30 Pinterest Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Pinterest interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
Communication
1. How would you handle a situation where a colleague was being very difficult to work with?
How to Answer
In the team-based atmosphere at Pinterest, departments with different skills and backgrounds can often see things from different points of view. These situations can cause some internal conflict between coworkers. With this question, your interviewer is looking to hear how you handle situations where you are working with someone who can be difficult. To give them the sense that you can work through conflict professionally and sensibly, try to talk through how you handled a conflict at work previously in the past and highlight the interpersonal skills that you used to help make it a positive situation.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"In all honesty, any great work atmosphere that I've been a part of in the past has involved a conflict between colleagues. In situations I have witnessed, the conflict has stemmed from very open-minded people giving their two cents in particular situations and two people not seeing eye to eye. This happened recently to me in the planning phases of a new project. One of our UX Designers and I disagreed on the final layout of a new software rollout we were planning. It worked best for us to talk about our ideas and list the pros and cons of our ideas. I kept an open mind to learn from her point of view, and she did the same to me on my end. This led us to come up with a great compromise in the end."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"Last year, we had a new engineer join the team that was hired on from his internship with us. From his first day, he made it evident that he would only handle certain tasks within our team and only work on certain projects. As his mentor to help get him up and running, I sat him down and discussed the expectations of each of our engineers as part of our larger team. I explained to him that our approach was not to pigeonhole ourselves into smaller tasks but rather be well-rounded engineers who could handle any project and cover for each other if needed. He really appreciated this approach when I explained the benefits for his long-term career goals with this approach. This example shows my approach to being very direct with people that I have a conflict with in the workplace and doing so in a very professional and educational manner."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Competency
2. What programming languages would you consider yourself fluent in?
How to Answer
While this question gives your interviewer insight into the diversity of your programming language experience, they most importantly want to know that you are adaptable and can learn on the fly if needed. Talk about the different languages that you consider yourself fluent in. If possible, do as much research into Pinterest as you can before your interview and try to speak to the specific languages they work with.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"From the start of college, where software engineering grew into a passion for me, I've become very fluent in Java, JavaScript, and C++. My current role has me working primarily with C++, but I pride myself on my ability and passion for learning new programming languages and would be able to do so if hired for this role with Pinterest."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"During my training to be an engineer and then in my current role since graduating, a majority of my experience falls within Python. My current role delves deeply into artificial intelligence, and Python is awesome with this advanced technology. As I understand it from talking to another engineer here at Pinterest, a requirement would be for me to learn Scala. Though I haven't worked directly with Scala, I believe my experience and willingness to learn would have me up and running in no time if hired for this role."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Competency
3. What software analysis and design tools do you have familiarity working with?
How to Answer
As a software engineer for Pinterest, your interviewer wants to hear that you have experience utilizing tools that make you more proficient in your work. Dig back on your past experiences and talk openly about your experiences with the different analysis and design tools available to help you be better in your work. In the end, make sure that your interviewer understands that you are proficient in using these tools and open to learning and using new tools.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"As my career and experience in software engineering has grown over the years, I've come to really appreciate and utilize these available tools. A great example of this would be my recent education and use of Structured English for designing insurance claim software for a large auto insurer. The simplicity of the structured decisions in the program was a perfect example of a program that could utilize the tool, and the end product ended up very functional for our customer."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"I have great working knowledge in creating and reading data flow diagrams. To help with both our own sales staff and with customers, DFD's have been super helpful, and I consider myself very proficient in creating them. I've also recently been introduced to decision tables to aid in product testing. I was working on a new system that involved some very complicated business rules, and the decision table helped outline everything perfectly for our testing."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Competency
4. What data cleaning methods are you familiar with and comfortable using if hired for this role at Pinterest?
How to Answer
To improve data quality and increase the overall productivity of a system, Pinterest relies on their data analysts to use data cleansing methods to ensure quality data exists in their software. Be open and honest with how you've helped ensure quality and accurate data in the systems you've worked with while also showing that you have an open mind to learning and utilizing more methods if hired for this position.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"In my current work, I use a very methodical fashion in cleaning data for finished systems. My first step is to remove duplicate and irrelevant observations within the data. Then I scan the data to remove extra spaces, convert numbers stored as text into numbers and remove duplicate data. These steps help ensure clean and accurate data, and I never overlook them. If hired for this position, what methods does the current data analyst team at Pinterest utilize?"
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"I am familiar with many methods used in the cleansing of data. The initial monitoring of errors within a system is critical to identify errors and give insight into fixing corrupt data. I have utilized the tools within Domo software to validate data accuracy and scrub for duplicate data in my processes as well. Being very proficient in data analysis, I'm very open to learning new methods as well if hired for this position."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Diligence
5. As a machine learning engineer, how do you avoid the curse of dimensionality in your designs?
How to Answer
To effectively answer this question, it is important to first understand what dimensionality means about machine learning and how it can curse a project. As the number of features increases compared to the number of observations within a data set, some algorithms struggle to pull correct data. Your job on this question is to talk about ways to avoid the curse in your designs. Some possible things that you may mention and describe are feature selection, correlation thresholds, and variance thresholds.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"A common example that I use with people to explain complications in dimensionality is dropping a pin on a 10-foot straight line. This would be relatively simple to find. Next, if you dropped the pin in a 10 foot by 10-foot square, the task of finding the pin becomes more difficult. Adding a third dimension to make a 10 foot cubed area makes it more difficult to find the pin if placed within it. In bringing this back to machine learning, my job is to somehow make the three-dimensional field that the machine will pull from easier to pull from. Last year, I was part of a team that developed a system for pulling public health data. We set many variance thresholds that removed values that didn't change much from observation to observation. After careful testing, the system was able to pull information quickly and accurately based on these thresholds."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"As you can see from my resume, I've spent the last six years working in the electronics industry. Most of my machine learning work has focused on audio data. Autoencoders have been tremendous in pulling information to avoid the curse of dimensionality within the systems I've designed. While a great amount of time and effort was needed to effectively train the systems, the work was well worth it in the end."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Direct
6. How do you feel cloud computing has positively impacted the software industry?
How to Answer
While the reasons are plentiful as to how cloud computing has directly impacted developing and refining software for organizations, your interviewer is looking to hear which reasons you are willing to speak most passionately about. However you answer this question, try to either focus on the ease and accessibility for end-users or cost savings for organizations in your answer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Being in the software industry for over 20 years, I feel like the biggest impact that the cloud has had reflects directly to our customers in the software industry. In days of yore, we spent years working through software updates and releases. And now, I look to how we are continuously rolling out small scale, yet impactful, updates through the cloud, and end-users can see that impact the next day!"
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"One commonly overlooked area where I feel cloud-based systems have brought a major improvement is in analytics. Ten years ago, it took time and resources to pull relevant data to build analytics and visualization tools. Today, information can be automatically built to pull in the snap of a finger, and that is something that I never take for granted in my work."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Direct
7. What do you feel is one of the top issues that is faced by data engineers today?
How to Answer
Being in the midst of the greatest technological revolution in the history of man, data engineers face many difficult issues in the work they perform daily. While there are many directions that you can go with this question, be sure to focus your answer on something that you can speak passionately about. If you can research a common issue in the industry that Pinterest works in, you may likely score some bonus points with your interviewer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Over the past couple of years, I've come to realize that one of the largest issues we face as data engineers is the large amounts of data that are needed to store and then draw information from. Here at Pinterest, I can only imagine how big of an issue that is in the healthcare industry. I have a lot of experience with cloud-based data storage and also server-based storage."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"In my recent experiences, continuous, real-time integration is an issue that we will face every day moving forward. The need for fast-paced information is certainly to blame for this. To stay on top of the continuous integration landscape, I am happy to hear that new and improved systems are being created to stay more real-time and up to the minute. Here at Pinterest and working in the financial industry, how have you seen this need for real-time data impact your products?"
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Direct
8. If hired here at Pinterest to develop iOS and Android software, when would you use a fragment rather than an activity?
How to Answer
In the development of apps for both iOS and Android, using code to create an activity versus a fragment is a highly debated topic to this day. For this question, your interviewer is looking to hear that you understand the differences between the two and when you feel that using a fragment is the proper direction to go. Make sure to speak to the high-level overview of what an activity does to an app versus fragments.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"As a best practice in my development of Android apps in the past, activities are really the complete screen that a user experiences as part of the app. Fragments are really small sub-activities that take place within the activity. Because fragments within an app have their own life cycle and receive their own input events within the app, there are specific times when fragments make the most sense in development. In my experience, I always use fragments when the app is working with UI components that will be used across multiple activities within the app. As well, fragments have also served very well when using swipe views within the app."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"In the past year, I honestly don't recall designing a new app that ran solely on an activity alone. The fragments are almost necessary today to bring life to an app. I use retained fragments to persist across activity restarts within the app, and this helps make a user-friendly experience for our end-users."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Experience
9. In designing Android software, what is your experience using parcelable versus serializable within an app?
How to Answer
Because parcelable is optimized for Android to be faster and more customizable, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you are willing to put in the extra work to utilize the parcelable method to achieve better performance within the software you design. Give your interviewer your thoughts on the differences between the two methods of passing object references to activities within an app that you design. Make sure that they understand that you are ready to perform the work to utilize the parcelable method when necessary.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Having written code for Android apps for many years now, I am very familiar with both serializable and parcelable methods. In my first-hand experience, parcelable provides a much faster and better user experience, so I will always strive to take the time to write custom code for marshaling and unmarshaling to create fewer garbage objects within an app."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"Due to it being a standard Java interface and its ease of implementation, the serializable interface is pretty commonly used. But, because it uses reflection, many temporary objects are created within Android apps, creating a poor user experience. When the parcelable interface was introduced for Android systems, I have extensively focused on its use, and finished products have benefited greatly."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Experience
10. What experience do you have in the different types of software maintenance?
How to Answer
As a reputable company, Pinterest takes its software maintenance processes seriously, and your interviewer is looking to hear that you are familiar with the four different types of software maintenance. Talk to your interviewer about any work you have done in the past with corrective, adaptive, perfective, and/or preventative software maintenance. Use specific examples and ensure that your interviewer walks away from your conversation, knowing that you understand the importance of proper system maintenance.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Being familiar with all four types of software maintenance, my most used method of maintenance in my current role is corrective. Based on bug reports from end-users, I work through coding and logic issues to resolve issues quickly and effectively. In the maintenance I perform, I never hesitate to pick up the phone and contact customers to hear firsthand about what they are experiencing. By doing this, they feel like they are an important part of the process, and it reflects well on my organization and me."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"In my current role, I'd definitely say that a majority of the maintenance work that I do is adaptive maintenance. Working in banking software used around the globe, I help perform system maintenance for changes in currency on a pretty regular basis. This work requires research and talking with end-users to help adapt the programs for their use. If hired here at Pinterest, I also have experience performing perfective, preventative, and corrective maintenance on software as well."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Experience
11. Do you have experience working with data in a cloud computing environment?
How to Answer
Over recent years, more and more companies are converting to cloud-based computing services because the conversion allows them to save money and have better auditing trails. As a prospective data engineer with Pinterest, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you are at least familiar with the concepts of working with cloud-based data. Talk in detail about the experiences you have while keeping your mind open to working with more in the future if hired with Pinterest.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"My current organization has been using Apprenda, a PaaS, that allows us to develop, test, and maintain our software projects. I also have experience mining and converting data off of public, community, and private cloud networks. If hired here at Pinterest, I think I would bring a wealth of cloud-based experience to the data engineering team."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Experience
12. Talk about your previous user interface design experience in detail. Why do you feel that this experience will translate well to this role with Pinterest?
How to Answer
While your interviewer can get a good sense of your experience from your resume, they are looking for you to talk in detail about your experiences in UI design in your previous work. While explaining your previous experience, be sure to highlight the skills you developed that will help you successfully design new products with Pinterest. Before your interview, be sure you research and are familiar with Pinterest's products.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Ten years into my career out of college, I consider myself very blessed to have such a well-rounded background in user interface design. I have experience designing cutting-edge mobile app designs, website design, video game design, and software design. Here at Pinterest, your education software would greatly benefit from my creative designs to be user-friendly and appealing to educators, parents, and students. I'd love to bring these skills to work for you."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"While my experience in user interface design has really focused on web design over the past five years, I think my current skill set will benefit the team here at Pinterest greatly. In my web design, I prepare mockups and wireframes for customers and have experience utilizing many different resources in doing these. In the software world, I would love to use these same principles. As well, my web experience has really driven me to be user-focused. In this role, a more user-focused drive is required out of your user interface design, and I would be able to bring that to the team here."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Experience
13. What do you feel are the primary features and benefits of the Java programming language?
How to Answer
As a company that utilizes Java, Pinterest and your interviewer want to make sure that you understand the Java programming language, and they do so by asking this question. Obviously, in a language packed with unique features, talk about the features that you can speak the most knowledgeably about and tie your direct experience to.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"When I started working with Java three years ago, the first huge benefit was the fact that the Java syntax was based on C++. At that time, I had a great working knowledge of C++, and my transition to Java was absolutely seamless. The other amazing feature that I've come to appreciate with Java is how robust the memory management is in exception handling and automatic garbage collection."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Experience
14. Do you have experience working with different CASE tools? If so, what do you have experience with?
How to Answer
The world of software engineering has greatly benefited from advancements in computer-aided software engineering tools. Because Pinterest is at the forefront of the industry, your interviewer will be looking to hear which tools you have experience with. Make sure not to concern yourself with providing a correct answer here, but rather focus on your flexibility to learn new aides when needed while explaining what you have experience with.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"In my current role, I regularly utilize both diagramming and web development tools. The diagram tools assist our software projects by outlining the system data and components in a graphical form for us. This saves us a great amount of time while also being very reliable. The web development tools greatly help me visualize site changes that I am making because I don't have a deep background in web development. If hired for this position, I'd look forward to learning other CASE tools for prototyping, quality assurance, and maintenance."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"During my career and in my experience with CASE tools, most of my experience is in the lower CASE elements that focus on coding and testing the software after initial development. CASE tools have certainly made life as a software engineer more efficient and effective, and I'd look forward to learning any new CASE tools if hired for this position here at Pinterest."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Experience
15. Do you consider yourself stronger in C++, C#, Java, or Python?
How to Answer
Before your interview, do some research to understand what tech stack Pinterest uses so you can best prepare and highlight your expertise. If you aren't as strong in one of the skills you feel is necessary, be sure to explain how you've used it and how you are growing your knowledge to become better. Be sure to be honest in your answer, as the company will likely test your strengths.
Written by Marissa Letendre on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"In my last company, we had a bit of an outdated tech stack and used C# and .NET. I found myself fully immersed in those technologies but had a strong desire to learn more and become more familiar with modern technologies and how I can apply that in my career. That's what has me so interested in this role. Over the last year, I've taken courses in Java and C++, which I noticed you prefer. I've become proficient in the skills and in side projects, applying my increasingly strong knowledge. I'm probably strongest professionally in C#, as that has been where my experience lies. Still, my passion and dedication are on the Java and C++ side, which is the more modern alternative. I'm excited about the possibility of applying that knowledge in a role at Pinterest."
Written by Marissa Letendre on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"I am motivated and excited about this new opportunity because it will challenge me to grow in my (X) skills. I love soccer and enjoy spending time with my teammates. I am interested in continuing my education by studying (Y) to further my career."
Experience
16. What unique values can you bring to Pinterest in your user experience design skills?
How to Answer
While your interviewer has shown confidence in your technical abilities to succeed at Pinterest as a UX designer, this question is helping them gain insight into your ability to see the big picture in the work you do. As you think about the unique personal values that you would bring to the role, try and paint a picture of your work tying to the end-user and how you can help make it more productive, enjoyable, and satisfying for them.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"I have really taken pride in my ability to add value to the business needs of the customers that I work with. During any design project, I take the time to work with end-users to find their wants and needs out of the program. Then, as I create the UX design, I keep their needs at the forefront and do anything possible to exceed their expectations."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"As you can see from my resume, I have formal training and experience in user experience research, and I know that this would benefit the work that I would be doing here at Pinterest if hired for this position. I pursued this additional training in my career because of my passion for the customer journey in the programs that I design."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Experience
17. What SDLC models are you familiar in working with?
How to Answer
As a software engineer, you are very familiar with the software development life cycle. For this question, your interviewer is looking to hear what models you have worked on in the past. While there isn't necessarily a right or wrong answer to this question, try to show your flexibility in working with different SDLC models by bringing up your past experiences. Then, show you know different models like the waterfall model or agile model. It is also a good idea to use this question as an opportunity for you to learn more about Pinterest by asking your interviewer which model they work off of.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"During my training in software engineering and my early career, the waterfall model was the standard. In this model, each phase of the development process happens in a set order, and projects using this model are easily managed. But over time, as the development projects that I have led have become more complicated and intricate, I have implemented the spiral model. This model has allowed the ability of end-users to give feedback early on and often during development and helps to build a more customized product to our customers."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"In my current position with XYZ Company, my department utilizes the agile model in the development life cycle. Since our products are so tailored to the needs of our customers, we get a working product very early on in the process, and then I work hand in hand with customers to fine-tune the software moving forward. It is a very effective model that has built a great reputation for our software among customers. I am also familiar with the iterative model, and it has similar advantages to the agile model. If I were hired here at Pinterest, can you expand on what models you use here in your software development life cycle?"
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Job Satisfaction
18. As you reflect back on your career to this point in your search for a new position, what would you say is your ideal work environment or culture?
How to Answer
While using this question as a key indicator of how you'll fit with the team and the organization at Pinterest, it will be imperative for you to research as much as you can on the work environment at Pinterest so you can match your priorities to that environment. If you have the opportunity to speak with an employee at Pinterest before your interview, that can shed valuable information. In the end, the culture and values of an organization are often a key indicator of long-term success in a job, so make sure that you reflect your values into what the company values.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"As I begin this job search now 15 years out of college, I'm looking for an employer that promotes and encourages innovation, new ideas, and collaboration among all members of the team. From what I know about Pinterest from speaking with others, you sound like a perfect match for what I am looking for in a career."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"With all of the companies that I have both worked for and consulted with in the past, I realize that company culture is basically the personality of the company, and I am looking for a new organization that really meshes well with my personality. I am a casual person who believes in hard work, teamwork and having fun on the job. As I embarked on a job search, I was so happy to see that Pinterest was hiring because I believe our styles will fit perfectly together."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Leadership
19. If hired for this position at Pinterest, what leadership skills would you bring to our team?
How to Answer
While this position at Pinterest may not hold the title of manager, supervisor, or director, the organization firmly believes that employees that demonstrate key leadership qualities are better set for future career success. Aside from that, leadership skills help you work better as part of a larger team and with potential customers. Before your interview, think about one or two leadership qualities you possess and talk in detail about how you've exemplified those qualities in the past.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"I would say that my credibility is my best leadership skill. My openness and honesty suit me well when working among a team of individuals, and this helps them gain trust in following my lead when working on projects. Another skill I would bring here to Pinterest would be my ability to lead by example. I'm not afraid to take a risk in seeking innovation, and I've been commended for this trait many times by my current manager."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"If you were to offer this position to me, you'd quickly find that my positive attitude is an inspiration to those that I work closely with. In my current job, we work under the constant stress of tight deadlines. My positivity can be infectious to help others maintain their focus when negativity can easily take over in most situations. My other strong suit as a natural leader is my ability to be fluid on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes our world can be monotonous, and when change comes, most resist that change. For me, change is a chance to break the current mold and grow as an employee."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Scenario Based
20. In SQL, how do you explain the differences between clustered and non-clustered indexes? Can you name a time that you used each?
How to Answer
Pinterest uses indexes to improve query performances within its software. Your interviewer is looking to hear that you have a basic understanding of both clustered and non-clustered indexes for this question. Explain the differences between the two types of indexes, and be sure you can either speak to relevant times that you've used each or when would be the appropriate application to use each.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"In the simplest of terms, a clustered index order records in a table the way that they are physically stored. There can only be one clustered index per table. Non-clustered indexes do not store data to match the physical order that it is stored. Rather, it can hold up to 249 indexes per table. Both types come with their own benefits over the other. In my experience, clustered indexes are suited best for programs that use the primary key as an identity integer column. On the other hand, non-clustered make the most sense for programs that need JOIN and WHERE clauses within them."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"In my experience, clustered indexes are faster to read but very slow when it comes to updating data within. Non-clustered indexes are just the opposite in that they are slower to read but much fast to insert new data into them. In my current role, I mostly use clustered indexes when large numbers of rows need to be retrieved and when insert operations are important. Most other times, I will use non-clustered as the standard."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Scenario Based
21. How would you say that you would help bring sound data governance philosophies to this role at Pinterest?
How to Answer
This big picture question will allow your interviewer to get a sense of how you understand that your work will benefit the greater good of Pinterest through following repeatable processes to maintain consistency in your work. When you talk about your experience and methods that you would help bring to the table in this role, maintain a focus on minimizing risk and reducing costs for the organization.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"In my current role, I work under a strict set of data governance principles that were developed by our team. The principles outline set processes that I follow in all data conversion processes for our new software. At the end of all projects, our data governance principles help ensure sound data storage processes and data security for our end users."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"If hired for this role, I would love to help develop and abide by documented processes in data conversion to ensure solid data governance in the projects here at Pinterest. In the work I've performed in the past, I've developed conversion and end reporting processes that helped ensure 100% accuracy in the software being developed. With these processes in place, we could rest assured that corporate risks were as minimal as possible in our products."
Scenario Based
22. A huge part of our business here at Pinterest is designing software for iOS. In this role, how would you steer away from retain cycles when using closures in Swift programming language?
How to Answer
This question allows your interviewer to assess your technical knowledge and skills in designing apps for iOS products straightforwardly. To successfully answer it, make sure that you can speak knowledgeably about the swift programming language and using closures to capture and store references within the software. To piece together everything for your interviewer, give a clear understanding of why retain cycles must be avoided in your processing.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Because ARC handles most of the memory knowledge in Swift, I know ARC is prone to memory leaking, and this can cause major issues in apps over time. The fix that I've used in my career to avoid retain cycles is using weak references in my coding."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Scenario Based
23. If you were confronted with a time where you wouldn't be able to meet a deadline here at Pinterest, what steps would you take when you made that realization?
How to Answer
The inevitable happens at some point in any person's career, and an important deadline needs to be missed. With your interviewer fully understanding this fact, they are solely interested in how you react to this situation and what you do to make the situation right. In your answer, focus on the refocused planning and communication needed while avoiding blaming others for the situation. Your interviewer holds accountability as a desirable virtue, so be sure to take accountability for actions in your response.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"In my current position, I am very used to handling multiple tasks and projects on a day to day basis. Last year, my team was tasked with what started as a low-priority project. After assembling a team to initially discuss the details and set a deadline for completion with our management, the project, unfortunately, fell off the radar of everyone on the team, with many more high-priority projects coming up each week. As the initial project's deadline was within a week of being due, our CEO reached out to me for a progress report. I immediately took full responsibility for letting this fall off the radar, and I ensured our CEO that we would have an updated timeline set by the end of the week. In doing this and completing the project to his satisfaction, this was really the tipping point in our department moving forward utilizing a detailed project management tracking system. To this day, I can't say enough about how appreciative I am about utilizing this awesome system. Moving forward, you can rest assured knowing that I take full accountability for my actions and do what is necessary to communicate new expectations and meet them fully."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"Having been in this situation before, I would first sit down to gather all the facts possible in the situation. What was the deadline, why wasn't it met, and what can be done are all important questions moving forward. From there, communicating to all key parties is extremely important and doing so in a timely manner is critical. In this communication, taking accountability and setting new expectations for delivery concisely and tactfully will most often put stakeholders at ease and allow for successful completion."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Scenario Based
24. If hired here at Pinterest and tasked with helping design a UI for a new mobile app, what important factors would you consider in that design?
How to Answer
With consumer mobility being at an all-time high and only increasing year after year, just about every industry has entered the mobile app game, and life at Pinterest is no different. For this question, it is important to understand the different mobile UI designs, and your job for this question will be tying the business needs of Pinterest into an effective mobile app. In your answer, talk about what you know about the business needs of Pinterest and then explain to your interviewer how you would build those into a great mobile app for their future.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Here at Pinterest, I envision users of your products in the banking industry to want security and ease of use in their products. In looking to design a UI for a new mobile app, my considerations would be a secure log-in screen and user profile section of the app. As well, I would put an automatic log out into place within the app. On top of these security items, I would prioritize ease of placement for a contact screen, services screen, and an aesthetically pleasing home screen."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"In the private insurance industry, I can imagine that an onboarding tutorial screen would be very beneficial to users using the app for the first time. I have experience designing these for a few different mobile apps. Other factors I would consider would be prioritizing the important information laid out within the app and how to best lay it out. If a menu were utilized, I would work with key decision-makers on what would make the most sense for a menu layout within the app."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Software Engineer
25. How do you go about organizing CSS files, and why do you prefer this approach?
How to Answer
This is an example of an operational question that has technical aspects to it. Your interviewer is interested in learning more about how you would go about organizing CSS files while in this role with Pinterest. There are no right or wrong answers to this question as long as you can highlight why the method of organization you used worked in your previous roles. As well, it is important that you talk about how you can be flexible in this role with Pinterest if you were to be offered the job.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"The method I use to organize my CSS files is based on the file's style type. Categories I use include reset, layouts, list, carousel, tables, and several others. This enables me to quickly locate the specific style I'm looking to incorporate into the front end of my program."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Software Engineer
26. How experienced are you with the Agile software development process?
How to Answer
This question asks about your familiarity with a specific process used in software development, specifically the Agile methodology. It is important to know that Pinterest embraces the agile best practices in their methodology, so when asked this type of question, you should first define what Agile means in your work and then explain how it is used in your job. This will demonstrate your knowledge of the Agile methodology and your experience employing it in your work.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"I am very experienced with the Agile software development process. As you know, it is a methodology used when creating a program. Its central concept is iterative development. This involves collaboration between the software development team and the parts of the organization that will be using the application. The benefit of this is that it allows for identifying and correcting issues at each stage of the process rather than after all the work is completed."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Software Engineer
27. How would you go about explaining cloud computing to someone that doesn't have a technical background?
How to Answer
The purpose of this question is to understand the communication skills you would bring to the Pinterest Software Engineering team. Throughout the interview, the hiring manager will seek to understand some of the soft skills pertaining to this job. These include communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, and others. Every time you answer a question, you are being evaluated for both your experience and skills, as well as your ability to communicate. This question relates directly to this objective. As you answer, this question gives you the opportunity to explain a complicated process to someone with little technical knowledge. Your interviewer will be looking to hear that you can do this effectively.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"The easiest way to understand the cloud is that it is just another computer, phone, or storage device which is located remotely. It is similar to your hard drive or USB drives, except you access it via the Internet instead of directly on your computer. The cloud can also host applications and execute them remotely. Again, this is similar to your computer, cell phone, or any other device you may use. Whenever you make a phone call, ask Google for information, or order something on Amazon, you are using the cloud."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Stress
28. What skills do you use to cope with the day to day stress and pressure on the job?
How to Answer
In modern technology industries, consumer demand has led to a high volume of work and high-pressure situations to work on tight deadlines. Your interviewer is looking to hear firsthand how you handle this type of environment in your own words to prove that you can handle high-stress, high-pressure situations on the job. As you answer the question, try to turn potential perceived stress into a positive by highlighting your personal skills that enable you to perform well in those situations. If possible, try to use specific examples in your answer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Where many others get overtaken by stress to the point that they can't function in this field, high-pressure situations sharpen my focus, and that helps me work through them with ease. Last year, I was assigned a high-priority, short notice project for a high-profile customer. My manager gave it to me because of my proven success in those situations. I created a timeline for completion and mapped out a plan to make it happen from the start. While staying in communication with my leaders and the client, I was able to create a great system update in just a few short weeks."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"I am confident in high-stress work situations because of my ability to adapt, communicate, and be organized in my work. These skills came in very useful a few weeks ago when our support staff was experiencing an extremely high volume of help desk calls. My adaptability helped me go with the flow and handle items one at a time. My communication skills enabled me to quickly and efficiently call on needed support. My organization skills helped me be prepared for anything on that day and enabled me to work through tickets quickly and efficiently."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Teamwork
29. At Pinterest, we rely on a full team effort to deliver top quality products to our customers. Tell me about a time that you worked well as part of a team. Are you comfortable in a similar role here?
How to Answer
While this potential role with Pinterest will require you to be an independent worker who can think on your feet, you will also need to work as part of a larger team working toward one common goal. Because of this fact, your interviewer will want to hear that you thrive in an environment where you work with team members from other disciplines than you are trained in. In your example, stress to your interviewer that you have excellent communication skills and that you fully understand that every person on a team plays a vital role in the organization's success.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Throughout my career, I've always enjoyed working as part of a larger team on the job, and this personal enjoyment started with my love of and participation in team sports like baseball and basketball. Growing up playing sports, I learned that each team member brought a unique skill set to help us achieve our goals. Through a great coaching staff that knew how to make these individual skills shine, this same philosophy holds true for a team looking to design a new software system. I know that my skills as an engineer are just part of the final product, and I work very well with designers, architects, analysts, and sales to help build the greatest system possible."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"I am a people person by nature, and my current role has me working very closely with our engineering and design staff on writing technical manuals for our products. While I certainly can handle long days at my computer in solitude, my desire to work hand in hand with others really sets me apart from my peers in this field. I have excellent verbal, listening, and written communication skills that, if hired here at Pinterest, your entire team would appreciate from my first day on the job."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
Teamwork
30. If hired for this position here at Pinterest, would you be comfortable handling overall project manager responsibilities for new software development?
How to Answer
As a skilled software engineer, you have all of the necessary tools in your bag to be a successful engineer at Pinterest. This question allows your interviewer to get a better sense of your project management skills and people skills if you were to join the team at Pinterest. In your answer, talk about your ability to estimate the time and cost of a project, the staffing needed, and the overall scope of planning for a particular project. If you have direct experience in leading a large development project, be sure to discuss that experience with your interviewer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Looking to join the team here at Pinterest directly out of college, I feel very confident in my abilities to manage the entire scope of a new development project. I have leadership experience as my campus' president of the software engineering club. In that role, I developed skills that would help me utilize staff and resources in the best way possible. During my internship, I was exposed to the planning stages of new projects, and I have an excellent feel for estimating the budget and length of time needed to have a fully functional system."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"I would absolutely be comfortable if tasked with project manager duties here at Pinterest. In my last two roles, I have led successful projects that started with great planning and budgeting and went through to completion with great people and processes under my leadership. While it's not a regular duty for me in my current role, I always welcome leadership duties."
Written by Ryan Brunner on September 6th, 2021