Landing a Dream Job at Facebook: Karan's Mentorship Story

‍Sometimes, the right opportunities only present themselves at the right time.

Here we have the story of Karan, a software engineer turned data scientist.

Karan applied to work with Facebook (now Meta) but only received a reply a year later.

To prepare successfully for the interviews and to ensure he bagged his dream job, he pursued 1:1 mentoring with industry experts.✨

Through practice, determination, and his mentors’ guidance, Karan cleared all his interview rounds and welcomed his journey as a data scientist at Facebook.

Let’s hear the details from him.

When did you decide to switch your company, and did you have any specific role in mind when you first started?

I wasn't actively looking for a job change when Facebook approached me.

Companies like Facebook usually find potential candidates rather than candidates actively applying to them. 

I had applied to Facebook before and they later reached out to me saying I fit the profile they were looking for. 

I’d say it’s difficult to get noticed by companies like Facebook, so it's essential to highlight the relevant experiences and skills in your resume. 

It’s important to showcase any machine learning systems or projects you've worked on and their measurable impact!

You applied to Facebook one and a half years back, and they recently contacted you for interviews. Is that correct?

Yes, that's right! 

The timeline is stretched. 

I applied around one and a half years ago, and they got back to me about a year later, asking if I was ready for the interview. 

Luckily, I was prepared by then, and they arranged the screening.

From the point they contacted you, when did the actual interview happen, and how much time did you have for preparation?

From the initial contact to the onsite interviews, it takes about two to three months. 

But in my case, it took longer since I wasn't initially prepared and had planned a vacation. 

I took my vacation first, then I had around two months to prepare for the screening. 

When did you decide to take a personal mentor and do mock interviews on the Preplaced platform?

I realised that apart from technical skills, non-technical aspects were crucial in the interviews. 

I wanted to be in a similar environment to get a good grasp of interview standards and control my nerves. 

That's when I decided to do mock interviews. 

The key was finding mentors who could guide me technically and help me improve my communication and presentation skills during interviews.

Who were the mentors you chose at Preplaced, and how did they help you?

I had three main mentors who played different roles in my preparation. 

For behavioural interview practice, I worked with Ishan Shekhar. 

He helped me understand what companies evaluate during behavioural interviews and how to present my experiences effectively.

For programming and system design aspects, I had sessions with Nimesh Tiwari. 

We covered a lot of ground in system design, and he also provided valuable technical insights. 

Nimesh was a substantial support in both technical and non-technical aspects.

Lastly, I had the privilege of working with Soudamini Sreepada Ma'am from Microsoft on machine learning design. 

She has extensive experience, and her unconventional interview questions challenged me to think differently.⭐

She provided valuable technical guidance along with non-technical inputs.

After the screening round, how many interview rounds did you have? Did they cover ML concepts, or did they also include data structure rounds?

There were four different interviews, and yes, it included a couple of data structure rounds. 

They tailored the interviews to different levels of seniority. 

For example, the programming round was conducted twice for senior-level candidates. 

During the programming round, they paid close attention to how fast your code and your ability to structure your code properly within the time limit.

Your journey from being unprepared to cracking the interviews is inspiring. Can you share some resources or challenges you faced during your preparation?

The preparation approach can vary depending on your familiarity with data structures and competitive programming. 

If you're new to competitive programming, I highly recommend getting familiar with various data structures and understanding their applications. 

Don't just code them but try to grasp their usage and solve problems related to them.✨

Mock interviews are incredibly valuable as they provide feedback and help you improve your performance!

Any message for the mentors and the Preplaced mentor community who passionately help people in their interview preparation?

Absolutely! 

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the mentors who selflessly dedicate their time and expertise to help candidates like me prepare for interviews.😊

Their commitment and diligence are commendable. 

They truly care about their mentees' progress and go above and beyond to guide and support them.✨

It's difficult to juggle busy schedules and still make time for mentorship, but they do it with enthusiasm and empathy!

Thank you, Ishan, Nimesh, Soudamini Ma'am, and all the mentors at Preplaced for being a guiding light in our interview journeys.⭐

Your contributions are immensely valuable, and I'll forever cherish the teachings and experiences shared with you all!

To Wrap It Up

Karan's journey to landing a job at Facebook teaches us valuable lessons. 

Highlighting your achievements in your resume and being proactive in showcasing your skills are essential.

Preparing for interviews with mock sessions and expert mentors can boost your performance and confidence.✨

Remember, communication skills and clear thinking matter as much as technical know-how. 

With determination and the right support, you too can ace your dream job interview!

Book a free 1:1 career mentoring session with a top industry expert today.

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Note: Mentee’s name has been changed for confidentiality purposes.

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Read further:

How Tan Vo Went From Being a Medical Doctor to Software Engineer

The Power of Guided Growth: Pranay's Mentorship Success Story