Senior Software Engineer Interview Experience - Los Gatos, California
July 26, 2012
Negative ExperienceGot Offer
Process
A recruiter contacted me. After the initial conversation, she set up a phone meeting with the hiring manager.
The hiring manager asked simple database questions, such as 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF, and explained the position.
This was followed by an onsite interview, which included three technical rounds and one HR round.
The technical questions were all whiteboarding exercises. All of these went well, except for the interview with the HR director, who was the most horrible and condescending person I have ever encountered. Her behavior was very bad. This reflects poorly on Netflix and Reed Hastings.
Questions
The questions were average, but the HR was horrible.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 46 interview experiences for the Netflix Senior Software Engineer role in Los Gatos, California.
Success Rate
22%
Pass Rate
Netflix's interview process for their Senior Software Engineer roles in Los Gatos, California is very selective, failing most engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Positive43%
Neutral28%
Negative28%
Candidates reported having good feelings for Netflix's Senior Software Engineer interview process in Los Gatos, California.
Netflix Work Experiences
5.0
Netflix is true to its advertised culture of freedom and responsibility
Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee
Los Gatos, California, United States
March 22, 2009
Pros: Lack of politics, hard problems to tackle, extremely bright colleagues, lack of bureaucracy, "context, not control" style of management, no tracking of hours or time off, flexible work options. Netflix is extremely successful as a company, and it's a fun business to be in and win at.
Cons: There is always more to do than people to do the work, but I've never had a job where this wasn't the case. Also, it's sometimes hard to find the boundaries between family and work life because there is no tracking of work hours. Many of the folks in my area are highly self-motivated, which fosters a self-imposed culture of working nights and weekends.
3.0
Great company, constant worry of being let go
Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee
Los Gatos, California, United States
March 28, 2022
Pros: Great environment, amazing perks. You feel proud to be working there.
Cons: Just the constant fear of going to be let go makes everyday life stressful.
2.0
Good in the short term, but.
Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee
Los Gatos, California, United States
December 13, 2008
Pros: Netflix's top management has a simple and well-thought-out strategic vision, which they communicate well to employees. The company is consistently profitable, and salaries tend to be substantially above market rates.
Cons: Netflix pays well to get the best person for the job. The downsides of this are that often people are overqualified for what they are doing, which can lead to a lack of challenge for them.
Worse, Netflix quickly and unceremoniously fires anyone whose skills no longer match the available work, or even whose manager doesn't especially like them. Retraining people for different jobs just doesn't occur.
If the immediate work fits your professional goals, Netflix can be a good place to work, but don't plan on a long career there.
- 5.0Netflix is true to its advertised culture of freedom and responsibilitySenior Software Engineer • Current EmployeeLos Gatos, California, United StatesMarch 22, 2009Pros: Lack of politics, hard problems to tackle, extremely bright colleagues, lack of bureaucracy, "context, not control" style of management, no tracking of hours or time off, flexible work options. Netflix is extremely successful as a company, and it's a fun business to be in and win at.Cons: There is always more to do than people to do the work, but I've never had a job where this wasn't the case. Also, it's sometimes hard to find the boundaries between family and work life because there is no tracking of work hours. Many of the folks in my area are highly self-motivated, which fosters a self-imposed culture of working nights and weekends.
- 3.0Great company, constant worry of being let goSenior Software Engineer • Former EmployeeLos Gatos, California, United StatesMarch 28, 2022Pros: Great environment, amazing perks. You feel proud to be working there.Cons: Just the constant fear of going to be let go makes everyday life stressful.
- 2.0Good in the short term, but.Senior Software Engineer • Former EmployeeLos Gatos, California, United StatesDecember 13, 2008Pros: Netflix's top management has a simple and well-thought-out strategic vision, which they communicate well to employees. The company is consistently profitable, and salaries tend to be substantially above market rates.Cons: Netflix pays well to get the best person for the job. The downsides of this are that often people are overqualified for what they are doing, which can lead to a lack of challenge for them. Worse, Netflix quickly and unceremoniously fires anyone whose skills no longer match the available work, or even whose manager doesn't especially like them. Retraining people for different jobs just doesn't occur. If the immediate work fits your professional goals, Netflix can be a good place to work, but don't plan on a long career there.
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