fit interviews, which are based on these core values. Knowing them in advance will help you prepare your responses. These core values can be found on the careers page.

Disclosure: These tips stem from my own past mistakes. Hopefully, you can learn from them and form your own opinions about this company.

Summary: You invest significant time and money for an interview, yet the company lacks the decency or respect to treat you well onsite, making you feel disposable. I have never been more disappointed in a company. The interview process was so disorganized that they asked me the same question in two different interviews, which I had to point out. It's disheartening to work so hard for an interview and not be given a chance to demonstrate your knowledge. The questions are vague, and they refuse to answer your clarifying questions. Frankly, it was a complete waste of time. I hope they discontinue these questions to spare others this experience.

In terms of workplaces, I would not want to work here. The offices are beautiful, but the iPhone product is not great, and the team is not stellar. The design team lacks the collaborative spirit of Pinterest. The iOS team is not one I wish to join, and I didn't meet anyone at the organization from whom I felt I could learn and grow. In contrast, I felt everyone at Pinterest was stellar. Although I didn't receive job offers from either company, I still feel much more positively about Pinterest than Airbnb. The people at Airbnb seem outdated, out of touch, and rude. One interviewer spoke to me as if I were an idiot, which made me decide I was finished with the place. "Screw this." Top to bottom, Pinterest is a very solid organization. The people at Airbnb appear disinterested and uncaring. The people at Pinterest are exceptionally nice and even gave me a bag of goodies, and I received a t-shirt upon request. So kind!

What's disappointing is that I believe in Airbnb's mission and could make a real difference there. The iOS product isn't world-class, and I could elevate it. It's disheartening to leave an interview feeling unable to demonstrate your skills due to poor structuring. I will never apply to this company again, as there is a clear lack of leadership within the iOS division to foster a great product or team.

A couple of other aspects of the interview process were bothersome:

1. The meal expense limit is $30, compared to $75 at Pinterest.
2. They cover only one night of Airbnb, whereas Pinterest covers two.
3. They refused to reimburse me for my Airbnb before the interview. I only received reimbursement a month later after contacting the CEO on Twitter. Pinterest, however, covers all lodging, eliminating reimbursement hassles.
4. Reimbursement for travel expenses takes 2-3 weeks, unlike Pinterest's 3-day turnaround.

I hope this feedback is constructive. Although this organization isn't for me, hopefully, you can use this information to be better prepared for your interview than I was.

Look at a pre-ARC implementation file of a class and fix everything wrong in the file. There were "every class of error" in the file.

Create a horizontal table view that recycles views.

Talk about your past experience.