Pinterest · Primly Community

Pinterest recruiter phone screen, what they actually ask (from the other side of the call)

hardware_hugo · 5 replies

I'm not at Pinterest specifically but I recruit in the same tier and a former colleague moved there last year. I've compared notes. Here's what's actually happening in that recruiter screen.

The recruiter screen at Pinterest is 30 minutes. Standard stuff but a few things to know:

They actually read your resume. Not all do. Pinterest recruiters often have a specific question ready about something on yours. If you have a gap, have something brief and non-defensive ready.

Questions I've heard come up consistently: Why Pinterest (they seem to care more about this than average, probably because the brand isn't as "obvious" a destination as FAANG) What's a project you're most proud of. Keep it concise; they want to see you can summarize What are you looking for in your next role Availability and visa status if applicable

Comp alignment: they do ask ballpark TC expectations on the first call. Know your number. Don't be cagey. They will not extend an OA to someone dramatically outside their band.

Timeline they usually give: OA within a week of the recruiter screen if they're moving forward. Recruiter was apparently pretty responsive in a lot of the threads I've seen.

The recruiter screen is honestly more of a filter than a test. Be coherent, know why you want the role, know your number. That's most of it.

5 replies

visa_vik

Do they ask about H1B sponsorship on the recruiter screen or later? I've been burned by companies that ask, say "we'll figure it out", then ghost after the loop.

tired_recruiter

Usually first call. Pinterest does sponsor H1B from what I understand, but confirm with your specific recruiter. Do not assume. Ask directly: 'Is this role open to candidates who will need H1B transfer or sponsorship?' Get a yes or no before you invest time.

frontend_fran

The 'why Pinterest' question trips people up because it's an image company, and a lot of us just want a good eng job. I think the honest answer is fine: strong eng culture, scale at a human-sized company (not FAANG), interesting visual/social graph domain. That read as genuine to them in my experience.

brand_ben

Hot take: if a recruiter asks your TC expectations to filter you out of the process before you've done a single technical round, that's a red flag about their leveling sophistication. Comp conversations should happen after both sides know what they're dealing with.

tired_recruiter

I hear you, but practically speaking, if you're $100k apart on expectations, no amount of great interviewing will fix it. Better to know early. The alternative is wasting everyone's time.