We see a lot of Duolingo candidates over-prep the wrong things in the last 7 days. Here’s a curated, priority-ordered plan that maps to what candidates commonly report encountering across roles. 1) Mirror the product’s voice and learning patterns (highest ROI) Spend time in the app with intention: note tone, brevity, how hints are phrased, how feedback is delivered, and what “good” looks like. For Content Design roles especially, candidates often benefit from matching Duolingo’s style in work samples while staying concise and learner-centered. 2) Prepare for work-sample style tasks Candidates frequently describe a take-home exercise for Content Designer, Language Learning that simulates on-the-job work (writing or revising content, crafting hints or explanations, adapting to a style guide). In the final week, do 1 to 2 timed practice runs: draft, revise, then self-critique. 3) Build a crisp quality rubric you can explain out loud In follow-ups, candidates often discuss quality and consistency standards, iteration based on feedback, and collaboration with product and learning science partners. Write a simple rubric you can apply quickly (consistency, pedagogical intent, clarity, edge cases) and be ready to explain how you’d validate choices with learner data or reviews. 4) Product case structure (PM) For Product Manager loops, candidates often see product sense plus experimentation and metrics, sometimes via a case-style proposal. Practice: problem framing, user insight, solution options, then an experiment plan tied to metrics. 5) Timed problem solving and communication (Backend) For Software Engineer, Backend interviews, candidates often report coding-focused screens and an onsite loop spanning algorithms and possibly systems or service design. Prioritize timed practice and narrating tradeoffs, including how technical choices affect reliability and user experience. 6) Calibrate expectations on timing Across roles, candidates commonly describe multi-stage processes over several weeks due to scheduling and review cycles. Plan your prep energy accordingly.
What did you spend your final week on for Duolingo, and what ended up mattering most?