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Data Scientist Interviews

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Data Scientist Interview Questions

In a data scientist interview, expect employers to ask questions that assess your data modeling, problem-solving, and programming skills. Be prepared to answer general questions that test your knowledge of statistics and data science. You should also be ready to answer open-ended questions that test your creativity, communication skills, and formal education in data modeling and programming.

Top Data Scientist Interview Questions & How to Answer

Question 1

Question #1: Which data modeling techniques do you prefer and why?

How to answer
How to answer: Turning data into understandable and actionable information is a critical part of the data scientist's job. This question allows employers to understand your data modeling skills and background. List and discuss your preferred data modeling techniques, including benefits such as ease of use, flexibility, etc.
Question 2

Question #2: How would you detect bogus Instagram accounts used for scamming consumers?

How to answer
How to answer: Questions like this one allow an employer to test your problem-solving skills. When answering open-ended questions such as these, feel free to ask clarifying questions and use whiteboards to demonstrate your coding and diagramming skills. Share your thought process as you work through the problem.
Question 3

Question #3: Describe circumstances that require a list, tuple, or set in Python.

How to answer
How to answer: Interviewers will use questions such as this one to test your Python programming skills. Review Python basics such as lists, tuples, and sets before your interview. You should be able to explain when and how each tool is used by data scientists.

54,405 data scientist interview questions shared by candidates

Compare Numbers Programming challenge description: Little Tommy is in kindergarten on the first day of class. His teacher has taught him about inequalities today, and he is learning how to draw crocodiles to represent them. When there are two numbers, A and B, there are three options: 1. If A is greater than B, then draw '>'. The crocodile's mouth is pointed toward the bigger number, A. 2. If A is less than B, then draw '<'. The crocodile faces B. 3. If A is equal to B, draw '='. The crocodile is confused and keeps its mouth shut.
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Data Scientist

Interviewed at JPMorganChase

3.9★
Apr 4, 2023

Compare Numbers Programming challenge description: Little Tommy is in kindergarten on the first day of class. His teacher has taught him about inequalities today, and he is learning how to draw crocodiles to represent them. When there are two numbers, A and B, there are three options: 1. If A is greater than B, then draw '>'. The crocodile's mouth is pointed toward the bigger number, A. 2. If A is less than B, then draw '<'. The crocodile faces B. 3. If A is equal to B, draw '='. The crocodile is confused and keeps its mouth shut.

Give an array of integers, replace ith element by following maxmium number. For eg - 2 4 8 7 6 3 2 should be replaced by max num - 8 4 should be replaced by max num - 8 8 should be replaced by max num - 7 7 should be replaced by max num - 6 6 should be replaced by max num - 3 Easy question, start iterating from end , maintain max and keep swaping ith number with max.
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Computer Scientist

Interviewed at Adobe

4.1★
Feb 17, 2018

Give an array of integers, replace ith element by following maxmium number. For eg - 2 4 8 7 6 3 2 should be replaced by max num - 8 4 should be replaced by max num - 8 8 should be replaced by max num - 7 7 should be replaced by max num - 6 6 should be replaced by max num - 3 Easy question, start iterating from end , maintain max and keep swaping ith number with max.

Recruiter emailed me a detailed assignment: Problem I want to target ads at Twitter users. I’d like to start by identifying tweets which reflect Purchase Intent. I have access to the Twitter firehose. For each tweet with Purchase Intent, I would like to infer the specific item to which such intent applies. Examples Luke Sargent ‏@lsargent02 "Still waiting for the A7s I want a camera that is small enough for me to carry around all the time.” Purchase Intent: High; Item: camera Dani ‏@DaniCarbert17 "Well, lost my phone so if anyone needs to get a hold of me inbox me or in an emergency text Joce LOL” Purchase Intent: Medium; Item: phone Your solution Describe the algorithms, process, etc. for inspecting tweets and classifying those with Purchase Intent. What is the pipeline for ingesting, filtering, classifying, analyzing (and any other steps that come to mind) incoming tweets? Suggest tools that could be used for each of these steps. Make suggestions to maximize scalability & throughput How would you design visualizations so that management can make an informed decision on whether it is worth investing in an advertising tool which targets Twitter users who express Purchase Intent? This could include things like percentage of tweets with PI, specific products which are more likely to be purchased, etc.
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Data Scientist @ Comcast Silicon Valley Innovation Center

Interviewed at Comcast

3.7★
Jun 21, 2014

Recruiter emailed me a detailed assignment: Problem I want to target ads at Twitter users. I’d like to start by identifying tweets which reflect Purchase Intent. I have access to the Twitter firehose. For each tweet with Purchase Intent, I would like to infer the specific item to which such intent applies. Examples Luke Sargent ‏@lsargent02 "Still waiting for the A7s I want a camera that is small enough for me to carry around all the time.” Purchase Intent: High; Item: camera Dani ‏@DaniCarbert17 "Well, lost my phone so if anyone needs to get a hold of me inbox me or in an emergency text Joce LOL” Purchase Intent: Medium; Item: phone Your solution Describe the algorithms, process, etc. for inspecting tweets and classifying those with Purchase Intent. What is the pipeline for ingesting, filtering, classifying, analyzing (and any other steps that come to mind) incoming tweets? Suggest tools that could be used for each of these steps. Make suggestions to maximize scalability & throughput How would you design visualizations so that management can make an informed decision on whether it is worth investing in an advertising tool which targets Twitter users who express Purchase Intent? This could include things like percentage of tweets with PI, specific products which are more likely to be purchased, etc.

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