At Cuebiq, our interview process is simple. It is quick, technical, and fun. Ask any Cuebiqer why they accepted our offer over others they had, and they’ll tell you it was because of the interview — along with the fact that Cuebiq is the only company in Italy that offers the opportunity to work in big data with cutting-edge technology. Cuebiq collects privacy-compliant, 100% first-party location data via app-direct partnerships with over 170+ apps — that’s over four billion data points per day!
When asked, “Well, what about the interview? What was it that impressed you?” colleagues report that above all, it was difficult. The tone of the interview is friendly yet demanding — here at Cuebiq, nothing beats a challenge. Not surprisingly then, we hire only about nine percent of the candidates we interview.
So, what makes the tech interview so difficult? We use a technically demanding interview structure to look for a certain mindset in candidates. This ideal mindset bridges intellectual curiosity and the ability to embrace change, and it is crucial to thrive in a rapidly scaling company like Cuebiq. So, now that you know what we’re looking for, here’s how to ace your tech interview with Cuebiq.
1. You don’t know the answer? That’s OK.
It’s alright if you don’t know the answer to a question — we just want to see your ability to reason. Don’t be afraid to ask us questions; we’re interested in how you get to the answer and will help you get there. Take your time, and think out loud. Try out a couple of ideas. Use “we” instead of “I” — show us that you think of yourself as part of a team. At Cuebiq, sorting out complex problems is something we love to do, and it is one of our most important ingredients for success.
2. Things Change. Show Us Your Resilience.
In the workplace, things don’t always go as planned: Deadlines shift, business requests change, priorities evolve, and you need to be able to adapt to and manage changes like these. We’ll only hire people who aren’t put off by change and who prove they understand that it is intrinsic for success in the evolving tech ecosystem. So come prepared with examples from your relevant professional experience that highlight how you deal with change.
3. Caught up in the Coding Challenge? Remember the Objectives.
If you’re interviewing for a tech role at Cuebiq, you’ll have to do the coding challenge — which serves as a primer for understanding how you reason. Again, we’re not necessarily interested in the solution. This tool provides you with the opportunity to showcase your ability and allows us to use this work as a basis for deeper conversation. Come prepared with questions that challenge us!
4. Be Prepared — It’s as Simple as That.
You’re trying to get a job in tech, so brush up on data structures and algorithms. Run a lot of practice problems and focus on your time-management skills. In particular, be sure to focus on data structures, computational complexity, and sorting and search algorithms.
5. Pick a Programming Language and Know It Well.
What we’re looking for is your ability to learn a language and your passion for what you do. While the language itself isn’t that important in this scenario, you should be able to show us why you like one language over the others. Show us you have a complex level of understanding and have challenged yourself on how the language works. (Hint: we work mainly in Java, Javascript, Kotlin, and Python in Milan.)
6. Don’t Forget the Basics.
Have fun; ask relevant, memorable questions; challenge us; get the details about all our benefits and learning opportunities. Find out if we’re a good fit for you — ask for a tour of the office or an invite to one of our themed aperitivos on Fridays. Check out the games on the Playstation, see if we have your favorite breakfast cereal in our fully stocked kitchen, and introduce yourself to as many people as possible so that you can get a full sense of what it’s like to work with us!
There is a wealth of opportunity in the tech space right now, so much so that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Recruiters are under pressure — they will promise you the moon and then some. The only way to test your future employer is to get the full interview experience. And hopefully, with our tips, you’ll ace it!
Interested in hearing from real people who work at Cuebiq? Check out our blog detailing the company culture in the Milan office.
