Spotify Interview Question

3 questions, two sql+ 1 python (though can be also easily solved with sql). The sql question is about finding the most popular track and for each track, the day it had most popularity. the python question is about adding certain advs. seconds on every 3,5,15 stream a user had. The interviewer appears having limited experience with sql, as both interviewers had moments first doubting my code, then admit they made mistake. As one example, when doing an inner joining of two tables I had 'From tableA a, tableB b where a.metric=b.metric, the interviewer first asked me where's my inner joining of the two tables, as in her mind it should be written as 'From TableA a inner join TableB b on a.metric=b.metric'. After I explained, she realized both ways writing are equivalent. Though I got all three questions right and well explained, I did not pass the tech interview and there was no feedback.

Interview Answers

Anonymous

Apr 21, 2020

Can you explain the python question? What do you mean by "adding certain advs. seconds on every 3,5,15 stream a user had?" How did you solve this?

11

Anonymous

Feb 10, 2020

It is not pleasant experience turning the expectation of meeting bright folks into an sql training session.

2

Anonymous

Jul 13, 2020

The key in generic questions like this, is to make sure to cover the fundamentals. There's usually a back-and-forth with the interviewer. Might be worth doing a mock interview with one of the Spotify Data Scientist experts on Prepfully? Really helps to get some real-world practice and guidance. prepfully.com/practice-interviews