Candidate resources & help
Here's what you should expect when interviewing at DO, along with answers to commonly asked questions.
Onsite interviews
General
Congratulations! You’’ve made it to the next phase of interviews at DigitalOcean. We’’re excited to have you meet more of our team, and get a feel for our culture. Our hope is that you’’ll learn more about what it’s like to work at DO, and will walk away with several new friends! We view the candidate experience as a critical factor in making a decision to work at DO, so we want to provide you with the best experience possible. Please let your Recruiter or Coordinator know if you have questions or should you need anything at all.
If your interview schedule includes lunch, come hungry! Gluten-free? Vegan? Need cold brew on tap? We’’ve got you covered, just let us know ahead of time. Lunch meetings are an opportunity for you to experience our day-to-day first hand, not as a formal interview. We don’’t typically host meetings over lunch hour, so you shouldn’’t have to either.
How to prepare
- Check out our page on LinkedIn to learn more about our company culture.
- Hear from one of our Senior Engineers on what it’’s like to be a developer at DO.
- Applying for our internship program? Here’’s what one of our 2017 interns had to say about it.
- Your interviewers will likely ask behavioral questions to learn more about your past experiences. All of our interviewers are trained in the STAR method, so the more detailed you can be, the better!
- Think critically about what you’’re looking for in your next role. What kind of environment suits you? How do you best partner with peers and managers? What excites you?
- We want to know what you want to know**.** Ask us questions! We don’’t expect you to know everything. You’’re encouraged to make your meetings conversational and informative.
How we evaluate
- We hire for potential: It is our belief that general talent and learning agility is a huge asset, and enables high performing individuals to reach their full potential in an environment like ours. We are actively looking for candidates that will be able to grow, scale, and develop as DigitalOcean does. Hiring just for what we need today won’’t cut it - we are growing too fast and we need people with a learning agility and orientation to develop as fast as the company does.
- We hire for aptitude: If you have the raw talent and aptitude, our developmental culture will support your success as you explore new job responsibilities. We don’’t hire for people that have done the exact job, we hire for people who can do the job here.
- We hire for values: While we don’’t have a stand-alone “culture” interview, we do actively look for attributes that map to our core values. Learn about our core values here! Protip, click the value to see examples.
- Structured interviewing: In an effort to create a consistent interview framework, we ask all candidates for a particular job the same set of questions. We also put all our interviewers through unconscious bias training to ensure a fair and repeatable evaluation process.
FAQ: NYC Onsites
What should I wear?
Interviews can already be stressful, so we want you to wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable. DigitalOcean prides itself on simplicity and creativity and this extends to how you choose to dress. Our environment is casual meaning most of your interviewers will be in jeans and t-shirts.
What do I need to do when I arrive?
Our building security protocol is very strict, so give yourself an extra 5-10 minutes to check in downstairs, and bring a valid photo ID. You’’ll get a pass to the elevator system and it’’ll automatically take you up to the tenth floor! Once you arrive on the 10th floor, please check in using the iPad.
Do I need to bring anything?
A valid photo ID is required to enter the building. You don’’t have to bring anything else, we have it covered! Pens and paper, coffee, snacks, etc are all available to you during your interview. If you are hosting a presentation, we also have loaner laptops you can borrow.
I’’m a new mom! Do you have a mother’’s room?
We have a private space dedicated as a mothers’’ room. If you need any extra breaks, just let your Recruiter or Coordinator know and we’’ll be sure to accommodate your schedule and have the room ready for you.
How do I get reimbursed for travel expenses?
When DigitalOcean arranges your travel, we will also cover your taxi/Lyft/Uber to and from the airport, as well as up to $40 per day for food. Please keep all your receipts and submit them to billing@digitalocean.com along with your contact information (name, phone number, and mailing address) and someone will get back to you ASAP.
What should I expect after my interviews?
Your recruiter will reach out to discuss your interview, your concerns, and any further questions you might have as well as outline the next steps in the process so we are all on the same page.
FAQ: Cambridge onsites
What should I wear?
Interviews can already be stressful, so we want you to wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable. DigitalOcean prides itself on simplicity and creativity and this extends to how you choose to dress. Our environment is casual meaning most of your interviewers will be in jeans and t-shirts.
Where is the Cambridge office?
The Cambridge office is located at 485 Massachusetts Ave, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139. The office is in Central Square and is minutes from the Red Line. Street parking (not guaranteed) and bus service are alternate options.
What should I do upon arrival?
Guests will need to enter the first set of exterior doors at 485 Massachusetts Avenue. Once inside, call up to the 5th floor via an intercom located on the wall to the right. Rudy, our Employee Experience Coordinator , will unlock the interior doors to the lobby. Proceed to the elevator and ride it up to the 5th floor where Rudy will greet you at reception. If the reception desk is unoccupied, please make yourself comfortable on the couch while you wait. Someone will be right with you!
Do I need to bring anything?
No, we have you covered! Pens and paper, coffee, snacks, etc are all available to you during your interview. If you are hosting a presentation, we also have loaner laptops you can borrow.
I’’m a new mom! Do you have a mother’’s room?
We’ll arrange a private space dedicated as your mothers’’ room. If you need any extra breaks, just let your Recruiter or Coordinator know and we’’ll be sure to accommodate your schedule and have a room ready for you.
How do I get reimbursed for travel expenses?
DigitalOcean will cover your taxi/Lyft/Uber to and from the airport, as well as up to $40 per day for food. Please keep all your receipts and submit them to billing@digitalocean.com along with your contact information (name, phone number, and mailing address) and someone will get back to you ASAP.
What should I expect after my interviews?
Your recruiter will reach out to discuss your interview, your concerns, and any further questions you might have as well as outline the next steps in the process so we are all on the same page.
FAQ: Remote interviews
How do I connect with my interviewers?
In addition to your agenda, you should have received calendar invites with video links you’’ll use to connect to each interview. You can find your video link in the calendar invite next to where it says “video call”. If you are not familiar with Google Hangouts or do not use Chrome as your browser, we recommend testing out one of the links beforehand to avoid any last-minute troubleshooting.
What should I expect after my interviews?
Your recruiter will reach out to discuss your interview, your concerns, and any further questions you might have. Your recruiter will also outline the next steps in the process so we are all on the same page.
FAQ: Bangalore onsites
Where is the office located?
We’’re located at WeWork Galaxy, also known as the historic Galaxy Theater.
43, Residency Road, Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar
What should I wear?
Interviews can already be stressful, so we want you to wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable. DigitalOcean prides itself on simplicity and creativity and this extends to how you choose to dress. Our environment is casual meaning most of your interviewers will be in jeans and t-shirts.
What do I need to do when I arrive?
When you get up to the office, check-in at reception and ask for your onsite contact (provided in your confirmation email).
Do I need to bring anything?
You don’’t have to bring anything - we have it covered! Pens and paper, coffee, snacks, etc are all available to you during your interview. If you are hosting a presentation, we also have loaner laptops you can borrow.
What should I expect after my interviews?
Your recruiter will reach out to discuss your interview, your concerns, and any further questions you might have as well as outline the next steps in the process so we are all on the same page.
FAQ: NJ data center onsites
Where is the data center?
The data center is located at 100 Delawanna Ave, Clifton, NJ 07014.
How do I access the data center?
Once you get to 100 Delawanna Avenue, there will be a security gate with a booth. Tell the guard at the gate you are going to NJR3 for DigitalOcean. It’s the grey/blue building down the hill. Cross the first parking lot and head to the next set of gates. At the 2nd gate, tell them you are going to NJR3 for DigitalOcean. Proceed to NJR3 and ask for Noah Clark. He will be your host for the onsite interview.
What should I bring?
You’’ll need a government-issued ID (License, passport, etc.) to pass security.
What should I expect after my interviews?
Your recruiter will reach out to discuss your interview, your concerns, and any further questions you might have as well as outline the next steps in the process so we are all on the same page. Our interview teams will typically round-up within 48 hours of your interview, so you can expect an update following.
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