Software Engineer Interview Experience - San Jose, California
March 31, 2023
Positive ExperienceNo Offer
Process
The interview process involved a hiring manager and LeetCode.
It was not a bad experience. LeetCode wasn't too difficult, but I didn't prepare enough.
Overall, it was a pretty smooth process.
It started with HackerRank. The first round was also HackerRank, but with an engineer.
Questions
LeetCode Medium.
Just grind, and it should be fine.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 82 interview experiences for the TikTok Software Engineer role in San Jose, California.
Success Rate
6%
Pass Rate
TikTok's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in San Jose, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Positive37%
Neutral39%
Negative24%
Candidates reported having good feelings for TikTok's Software Engineer interview process in San Jose, California.
TikTok Work Experiences
3.0
Speak Chinese, But Bad Wlb
Software Engineer • Former Employee
San Jose, California, United States
April 17, 2025
Pros: If you are Chinese, you get to speak Chinese all the time and travel to China a lot.
Cons: Bad work-life balance, lots of meetings at night.
1.0
Fast Growth, Language Barrier
Software Engineer • Current Employee
San Jose, California, United States
March 26, 2024
Pros: Entering as a new grad, you can experience fast growth if you are on the right team.
Pay is comparable to other FAANG companies.
Business growth is good for now (2024).
Cons: At a certain point in your career, the inability to speak Chinese will impact your work and career growth. This company is over 90% Chinese. From a company efficiency standpoint, non-Chinese speakers are much less productive and therefore not desirable for the long term.
Pay is not as good as FAANG companies.
High risk stock; I personally don't see a chance of an IPO.
Political risk of a platform ban or divesting happening brings uncertainty.
3.0
Late Nights, Free Food
Software Engineer • Current Employee
San Jose, California, United States
August 22, 2025
Pros: Free lunch and dinner offered
Cons: Meetings until 9 PM.
Need to talk with colleagues in China.
- 3.0Speak Chinese, But Bad WlbSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeSan Jose, California, United StatesApril 17, 2025Pros: If you are Chinese, you get to speak Chinese all the time and travel to China a lot.Cons: Bad work-life balance, lots of meetings at night.
- 1.0Fast Growth, Language BarrierSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeSan Jose, California, United StatesMarch 26, 2024Pros: Entering as a new grad, you can experience fast growth if you are on the right team. Pay is comparable to other FAANG companies. Business growth is good for now (2024).Cons: At a certain point in your career, the inability to speak Chinese will impact your work and career growth. This company is over 90% Chinese. From a company efficiency standpoint, non-Chinese speakers are much less productive and therefore not desirable for the long term. Pay is not as good as FAANG companies. High risk stock; I personally don't see a chance of an IPO. Political risk of a platform ban or divesting happening brings uncertainty.
- 3.0Late Nights, Free FoodSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeSan Jose, California, United StatesAugust 22, 2025Pros: Free lunch and dinner offeredCons: Meetings until 9 PM. Need to talk with colleagues in China.
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