Company-specific & fit
Generic enthusiasm is the #1 thing that loses you offers in late rounds. Have a specific, well-researched POV on the company.
Universal fit questions
Why this company specifically, and not its closest competitor?
Which of our products do you use? What would you change?
What about our culture resonates with you?
Who have you talked to here? What did you learn?
What's a recent announcement, earnings call, or launch you have a point of view on?
By company
Amazon
All Amazon interviews map to the 16 Leadership Principles. Prep one story per LP.
- Walk me through a time you demonstrated [specific Leadership Principle].
- Tell me about a time you disagreed and committed.
- Describe a time you were customer obsessed.
Looks for general cognitive ability, leadership, role-related knowledge, and Googleyness.
- Googleyness: how do you operate in ambiguity?
- Tell me about a project where you had to influence cross-functionally.
- How do you make decisions with incomplete data?
Apple
Heavy emphasis on craft, taste, and cross-functional partnership with design and engineering.
- Walk me through a product you love and would change.
- Tell me about a time you obsessed over a detail others missed.
- How do you collaborate with design partners?
Meta
Move Fast, Be Bold, Focus on Long-Term Impact — core values to anchor stories to.
- Tell me about a time you moved fast and broke something.
- How have you used data to drive a product decision?
- Describe a time you built something from 0 → 1.
Microsoft
Growth mindset is the throughline, so frame failures as learning loops.
- Tell me about a time you demonstrated a growth mindset.
- How do you build inclusive teams?
- Describe a time you partnered across orgs to deliver impact.
CMG compiles a sheet of real interview questions that Haasies submit after their own loops, called “From One Haasie to Another.” Ask in #club-htc or email htc-haas@berkeley.edu for the link, and add your own questions once you have interviewed.