TikTok Software Engineer Interview Guide

As the leading destination for short-form video content, TikTok (owned by the international media company ByteDance) is dedicated to “inspiring creativity and bringing joy.” This vision is brought to life by the hard work of software engineers building and maintaining its online platform.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, have strong technical coding skills, and are open to working with a global workforce, TikTok might be a good fit for you. In this guide, we cover what working as a TikTok software engineer (SWE) entails and also go through the interview process step by step. We also share tips and strategies to help you prepare.

What does a TikTok SWE do?

The day-to-day responsibilities of a TikTok software engineer (SWE) can vary significantly based on their specific role within the company. Fullstack engineer roles tend to be much more generalist (with the expectation of being able to take projects from start to finish), while backend and frontend engineer roles require more specialized expertise.

Regardless of role, all SWEs at TikTok work closely with product managers and quality assurance (QA) specialists to build the strongest features possible in an efficient time frame. Since the company values speed and efficiency, SWEs must work with product managers to understand project requirements and set appropriate timelines. Furthermore, because TikTok has a high standard for smooth product launches, QA is a huge part of every venture.

The bottom line: A strong SWE candidate not only demonstrates technical excellence but also shows effective communication skills in group settings and a commitment to completing tasks promptly.

What are the typical job requirements for a TikTok SWE?

Education: Generally speaking, experience and skills are much more important than education at TikTok. Most roles require only a bachelor's degree or no degree at all.

A background in computer science or another technical degree is preferred, but don’t worry if you don’t have one. As long as you have the technical skill set, you can be a strong candidate. According to a TikTok SWE, demonstrating clear technical competence is of the utmost importance.

Experience: Depending on the seniority of the role, most TikTok SWE positions require 2-5+ years of previous experience. Examples of past leadership roles or your involvement with a team are always a plus. For new grads, one TikTok SWE suggests including school activities like club leadership on your resume to demonstrate your knack for working with others.

TikTok frequently posts numerous jobs. Take the time to find the SWE role(s) that are best for you, and focus on the quality of application(s) over the quantity of roles you apply to. Pay close attention to the listed qualifications. For example, if you’re interested in a role that necessitates working in an agile development environment but you lack experience, take the initiative to research and familiarize yourself with agile methodology before applying.

For reference, below are the requirements for two different SWE positions at TikTok. First, here are the requirements for a Tech Lead Software Engineer working on the TikTok Privacy Compliance Platform:

• Bachelor's degree (C.S. or related fields)
• 5+ years of software engineering experience.
• 2+ years of tech lead experience.
• Strong technical skills in backend development, including experience with distributed systems, databases, and APIs
• Problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying and addressing technical challenges
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
• Familiarity working in an agile development environment
• Skills in programming, debugging, and optimization in one or more general-purpose programming languages, such as Golang, Python, and Node.js

In contrast, here are the requirements for a Fullstack Software Engineer working on the Ads Interface and Platforms team:

• Bachelor's degree (C.S. or related fields)
• 2+ years of experience in software engineering
• Strong computer science fundamentals (algorithms, data structures, software design) and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency and experience working with Javascript ES5 or later, CSS, and at least one frontend MV* framework such as React or Vue
• Experience with designing, implementing, and operating large-scale distributed systems
• Collaborative mindset and solid written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with ads, Instant Messaging systems, Advertisement Technology, or Digital Content Creation (not required, but a plus)

Recommendations before you apply for TikTok SWE roles

• Know TikTok. You don’t need to be an active TikTok user, but developing a firm understanding of TikTok’s mission and current events is an excellent way to show your interest as a candidate. Familiarize yourself with programs like TikTok for Good and TikTok for Developers, and be ready to discuss these in your interviews if relevant.
• Practice for the technical interviews. Hard skills are the key to a successful TikTok job application and interview, which assesses candidates on both their speed and accuracy. Successful candidates advise preparing for TikTok’s coding tests using our question database. You can also brush up on your technical skills with Exponent’s complete software engineering interview course.
• Cultivate a global perspective. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a company founded and based in Beijing, China. Any role that requires Mandarin Chinese will note this in the job description, but most roles require only English proficiency. Still, a willingness and flexibility to work non-traditional working hours is key, since your interviewers (and future collaborators) might be in a different time zone.

Interview Process

TikTok’s SWE interview process can look very different depending on whether you’re a new grad or an experienced candidate. Below, we describe how the process varies, with notes on what you can expect to experience based on your background.

TikTok interviews are generally virtual. The SWE loop includes:

• An online coding test for recent grads and a recruiter screen
• 2-3 technical interviews to assess hard skills
• A system design interview for experienced hires
• A final round interview with a senior engineer or team lead

The TikTok interview is notorious for its technical difficulty. The full loop generally takes at least two months to complete.

Online Coding Test and Recruiter Screening

Recent grads can expect a challenging online assessment, generally hosted on HackerRank. After submitting your resume, a recruiter will reach out with a test invitation, due in 5-7 days. Once you begin the challenge, you have 120 minutes to complete it. Your camera must be turned on.

Past candidates have reported a variety of formats, including:

• 3 medium-level DS&A questions
• 5 total questions, including SQL, medium-level array, and string questions
• 5 total questions, including 2 choice questions and 3 coding questions focused on algorithms and object-oriented programming (OOP)

Not all recent grads have this test, however. Those who have a direct connection with a recruiter through their university or LinkedIn may bypass it. However, before applying, you should still prepare for the assessment.

If you advance, you can expect to hear back from your recruiter in about 2 weeks.

Next is the recruiter screen, which is more common for recent grads than for experienced candidates. Expect a 30-minute interview featuring straightforward behavioral questions to assess your culture fit.

Some behavioral questions worth practicing include:

Instead of this screen and coding test, experienced candidates generally correspond with a recruiter via email before moving directly to the technical round.

Technical Round

Technical interviews are the heart of the TikTok SWE interview process, with 2-3 interviews (45 minutes each) held through CoderPad or HackerRank. While the hiring team’s preference is to conduct all technical interviews on the same day, TikTok does allow for flexibility in scheduling. However, choosing to split the interviews across multiple days may potentially result in the job being offered to another candidate who completes the interview loop more quickly.

According to a TikTok SWE with experience interviewing candidates for TikTok, there is no standardized or internal interview bank of questions. Instead, interviewers have complete freedom in choosing what questions to ask. As a result, the exact interview questions asked are constantly changing, with the goal of challenging candidates. As more candidates pass a once difficult coding question, interviewers choose new questions to replace it.

Given this variability, many candidates recommend preparing for TikTok’s coding rounds by practicing Leetcode-style programming problems, also known as Data Structures & Algorithms questions.

Although specifics are challenging, below are a few sample technical questions that candidates have reported getting:

When articulating your solutions, don’t forget the value of communication. Talk through your thought process as you break down the question at hand, and remember to stay on task with your limited time.

Both recent grads and experienced hires can expect to go through technical rounds, although question difficulty varies based on the seniority of the role.

System Design

The system design interview is not as common in the typical TikTok SWE interview loop, especially for recent grads. However, it is often part of an experienced hire’s interview process. This interview is all about displaying an understanding of TikTok’s overarching systems and how software engineering relates to design.

This interview is generally 45 minutes long and facilitated by a senior engineer or tech lead you’ll be working under.

During this interview, remember to use previous experience to your advantage and share company-focused reasoning behind your ideation and solutions.

Some system design questions worth practicing include:

Final Round

Your final interview will be with a senior engineer or team lead. Think of this interview as a step up from the recruiter screen, as many of the questions you might encounter are similar. This interview is all about assessing your culture fit, as well as your in-depth understanding of coding principles.

Be prepared for primarily behavioral questions, but with some conceptual themes. When explaining your thought process for previous technical work, be sure to articulate the “why” behind what you do—not just the end product. TikTok is looking for fast, innovative, and driven software engineers, and this interview is the final assessment of such qualities.

Below are a few questions you can expect at this stage:

Tips and Strategies

• Stay flexible. Generally speaking, TikTok’s hiring team prefers to do all technical interviews in one day. Additionally, your interview time might be at a non-traditional time depending on who your interviewer is and where they’re based. Maintain an enthusiastic attitude throughout the process and demonstrate a willingness to be flexible as a candidate. This can be a great way to set yourself apart as a positive and hard-working prospective hire.
• Communication is key. From cross-cultural projects to diverse stakeholders to multidisciplinary teams, showing your strength as a leader and communicator is an excellent way to stand out in your interview process. Always take the time to articulate your answers clearly and effectively, and share past leadership experiences whenever you can.
• Choose your position wisely. TikTok recommends candidates apply to no more than two roles at the same time, so you should make sure that the role you’re applying for is your best fit. When browsing roles on TikTok’s job board, search for specific competencies like programming languages and engineering functions (fullstack, frontend, backend, etc.) to find positions you are well-suited for.

Additional Resources

• TikTok Careers
• TikTok SWE Interview Questions
• Complete SWE Interview Course
• Peer Mock Interviews (System Design and Behavioral)

FAQs

• Are TikTok interviews in person or virtual? All TikTok interviews are virtual. Your interviewers may be in a different time zone than you, so double-check when your interview is scheduled.
• Does TikTok offer internships? Yes! TikTok has a robust global early careers program with opportunities for undergrad, graduate, and PhD students to engage with the company through hands-on experience and work on up-and-coming projects at TikTok in a mentorship environment. The SWE intern interview loop is very similar to the new grad loop.
• What is TikTok’s mission? TikTok’s mission is “to inspire creativity and bring joy.”