Process
- Recruiter phone screen (typical)
- Live coding challenge (in the language of your choice)
- Four-hour remote onsite including live paired coding (nothing too difficult, basic web app stuff), system design, and a hiring manager chat.
A primer is given for the system design portion, and it is chock-full of information. While they say you don't need to know everything, they are definitely expecting you to check some boxes on their list throughout this interview.
Questions
Talk about a time that you broke something or something did not go according to plan, and what the outcome was.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 31 interview experiences for the Handshake Software Engineer role in United States.
Success Rate
58%
Pass Rate
Handshake's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in the United States is on the easier side as most engineers get an offer after going through it.
Experience Rating
Positive74%
Neutral13%
Negative13%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Handshake's Software Engineer interview process in United States.
Handshake Work Experiences
1.0
Worst company I ever worked for
Software Engineer • Current Employee
San Francisco, California, United States
January 24, 2024
Pros: Decent colleagues up to L6.
Cons: The executive team (except Christine) is extremely toxic and micromanaging. The directors are mostly brown-nosers. ICs are burned out or checked out.
1.0
Everyone here is looking to leave. It's not a good place to be
Software Engineer • Current Employee
June 10, 2025
Pros: Pay isn't bad.
They've lasted a while.
Technology is good.
Cons: Constant silent layoffs, not a stable place at all.
They love to let people go after a certain amount of time. You'd be hard-pressed finding people there who've been there longer than a year.
Most people end up on FMLA because they work people until they end up in the hospital.
Financially, they are not doing well.
4.0
Supportive environment but unstable leadership issues
Software Engineer • Former Employee
June 23, 2026
Pros: It is a good working environment with helpful colleagues, setting you up for success.
Cons: Unstable leadership seems to change direction very frequently.
- 1.0Worst company I ever worked forSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeSan Francisco, California, United StatesJanuary 24, 2024Pros: Decent colleagues up to L6.Cons: The executive team (except Christine) is extremely toxic and micromanaging. The directors are mostly brown-nosers. ICs are burned out or checked out.
- 1.0Everyone here is looking to leave. It's not a good place to beSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeJune 10, 2025Pros: Pay isn't bad. They've lasted a while. Technology is good.Cons: Constant silent layoffs, not a stable place at all. They love to let people go after a certain amount of time. You'd be hard-pressed finding people there who've been there longer than a year. Most people end up on FMLA because they work people until they end up in the hospital. Financially, they are not doing well.
- 4.0Supportive environment but unstable leadership issuesSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeJune 23, 2026Pros: It is a good working environment with helpful colleagues, setting you up for success.Cons: Unstable leadership seems to change direction very frequently.
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