Coding / aptitude
Out loud, in order: clarify, build it, check it, explain it.
Practise PythonLoadingone moment…
Data engineering interview · Big Tech & Enterprise Software
Five-round loop with an online exam; SQL is sometimes assessed verbally and data modeling (star vs snowflake) features heavily.
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And what its data engineers work with.
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Stages in the order candidates meet them.
5 stages. 3 rounds have reported questions, described below.
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The topics it covers and the questions candidates reported.
1 reported question. See them below
sometimes verbal
Medium confidence2 reported questions. See them below
1 reported question. See them below
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By round. Questions marked Expected are written from the company's standards.
Online examMedium confidence
SQLMedium confidence
Data ModelingMedium confidence
Nobody reported these exact questions at ServiceNow. They are the questions a loop for each of its top topics is known to ask, so prepare for them as likely, not as confirmed.
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Ranked by how much of the evidence points at each topic.
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Do the first group before the second.
SQL + verbalizing query logic without an IDE
Do first (3)Data modeling (star vs snowflake, SCD)
Data-architecture discussion of your projects
Python/Spark per role
ThenSTAR behavioral
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Why candidates were turned down, as reported.
Cannot explain SQL verbally
SQL is named in 37 of 50 company accounts.Weak data modeling (star vs snowflake / SCD)
Modeling is named in 14 of 50 company accounts.Thin data-architecture reasoning
Design is named in 27 of 50 company accounts.08
5 reported, 1 composite. Each opens and closes. Composites are labelled.
Three rounds of data engineering questions on Spark and SQL. The candidate found them heavy on theory. One question was about Spark data pruning and broadcasting.
What to take from it Know Spark ideas, not just code.
Four rounds. The first was a timed online coding test (graphs and arrays), a hard SQL query and system design questions. A later technical HR round covered database design.
What to take from it Prepare for a coding test even in a data role.
The early questions were easy and then got harder. The candidate found the coding questions a bit hard.
What to take from it Do not relax after easy questions.
Three technical rounds in one day, then a fourth with a senior architect and a final HR round about pay. The candidate called it a good experience.
What to take from it Long days happen. Plan your energy.
The candidate felt the interviewer was not prepared for a senior role.
What to take from it You may need to steer the talk to show senior depth.
Composite walkthroughs. Built from the company's documented loop, not from one person's account.
This is a composite, not one person's account. It follows an online test, two technical rounds (SQL out loud, star against snowflake, project and data architecture), a manager round and HR.
What to take from it Use it as a map.
ServiceNow DE-specific first-hand was sparse; practice explaining SQL aloud and verify the loop with your recruiter.
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Their reported questions, one at a time, against a stopwatch.
Coding / aptitude
Out loud, in order: clarify, build it, check it, explain it.
Practise Python10
Pick your level and the weeks you have.
Built from what ServiceNow asks, strongest first. For the wider basics at your level, follow the Mid level plan alongside it.
Data modeling
Read: Data modeling chaptersDrill: Modeling practiceSay it aloud: Data modeling questionsFull plan: Ace the modeling round
Pipeline and system design
Read: Data pipeline chaptersDrill: Pipeline practiceSay it aloud: Data pipeline questionsFull plan: Ace the pipeline round
Python and coding
Read: Python chaptersDrill: Python practiceSay it aloud: Python questionsFull plan: Ace the Python round
Behavioral and communication
Read: Behavioral storytellingSay it aloud: Behavioral questions
Rehearse the ServiceNow loop
Run the question deckThen repeat your weakest topic once more.