It was a typical Facebook interview, with two phone screen rounds followed by onsite interviews.

The phone interviews both focused on algorithm problems.

The onsite rounds consisted of:

• Two coding rounds
• One system design round
• Two behavioral plus coding rounds

Lunch was included with an engineer, and there was also a round with an engineering manager where I had the opportunity to ask as many questions about Facebook as I wanted, without being evaluated.

Questions in the coding rounds were not difficult (if you prepare well). I was able to come up with the most efficient algorithm very quickly, which I later verified online. However, and this is the most important point, do not mess up the coding. You are expected to write perfect, clean, and bug-free code. If you don't, you get axed. I didn't, so...

What was disappointing is that even though they say reaching the optimal solution is the most important thing and that they are evaluating your thought process, they don't mean it. They want coders, not engineers. Perfection is needed, even if they tell you it's not expected.

Overall, though, I had a positive experience. All the people involved were very nice and smart. They did not make me feel unwelcome. I guess that's why people love working there.

I signed an NDA.