Cracking the Code: Top Tips for Acing the Instagram Technical Interview, from 9 Women Who‘ve Done It

Landing a coveted software engineering job at Instagram is no easy feat. The Facebook-owned company is known for its rigorous technical interview process, which can involve multiple rounds of phone screens, coding exercises, system design discussions, and on-site interviews.

Just how hard is it to get hired at Instagram? According to data from Candor, the acceptance rate for engineering roles is a mere 2%. To put that into perspective, you have a higher chance of getting into Harvard (4.7% acceptance rate) or becoming a Navy SEAL (6% acceptance rate).

So what does it take to make it through Instagram‘s gauntlet of technical interviews and land a spot on the team? To find out, I reached out to nine talented female engineers and tech leaders at Instagram to gather their top tips for interviewing. Their advice ranges from the tactical (like how to approach coding challenges) to the psychological (like managing imposter syndrome).

But all of their insights boil down to one key theme: authenticity. As a full-stack developer who‘s interviewed hundreds of coding candidates myself, I‘ve seen that the most successful ones are those who can stay true to themselves—whether that means openly communicating their thought process, bringing their whole self to the interview, or focusing on the work that genuinely excites them.

Read on for more advice from the women technical leaders at Instagram on how to crack the code of the technical interview and land your dream job.

Bring Your Whole Authentic Self

One of the biggest mistakes candidates can make is trying to fit some cookie-cutter mold of what they think an engineer should be.

"Early in my job search, I thought I had to dumb down my personality and appearance to be taken seriously," recalls Rachel Slater, now a software engineer at Instagram. "I would wear baggy hoodies, no makeup. But I left those interviews feeling like I hadn‘t been true to myself."

It was only when Rachel started showing up more authentically—leather jacket, red lipstick, and all—that things clicked into place. "Now I realize being fully myself is what got me hired at Instagram. Interviewers want to see the real you, quirks and all," she says.

Robyn Silber, another Instagram software engineer, echoes the importance of authenticity when it comes to disability and accommodations. "I‘m autistic, and I‘ve found that being open about it in interviews generally leads to more understanding and acceptance," she shares. "There shouldn‘t be stigma around requesting accommodations like extra time. It allows you to perform your best."

The data backs this up. In a 2019 study by Uptimize, 56% of autistic interviewees who disclosed their diagnosis and asked for accommodations reported a positive experience. By contrast, 33% of those who disclosed but did not request accommodations had a negative experience.

"If you need accommodations for things like sensory overload, stimming, or extra processing time, disclose that early on," Robyn advises. "Any good company will readily provide them. It‘s your legal right."

The bottom line? Bring your whole authentic self to the interview, whether that‘s your personal style, your quirky sense of humor, or your accessibility needs. Pretending to be someone you‘re not will only backfire.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

The stereotype of the genius coder is someone who holes up alone in a room and emerges hours later with a perfect solution. But real-world software engineering is a highly collaborative exercise in problem-solving and communication. Instagram‘s interview process is designed to test those skills.

Johna Rutz, a software engineer who now conducts interviews at Instagram, shares what she wishes more candidates did: "Communicating your thought process out loud is so crucial. Walk me through your approach, even if it‘s not fully formed yet. I‘m more interested in how you break down the problem than getting the ‘right‘ answer."

Talking through your thinking has several benefits. It helps the interviewer understand your choices and jump in to offer guidance if you‘re stuck. It demonstrates how you‘d collaborate with teammates. And it takes the pressure off to reach the perfect solution right away.

Alison Falk, an engineer who landed her Instagram job after completing a coding bootcamp, used this approach to her advantage: "I had major imposter syndrome going up against people with CS degrees. But I realized I could set myself apart by really engaging the interviewer rather than just silently solving the problem."

Alison‘s advice? "Ask clarifying questions. Explain the tradeoffs you‘re considering. Bounce ideas off them. Treat it like you‘re working together to solve a challenge, because that‘s what you‘ll be doing on the job."

Communication skills are consistently ranked as one of the top things hiring managers look for in tech talent. In a 2020 HackerRank survey of over 116,000 developers and hiring managers, 39% said communication was the most important skill besides technical know-how.

So don‘t be afraid to open up and share what‘s going on in your head during the interview. Your ability to articulate your approach is just as important as your coding acumen.

Showcase Your Passion for the Craft

With rejection rates as high as 98% for Instagram engineering roles, it‘s safe to say that most people who make it through the door have impressive technical chops. So what makes a candidate really stand out? According to Kristina Balaam, an Instagram Application Security Engineer, it often comes down to passion.

"When I‘m interviewing people, the ones that get me excited are those who geek out over the work," Kristina says. "I love when someone‘s face lights up describing a project that challenged them or taught them something new. You can‘t fake that kind of enthusiasm."

Kristina suggests that aspiring Instagram engineers come prepared to share technical projects they‘ve tackled—no matter how big or small. "If you‘re just starting out, a solo project you did for fun or a hackathon you crushed is great fodder for discussion. If you‘re mid-career, come ready to dive deep on some impactful work you‘ve done recently that you‘re proud of."

Lea Coligado, another Instagram software engineer, agrees that passion is often what tips the scales. "Most people we interview could probably do the job. It‘s the ones who demonstrate an authentic drive to learn and genuine investment in the tech that get the offer," she explains.

So how do you show your enthusiasm for the craft beyond just claiming it in the interview? According to Alison Falk, it‘s all about taking initiative to immerse yourself in the tech community.

"I was so energized by what I was learning in my coding bootcamp that I started blogging about my experience," she says. "I got involved with local developer meetups, taught coding workshops for women, and volunteered on open source projects. By the time I interviewed, I had all these great examples of how I was proactively growing my skills and supporting others."

The numbers show this kind of visible passion pays off. Developers who frequently participate in "external tech communities" are 15% more likely to be high performers than those who don‘t, according to Stack Overflow‘s 2020 Developer Survey.

The takeaway? Let your authentic passion for the work shine through. Share the projects that have challenged you, the communities you‘ve contributed to, and the new concepts you geek out over. Interviewers can sniff out real enthusiasm from a mile away.

Keep Imposter Syndrome in Check

Even the most qualified engineers can fall prey to imposter syndrome—that nagging feeling that you‘re not good enough and have somehow fooled everyone. It‘s especially common among underrepresented groups in tech, like women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

Instagram engineer Stephanie Angulo recalls her own brush with self-doubt: "I used to put so much pressure on myself to have the perfect answer that I would totally freeze up in technical interviews. I felt like I didn‘t belong there."

But here‘s the thing: you do belong. Out of all the applicants, you‘re the one who made it to the interview chair. The team clearly sees your potential, even if you don‘t always feel it yourself.

Stephanie realized her big turning point came when she started treating the interview like a collaboration rather than a test. "Instead of worrying about impressing them, I focused on having an authentic conversation about the problem and how I‘d tackle it," she explains. "Suddenly I was giving myself permission to just do what I do best rather than being paralyzed by perfectionism."

Sage Franch, a developer and entrepreneur who‘s been through multiple Instagram interviews, suggests reframing your perspective going in. "You have to remember that while they‘re evaluating you, you‘re also deciding if it‘s the kind of place you want to work," she points out. "It‘s a two-way conversation where you deserve to have your own needs met. That mindset helps me feel more empowered."

Robyn Silber acknowledges that sometimes imposter syndrome can come from external factors. "As an autistic woman in tech, I‘ve definitely experienced bias that can feed self-doubt," she shares. "I‘ve been talked over, had my skills underestimated, or been told I don‘t ‘look‘ like an engineer, whatever that means."

In those moments, Robyn grounds herself by remembering her successes. "I earned my master‘s in CS. I‘ve led major projects. When imposter syndrome creeps in, I remind myself of those accomplishments," she says. "And I recognize that any unfair treatment is a reflection on them, not me."

Imposter syndrome is a common affliction in the tech industry. A 2018 study by Blind found that 58% of tech employees surveyed experienced imposter syndrome. But you don‘t have to let it hold you back.

The next time you find yourself spiraling into self-doubt, remember: you‘ve worked hard to get here. Your skills are valid. You deserve to take up space, ask questions, and be judged on your competence rather than stereotypes. Walk in with the confidence that you have something of value to bring to the table.

You‘ve Got This

Instagram may be a technical interviewing giant, but remember—you‘re a coding champ. You‘ve spent countless hours honing your craft, building your GitHub portfolio, and practicing your whiteboard skills. You‘ve got the technical chops to make it to the final round and crush it.

But as the brilliant women engineers of Instagram have shared, landing the job is about so much more than nailing the code. It‘s about leading with authenticity, candidly communicating your process, showcasing your passion for the work, and keeping imposter syndrome in check.

Natalie Luu, a self-taught developer who‘s now crushing it on Instagram‘s web team, puts it this way: "It‘s not about being the mythical ‘10x engineer‘ or having all the answers. That‘s an impossible standard. What matters more is your curiosity, your creativity, your hunger to learn and collaborate with others."

So the next time you suit up for a big tech interview, remember the wisdom of the women who‘ve been there. Give yourself permission to be human. Code from the heart. Leave it all on the whiteboard. You‘re ready for this.

And who knows? Maybe one day, another aspiring engineer will be reading your advice on how to land a job at Instagram. Pass the torch and keep opening doors.

You‘ve got this. Now go land that dream job.