I went through the Datadog interview process twice, with about a one-year gap between attempts. After being rejected the first time, I received quite detailed feedback. It helped me a lot during my second try.

The process has changed a bit since last year. Currently, it looks like this:

Step 1: Recruiter call.

Step 2: Coding 1. One algorithmic task, medium LeetCode difficulty.

Step 3:

• Coding 2. One task to implement a feature in an existing codebase (using React for frontend engineers).
• System Design. Architectural design of a hypothetical system, mostly based on real Datadog use cases.
• Experience. Similar to System Design, but about your project from the past. Also includes some behavioral questions.
• Values. A behavioral interview.

Step 4: Meet the Team(s)

In both of my attempts, the whole process didn’t take long. It was well-structured, thoughtful, and in a friendly atmosphere. Recruiters and interviewers were very professional. Sometimes you even get a chance to speak with well-known people in the industry.

Advice:

• Prepare well for each step. Datadog provides materials about what to expect and how candidates are assessed, and it’s important to stick closely to those guidelines.
• Learn about the company and try the product. This helps at every stage. Tasks are often connected to real use cases. This is especially important for the System Design interview, where you’re often asked to design the architecture of one of their products.
• Get ready for the Experience and Values interviews. Prepare clear and relevant stories from your past work experience.

Can you tell me about a project where you played a significant role?