Navigating the Big Tech Interview: Universal Tips from Apple, Amazon, and Meta

Interviewing at a major tech company like Apple, Amazon, or Meta can feel daunting, but many core principles apply across these giants. Drawing insights from their career sites, here are some universal tips to help you prepare and succeed.

Tip 1 - Know Yourself and Your Experience

A consistent piece of advice is to be ready to talk about yourself and your work experience. You should be prepared to explain your day-to-day activities in your current or latest role and how they align with the job requirements you're interviewing for. This connection demonstrates how your skills and experience make you a qualified candidate. Don't just list responsibilities; discuss specific examples from your work, such as important projects or challenges you've learned from. The goal is often for the hiring team to get to know the real you, so authenticity is encouraged.

Tip 2 - Demonstrate Your Expertise 

These companies expect you to share your relevant expertise specific to the role. Depending on the position, this might involve more than just conversation; you could be asked to prepare and deliver a presentation, work through a case study, complete a technical assessment, or participate in writing or coding exercises. Your recruiter should provide details if these are required.

Tip 3 - Prepare for Behavioral and Situational Questions

Apple explicitly mentions preparing for questions about how you've performed in the past. While they likely have your basic work history, they will ask more open-ended questions. Examples include discussing times you worked in a team to achieve a goal, working under pressure to meet a deadline, or areas you feel you need to develop. This focus on past behavior is a common interview technique to predict future performance.

Tip 4 - Ask Your Own Questions 

Interviews are a two-way street. You will typically have an opportunity to ask questions towards the end of the interview. Use this time wisely! You can inquire about the role itself, what success looks like in that position, or learn about the company culture and community to see how their values might align with yours. Asking thoughtful questions shows engagement and interest.

Tip 5 - Handling Virtual Interviews

Virtual interviews are standard now, and preparation is key. Choose a quiet space where you can communicate clearly without interruptions. Ensure the space is comfortable and conducive to a good conversation. On the interview day, confirm you have the virtual link, preview it to ensure it's working, and check your equipment and internet connection.

Tip 6 - Important Considerations: Accommodations

All three companies (Apple, Amazon, Meta) mention their commitment to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities or other conditions. Apple highlights drawing strength from differences and the belief in including everyone to create products that serve everyone. Meta specifically mentions support for disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health conditions, religious beliefs, neurodivergence, or pregnancy-related support. If you need accommodations, you should reach out to your recruiter or use the provided forms.

By focusing on these core preparation areas – understanding your own experience, demonstrating expertise, practicing behavioral answers, preparing questions, and sorting out logistics – you can build confidence for interviews across the tech landscape. Learn more tips at the respective company's careers site!