Originally published on LeetCopilot Blog
Meta's interview is fast-paced and intense. Here's the exact process, question types, and how to prepare for each round—including the new AI-enabled coding round.
Meta (formerly Facebook) has one of the most competitive hiring processes in tech. The coding interviews are fast-paced, and you're expected to solve 2 problems in 45 minutes.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Meta's 2026 interview process.
TL;DR: Meta Interview Overview
| Stage | Duration | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiter Call | 30 min | Background, fit |
| Technical Screen | 45 min | 2 coding problems |
| Virtual Onsite | 4 rounds | Coding, System Design, Behavioral |
Timeline: 4-6 weeks from application to offer
New in 2026: AI-enabled coding round (approved AI tools available)
The Interview Process
Stage 1: Recruiter Call (30 minutes)
What happens:
- Discuss your background and experience
- Why Meta? Why this role?
- Timeline and next steps
Tips:
- Have your "Tell me about yourself" ready (2 minutes)
- Research the specific team/role
- Prepare thoughtful questions
Stage 2: Technical Screen (45 minutes)
What happens:
- 1-2 LeetCode-style coding problems
- Live coding on CoderPad
- Must solve 2 mediums in 45 minutes
What they evaluate:
- Problem-solving speed
- Code quality
- Communication
- How you handle edge cases
Pace expectation: ~20-22 minutes per problem
Stage 3: Virtual Onsite (4 rounds)
Typical structure:
| Round | Duration | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Coding 1 | 45 min | 2 coding problems |
| Coding 2 | 45 min | 2 coding problems |
| System Design | 45 min | Architecture (E4+) |
| Behavioral | 45 min | Culture fit, past experiences |
What Questions to Expect
Coding Questions
Meta asks LeetCode medium to medium-hard questions. Common topics:
| Topic | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Arrays & Strings | Very High |
| Trees (Binary Trees, BST) | Very High |
| Graphs (BFS/DFS) | High |
| Hash Maps | High |
| Recursion | High |
| Dynamic Programming | Medium-High |
Meta favorites:
- Binary Tree Right Side View
- Lowest Common Ancestor
- Valid Palindrome II
- Merge Intervals
- Clone Graph
- Word Break
System Design Questions (E4+)
For E4 (senior) and above:
- Design Instagram Feed
- Design Messenger
- Design Facebook Events
- Design a Photo Sharing System
What they evaluate:
- Scalability thinking
- Trade-off analysis
- Component architecture
- How you handle ambiguity
Behavioral Questions
Meta evaluates 5 key areas:
- Resolving Conflict — How do you handle disagreements?
- Continuous Growth — How do you learn and improve?
- Embracing Ambiguity — How do you handle uncertainty?
- Driving Results — How do you deliver impact?
- Communicating Effectively — How clearly do you explain things?
Common questions:
- Tell me about yourself
- Why Meta?
- Tell me about a challenging project
- How do you handle conflict?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
AI-Enabled Coding Round (New in 2026)
Meta introduced AI-enabled coding rounds in 2025.
What it is:
- Live coding environment (like CoderPad) with integrated AI chat
- Approved AI tools available within the environment
- Still timed—must solve problems efficiently
What it tests:
- How effectively you use AI
- Whether you can verify AI's correctness
- Your fundamental CS knowledge (you must know when AI is wrong)
Key advice:
- AI won't solve everything—you need strong foundations
- Know how to guide AI with good prompts
- Always verify AI suggestions before submitting
How to Prepare
Coding Preparation (4-6 weeks)
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Arrays, Strings, Hash Maps |
| 3-4 | Trees, Graphs, BFS/DFS |
| 5-6 | DP, Mock Interviews |
Resources:
- LeetCode Meta tag — Practice actual Meta questions
- NeetCode 150 — Core patterns
- LeetCopilot — Hints when stuck
Speed Practice (Critical!)
Meta expects 2 problems in 45 minutes. Practice:
- Solving mediums in 20-25 minutes
- Coding without excessive debugging
- Explaining while coding
System Design Preparation (E4+)
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Fundamentals (scaling, databases) |
| 3-4 | Social media system designs |
Resources:
- ByteByteGo
- Educative's Grokking System Design
Behavioral Preparation
Prepare 5-6 STAR stories covering:
- A challenging project
- A conflict you resolved
- A time you embraced ambiguity
- A time you drove results
- A failure and what you learned
Interview Day Tips
For Coding Rounds:
- Clarify — Ask about inputs, edge cases
- Talk through — Explain your approach first
- Code quickly — You have ~20 min per problem
- Test — Trace through with examples
- Optimize — Discuss complexity
Meta-Specific Tips:
- Speed matters—practice fast coding
- Communication is key—talk constantly
- Don't get stuck—move on if one approach isn't working
- Be ready for the AI-enabled round
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Spending too long on one problem | Time-box to 20-22 min per problem |
| Silent coding | Explain everything out loud |
| Not testing | Always trace through examples |
| Skipping edge cases | Ask about empty inputs, nulls |
| Ignoring time complexity | State Big O for every solution |
Meta Engineering Levels
| Level | Title | Experience | System Design? |
|---|---|---|---|
| E3 | SWE | 0-2 years | No |
| E4 | SWE | 2-5 years | Yes |
| E5 | Senior SWE | 5-8 years | Yes (deep) |
| E6+ | Staff+ | 8+ years | Yes (complex) |
FAQ
How hard are Meta interviews?
Challenging—expect medium to medium-hard LeetCode problems at a fast pace.
Do I need to solve both problems?
Ideally yes. Solving both with working code is expected.
What language should I use?
Python is most common. Use what you're fastest in.
What's the AI-enabled round?
New in 2025-2026—you can use approved AI tools during coding, but must verify correctness.
What's the acceptance rate?
Roughly 10-15% of those who reach onsite receive offers.
Conclusion
Meta's interview is fast-paced and intense. Success requires:
- Speed — Solve 2 mediums in 45 minutes
- Communication — Talk through everything
- Fundamentals — Strong DS&A knowledge
- Practice — LeetCode Meta tag + mock interviews
Use LeetCopilot for practice, but remember—in the real interview, you'll need to perform under pressure.
Good luck!
If you're looking for an AI assistant to help you master LeetCode patterns and prepare for coding interviews, check out LeetCopilot.
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