FAANG Companies Interview Process - The Ultimate Comparison

FAANG stands for Facebook (Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google (Alphabet). This term originated from the financial world but is also used in the tech world. The FAANG companies are all headquartered in the US and market leaders in their respective domains.

In order to work on cutting-edge technology and earn greater incomes, college students and working professionals aspire to join FAANG companies. Offering many other benefits (FAANG Benefits Comparison) makes FAANG companies the most attractive and desirable companies. Having FAANG companies on your resume boosts your profile and opens the door to many opportunities in the future.

Because FAANG Companies are most desirable, which leads to high competition in the job market. Also, these companies have rigorous and unique recruiting processes in place to hire the best candidates.

If you are preparing for various FAANG companies, it is of utmost importance to understand them better, especially the differences in their culture and interview processes. This will help you fine-tune your resume (read our article Simple Resume Format to make a winning resume) for FAANG companies and make changes to your preparation process accordingly.

At MentorIF, You can find mentors working in FAANG companies and take their help at each step of the interview process right from the start, from resume writing till you secure a job in your dream company. Building strategy for each interview round, preparing yourself technically and culturally, understanding the interviewer’s mind and tricks, problem to solution approach, preparing yourself mentally to ace the interview etc. Mentors hold your hand and lead you to success.

FAANG Interview Process

The interview process used by FAANG companies varies depending on the position you are seeking for, but the following are some typical methods used by FAANG companies to learn more about you.

Overview

Typically, the entire interviewing process takes 4 to 8 weeks. During Covid complete interview process went online. After Covid, as things are getting better, companies have chosen for a hybrid strategy. In-person interviews are an option for candidates who are willing to travel to the offices. It quickens the hiring process and gives you an opportunity to interact with company employees. 

Culture Comparison

Before we begin comparing interview processes, let’s examine the cultural values of FAANG Companies. FAANG place a high value on cultural aspects and take them into consideration when conducting interviews. Which makes it even more important for you to fully comprehend them.

Step 1: Online Application

The first step is expressing interest in a position by applying for it. It’s crucial to do your homework on the employers you’re applying to and comprehend some of the fundamental differences between FAANG Companies before you submit your resume.

Step 2: Assessment

Recruiters are screening resumes at this stage to discover the best fit. Ideally, FAANG recruiters get hundreds of applications for a single job. Which makes manually screening very challenging for them. Here comes the technology to help. ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) software screens or shortlists resumes as the first preliminary check. Your resume is screened based on prospective keywords like skills, roles, total experience, technologies, etc.

There is a significant emphasis given on resumes because only your CV can speak for you in this situation. Both computer and human reviews of your CV should be positive. Two very significant elements are

Structure: When designing your CV, consider how the recruiter will find it most convenient. It should be organized and clear. Here, a 1-2 page resume is ideal. Read the Simple Resume Format blog if you need assistance with resume structuring.

Content: Focus on including the correct information, which should be pertinent to the position you are looking for, once the structure is perfect. When you are aware of your audience and their specific interests, writing becomes simple. It’s important to have the precise details and keywords. The Simple Resume Format blog is a good place to start if you need a framework to make your resume writing consistent.

You probably don’t know the recruiter personally. You can only influence this situation if you are aware of her reading preferences, which can be found in the job description. Therefore, thoroughly read it and update your resume accordingly.

Specific causes for rejection include:

1. Lack of desired keywords or unresponsiveness to job announcement
2. Improper formatting or phraseology inconsistent with ATS
3. Older file formats, incompatible fonts, tables, columns, or graphics

Proofread your CV after you’ve written one. See what your friends and family understood by having them read it. Additionally, you can use a mentor here through MentorIF. They will assist you in writing a resume and reviewing it in light of the position you plan to apply for. A mentor from FAANG companies would ideally be a perfect fit for your needs.

The ideal time frame for updating the status of your application is one week. Only if you are chosen for a further round will you receive a response. If you are not chosen, it is quite unlikely that you will hear from recruiters or receive an update.

	Facebook (Meta)	Amazon	Apple	Netflix	Google (Alphabet)
Assessment Guideline	Not Helpful	Quite Helpful	NA	NA	Quite Helpful
Assessment Time	1-2 weeks	1-2 weeks	1-2 weeks	1-2 weeks	1-2 weeks

Step 3: Phone Screening

Depending on the company you have applied to, you may have to go through 1-2 rounds at this point. You will receive a call from a recruiter to go over the specifics of the position, as well as to learn more about the organization, team, culture, etc. They will also check your understanding of the position you have applied for and determine whether you are a good fit for both the position and the business. This is more like a Q&A round where HR would ask about your education, prior employment (stated chronologically), behavioural, leadership style, etc. Typical HR call duration is 20-30 mins.

Few hygiene tips to follow.

1. If there is a time zone difference, make sure you are aware of the meeting time. If you won’t be able to join the call and need to reschedule, be proactive and let HR know. A negative sign is missing a call and then calling HR.
2. Before joining the call, ensure your internet connection is steady and verify your computer’s audio and visual.
3. Verify any suggested formal or informal dress codes.
4. Avoid having the call in crowded areas or with a busy background.
5. Beforehand, install the necessary applications on your computer.
6. Be natural and keep your cool.

Depending on the function, the second round will either be with a technical or non-technical person if you are successful in the first. The purpose of the 45–60 minute call will be to evaluate your core competencies for the position. There will be a broad discussion of your resume for the first 10-15 minutes, followed by 30-45 minutes of focused questions about your abilities, scenarios, client management, case studies, aptitude, and coding. Rather than a call, this could be an online assessment round as well.

Step 4: In-person Interview

If you can travel, in-person interviews are usually conducted at the offices of FAANG companies. These are a series of 45-60 minutes interviews. Depending on the position you applied for, there could be 3–7 interviews. In some cases, the hiring team will go through even more rounds.

Although it can be the most intimidating, it is undoubtedly worthwhile. You get to meet a lot of folks from various teams. The interview procedure differs depending on the position.

	Facebook (Meta)	Amazon	Apple	Netflix	Google (Alphabet)
Rounds	5 2 Parts	5-7 2 Parts	7-10 2 Parts	7 2 Parts	4-5 2 Parts
Duration	45 mins	45 mins	60 mins	45 mins	45 mins
Difficulty Level – Part 1	Highest	High	Highest	Highest	High
Difficulty Level – Part 2	Highest	High	Highest	Highest	High
Coding / Competency Assessment – Part 1	2 Rounds	3 Rounds	3 Rounds	4 Rounds	2 Rounds
Coding Language Choice – Part 1	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Interview Mechanism – Part 1	White boarding or code editor	White boarding or code editor	White boarding or code editor	Leet Code White boarding or code editor	Leet Code White boarding or code editor
System, Product Design, Leadership – Part 2	2 Rounds	3 Rounds	3 Rounds	2 Rounds	2 Rounds
Coding Required – Part 2	Less	Less	Less	Less	Less
Interview Mechanism – Part 2	White boarding	Situational Based, Case Studies	Situational Based, Case Studies	Situational Based, Case Studies	White boarding
Behavioral / Cultural Fit – Part 2	1 Round	1 Round (Bar Raiser)	1-2 Rounds	Included in above 2 Rounds	1 Round
HR Round – Part 1	0	0	0	1	0
Focus	Competencies, Team Player, Work Ethics, Leadership style	Competencies, Team Player, Work Ethics, Leadership style	Behavioral, Domain Knowledge, Competencies	Behavioral, Domain Knowledge, Competencies, Less Coding	Behavioral, Domain Knowledge, Competencies

Step 6. Offer Negotiation

Based on how well you performed in the interviews and how the committee rated you, FAANG companies present different packages to the final shortlisted candidates. Mostly, you have two options after receiving an offer: accept it or negotiate. Before HR sends you a formal offer letter, there is an offer conversation. Instead of asking HR for the official salary range, you should get this information on your own. Being proactive puts you in a great position.

A formal offer letter is sent to you by HR following salary discussions. Once you agree to it, reference checks and document signing follow. HR may ask you for two or three references, including senior, peer, and direct reports from your previous employers, depending on your position.

	Facebook (Meta)	Amazon	Apple	Netflix	Google (Alphabet)
Software Engineers Salary Range Offered	$180k–$890k	$164k–$642K	$176k – $719k	$499k	$191k – $1.02 million
Product Managers Salary Range Offered	High	Medium	High	Highest	Higher
Marketing Salary Range Offered	High	Low	Highest	Highest	High

FAANG Compensation Structure

Salary, bonuses, and stock all form part of a technology company’s pay package. When the company negotiate on your compensation package, it assumes but does not guarantee any stock growth. Stock options traditionally vested over a four-year period at a rate of 25% annually. The vesting schedule for Amazon is 5/15/40/40. A compensation package may gain significantly from retirement benefits. FAANG provide a matching 401k bonus (50 percent at Alphabet).

Bonuses are frequently utilized to convince new hires to move. In general, FAANG salaries are competitive with those at other IT firms. However, you should consider the greater living costs associated with working in Silicon Valley for companies like Apple, Alphabet, or Facebook. The cost of living in San Francisco is 16th highest in the world.

A $9k living allowance and bus service are provided by Alphabet (Google). Jeff Bezos intends to use a hyper loop at Amazon, which offers employees a $2,500 housing allowance, to hasten their travel to locations with cheaper living costs.

The higher expense of living might be offset by stock options. With a 38.2 percent annualized return over the past ten years, FAANG stocks have outpaced the S&P 500 by a wide margin. The $100k signing bonus at Facebook in Menlo Park may cover several years of rising living costs. Executive bonuses at Alphabet will start to be partially based on ESG performance in 2022.

You can find FAANG mentors at MentorIF. These will help you ace your FAANG interviews and secure a job. Additionally, you can reach out to our support team. MentorIF is a great platform for Mentoring and Training. With the mentors of your choice, you can arrange for a free one-on-one mentoring session. It costs nothing to chat with mentors. Don’t think twice before sending them your first message. You can also request for training to advance your knowledge and career. You can also discuss your requirements with our support team.  We will assist you by creating a training program that is specifically tailored to your needs and matching the right mentors on the training.