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Want to land a job at Netflix? You’ll have to answer these tough questions first

Published Dec 21st, 2015 10:00PM EST
How To Get A Job At Netflix Interview Questions
Image: Netflix

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Netflix sounds like an incredibly cool place to work if you’re a software engineer but they don’t let just anybody come in to code for them. Business Insider recently combed through Netflix’s page on Glassdoor to find some difficult interview questions that they ask to prospective employees. I was particularly interested in what they ask their prospective software engineers to try to trip them up and it seems that Netflix has no issues with asking you questions designed to make you feel uncomfortable if you’re going to be one of their engineers.

MORE NETFLIX: Cord cutters’ Bible: The best shows you can watch only on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon

Here are the toughest questions engineers get asked:

  • “Tell me something that you did in the past, but don’t want to do ever again.”

  • “What do you not like about Netflix’s company culture?”

  • “Describe your ability to deal with a very opinionated co-worker.”

  • “Of everyone on your team at your current employer, who would you keep and who would you fire and why?”

  • “How many people have you fired?”

  • “How do you differentiate between a good software engineer and a great software engineer?”

There’s really not a lot of beating around the bush here — they want to know honest answers about some unpleasant topics such as firing people and things you don’t like about the company where you’re applying for a job.

Presumably, saying that there’s nothing you dislike about the Netflix culture or there’s no one you would fire on your team wouldn’t help you since it would show an unwillingness to do things that would bring about conflict. However, coming across as too eager to dismiss coworkers or to rip key aspects of how Netflix does business might kill your chances to get a job as well.

Be sure to check out the full list of tough questions that Netflix job applicants receive over at Business Insider’s page.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.