Process
I applied for a senior position and quickly had a 30-minute call with a recruiter. There was a lot of skill overlap, so the next steps were to go to hiring manager review. I received an automatic rejection the next day.
Recruiters, please don't schedule calls unless the hiring manager has already +1'd the candidate. If you must, never send an automatic rejection after meeting with the person. It makes you look like you don't know what you're doing, which, from what I've heard about the company internally, tracks.
Questions
Why did I apply to OpenAI in particular?
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 37 interview experiences for the OpenAI Software Engineer role in United States.
Success Rate
OpenAI's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in the United States is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Candidates reported having good feelings for OpenAI's Software Engineer interview process in United States.
OpenAI Work Experiences
- 5.0Great experience for growthSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeSan Francisco, California, United StatesJune 29, 2025Pros: Super cracked people working there 24/7.Cons: High stakes and pressure to perform
- 3.0Interesting work and development, but long hours and stressSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeKingman, AZMay 21, 2026Pros: Good benefits, interesting work, and good development.Cons: Too long hours and stressful to deal with.
- 5.0Very good experience, hard interview.Software Engineer • Former EmployeeSan Francisco, CAOctober 16, 2026Pros: It was great, with many benefits, and everyone was welcoming.Cons: The interview process was very hard.
OpenAI Interview Questions
