Asana's Software Engineer L5 interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit within the company. The process typically involves multiple rounds, including technical interviews, a system design interview, and a behavioral interview, often culminating in a hiring manager discussion.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·5 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$140000 - US$180000
Interview time·180 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice coding problems daily.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice implementing these in your preferred language and analyze their time and space complexity. Aim for at least 2-3 coding problems per day.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and patterns. Practice designing common systems.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design. Study concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, latency, consistency, and common design patterns. Read books like 'Designing Data-Intensive Applications' and practice designing common systems (e.g., URL shortener, Twitter feed, chat system).
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral interview preparation using STAR method. Research Asana's culture.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on your past experiences and identify examples that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and handling conflict. Use the STAR method to structure your answers. Research Asana's values and culture.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews and final review.
Week 6: Mock interviews. Conduct mock interviews with peers or use online platforms to simulate the interview experience. Focus on receiving and incorporating feedback. Review any areas you struggled with in previous weeks.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on your core computer science fundamentals. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to understand the problem, devise a solution, write clean and efficient code, and explain your reasoning and complexity analysis.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
This round evaluates your ability to design scalable, reliable, and maintainable software systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed, or a distributed cache) and expected to discuss various aspects of the design, including APIs, data storage, scalability, and potential trade-offs.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system to shorten URLs like bit.ly.
Design a news feed for a social media platform.
Design a rate limiter.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Senior Team Member
This round focuses on your past experiences and how they relate to the role and Asana's culture. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to understand your work style, how you handle challenges, your collaboration skills, and your motivation. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide specific and impactful answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague.
Describe a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.
How do you handle constructive criticism?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Hiring Manager Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager
This final round is typically with the hiring manager. It's an opportunity for the manager to assess your overall fit for the team, discuss your career aspirations, and answer any remaining questions you might have. They will also gauge your understanding of the role and your enthusiasm for contributing to Asana.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What are your long-term career goals?
Why are you interested in this specific role at Asana?
What kind of work environment do you thrive in?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Asana loops
Other guides
