Expedia UX Designer Interview Guide

Typically, this is a 1-hour phone interview. In this initial round, an HR representative from Expedia will reach out to you. The primary goal is to gather basic information about your background, career goals, and professional experiences. 

This step serves as a preliminary assessment to determine if there's a fundamental match between your qualifications and the company's requirements. Use this opportunity to effectively pitch yourself as an ideal candidate for the role. You should be prepared to discuss your qualifications and align them with Expedia's needs.

The HR may also inquire about your immigration status and may also ask technical questions related to your work preferences, such as your willingness for remote or on-site work and your salary expectations.

The second round, which also lasts approximately 1 hour, is more technical in nature. During this second round, you'll engage in a more technical discussion. A senior design manager from Expedia will pose UX design-related questions and inquire about your past experiences in UX design roles.

(Optional) Portfolio Presentation: Post this call, depending on the location, you might be asked to prepare for a portfolio presentation and review round. You'll need to present your design work to either a design or product lead or a team of three to five people. In this presentation, you'll walk them through your projects, explaining the objectives, your contributions, the decisions you made, etc. You can also expect follow-up questions during your presentation where your interviewers seek insight into the rationale behind your decisions. 

Similar interview processes can be found at Apple.

The Onsite round serves as the final step in the interview process and provides a more in-depth evaluation of your qualifications and compatibility with the Expedia team. This round typically consists of three one-on-one interviews with various team members, including UX designers, product managers, and stakeholders.

Here's what you can expect during the Onsite round:

1. Product/Design Critique: During this interview, you'll be tasked with critiquing the design of a specific product, such as Instagram or Twitter. Expect questions about what aspects work well, what could be improved, and why the company might have chosen to implement certain features. This interview assesses your design principles and process, and your ability to analyze and provide constructive feedback on existing designs.
   
2. Design Exercise: The design exercise is a critical component of the Onsite round and heavily influences hiring decisions. Here, you'll be presented with a product design problem and asked to devise a solution. It's essential to not only provide a design but also explain the reasoning behind your choices. This exercise evaluates your problem-solving skills, creativity, and your ability to apply UX principles to real-world scenarios.
   
3. Behavioral interview: In this interview, you can expect situational questions that assess your behavior and past experiences. Be prepared to answer questions like:
   a. Tell me about a time when you took on something significant outside your area of responsibility.
   b. Describe a situation where you disagreed with a team member and how you handled it.
   c. Share an experience when you disagreed with a business goal and explain how you managed the situation.
   d. Discuss a time when you encountered a problem that you couldn't solve and how you approached it.

Interview Questions

• Can you discuss a recent design trend that you find interesting or impactful? How might this trend influence UX design decisions?
• How would you handle tabs on a mobile device?
• What role does data play in your design process? How do you think this would come into play at Expedia?
• Tell me about your favourite app. What do you think works well, and what could be improved?
• Why did you choose UX design, and what are your career expectations?
• You are tasked with designing the user interface for a travel booking app. Walk me through the steps you would take to create a seamless and user-friendly booking experience.
• Imagine you are designing a mobile app for a restaurant review platform. How would you prioritise the features and functionalities to ensure a delightful user experience?
• Can you recall a specific instance where you didn't agree with a team member's strategy? Please elaborate.
• What is your favourite part of the design process?
• You are tasked with designing a dashboard for a data analytics tool. Explain your approach to organising and presenting complex data in an intuitive and visually appealing manner.
• Design an interface for a smart home control system that allows users to manage lighting, temperature, and security. How would you ensure ease of use for both novice and tech-savvy users?