Meta Quantitative UX Researcher Interview Guide

The phone screen is the first step in the process, and it's typically a character-based interview where a recruiter seeks to get to know you better and to help you understand more about the role. They will ask you about your experience, your skills, and your interest in the company. They'll also want to know how you approach research and what tools you use to analyze data.

Here are a few sample prompts to give you an idea of this round:

• Choose a Meta product that you believe needs improvement in terms of its user experience. Create a research plan outlining how you'd identify and address the issue.
• Imagine you are conducting a study to understand the impact of social media on teenagers' mental health. What research methods would you use, and how would you analyze the data to inform potential product changes at Meta?
• You are tasked with researching user needs and preferences for a new Meta feature that allows users to create and share short-form videos. How would you go about understanding user behavior and preferences, and what research methods would you use to gather data? How would you synthesize your findings into recommendations for the product team?

If you pass the phone screen, you'll move on to the virtual technical screen. This stage is designed to test your technical skills and your ability to analyze data. The interviewer will present you with a research question, and you'll have to analyze the data and come up with a solution.

Here are a few questions you can expect during this round of Meta UX Research Interviews:

• Have you worked on a project that involved large datasets? Can you describe how you approached analyzing and synthesizing the data?
• Can you walk us through your approach to designing a research study to address a specific research question?
• How do you ensure that your research findings are communicated effectively to stakeholders and product teams?
• Can you propose a research question and design that's useful for Meta and interesting to you?
• What was one of the most difficult decisions you've made as a researcher, and how did you handle it?
• What has a manager or client identified as your greatest weakness as a researcher?

This is a great opportunity to showcase your technical skills and demonstrate your ability to work under pressure.

If you move past the virtual technical screen, you'll be invited to the virtual on-site, which is the final stage of the interview process and consists of three parts

• Group Presentation
• Technical Interview,  and
• Behavioral Interview

During the group presentation, you'll be asked to create and present your research findings to 4-5 researchers on the day of the onsite interviews. You will also participate in 1:1 interviews with the individuals in the presentation, including research exercises.

This is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate your ability to construct a well-thought-out plan and put your research skills to the test. As Meta is highly focused on research skills and data, make sure to bring your A-game.

Sample prompts for this round include:

• Choose a challenge that you believe Meta will confront in the near future and create a research plan outlining how you want to approach the problem.
• Develop a research strategy outlining how you intend to handle a critical UX issue in Meta's products.
• Imagine you are collaborating with two company founders to create a music product for college students and create a research plan, considering both limited and unlimited time constraints.

This is your opportunity to demonstrate your presentation skills and your ability to communicate research findings effectively. They will also test if you can make these research findings accessible to a non-technical audience.

Here are a few questions you can expect during this group presentation round: at Meta Quantitative UX Research Interview:

• Can you walk us through a research study you've conducted, from start to finish? What were your findings, and how did you communicate them to stakeholders?
• How do you prioritize research questions and decide which methods to use?
• Can you share an example of a time when you had to collaborate with a team to achieve a research goal?
• If asked to find new and meaningful ways to engage users with previous content, where would you begin?

The technical round is designed to test your technical skills further. You'll be presented with a technical problem related to UX research, and you'll have to come up with a solution. This stage is designed to test your ability to think critically and your ability to work under pressure.

You'll also be required to respond to several skill-based questions that involve making assumptions and devising a research strategy to test them. Expect plenty of "suppose" and "imagine" questions in this round, and be prepared for any scenario.

Here are a few questions you can expect during this round:

• How do you ensure the validity and reliability of your research findings?
• How do you approach analyzing and synthesizing data from multiple sources?
• Can you discuss your experience with statistical analysis and data visualization tools?
• Imagine you're designing a research plan to investigate a new feature in a product. What research methods would you use to ensure you're getting accurate and valid data?
• Suppose you're working on a research project that requires you to conduct user interviews with individuals who are difficult to reach, such as individuals with disabilities. What steps would you take to ensure that the study is inclusive and representative of all users?
• Imagine you're working on a product that has received negative feedback from users. How would you go about identifying the key issues and developing a plan to address them?

The behavioral interview is the final stage of the process, and it's designed to test your soft skills: communication skills, leadership abilities, whether you can manage cross-functional teams, and so on. You'll receive a list of coordinated questions that aim to cover various aspects of what it takes to be a successful researcher at Meta. You'll be asked about your past experiences, how you handle difficult situations, and how you approach challenges and recognize opportunities. 

Here are a few questions you can expect during this round:

• How do you determine whether your research was successful?
• How do you address the flaws of personas? 
• What is your approach when individuals express doubt about the value of your research, particularly in situations where they challenge your sample size?
• How do you stay up-to-date on emerging trends and best practices in UX research?
• Can you share an interesting insight or finding from a recent research project?
• How have you collaborated with quantitative researchers in the past?