Airbnb has transformed the way people travel and experience new places. As a leading global travel platform, Airbnb offers unique accommodations and experiences across more than 220 countries and regions. The company is known for its focus on community, design, and innovation.
Hiring at Airbnb is highly competitive, but you can stand out with the proper preparation and mindset. This guide breaks down Airbnb’s interview process, preparation strategies, and key insights to help you confidently approach each stage.
Why work at Airbnb?
Airbnb is recognized as one of the most innovative and design-forward tech companies. Its mission—to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere—is embedded in its culture and decision-making.
Here’s why professionals are drawn to Airbnb:
Mission-driven work: Airbnb empowers people to connect across cultures and geographies, making a real-world impact.
Design and product excellence: The company is renowned for its user-centric design and elegant products.
Strong culture of belonging: Inclusion and community are core to Airbnb’s values.
Perks and benefits:
- Annual travel and experience credit for employees with a stipend to use on guided tours, workshops, or cultural activities hosted by locals.
- Flexible remote work policies and hybrid setup options.
- Equity packages and stock grants.
- Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
- Generous paid time off and live and work anywhere.
- Learning stipends for skill and career development.
Airbnb believes in supporting employees to thrive both at work and in life.
Airbnb interview process
Airbnb’s interview process is structured to assess technical skills, problem-solving, and alignment with its core values and leadership principles. Candidates are evaluated holistically, emphasizing authenticity, collaboration, and product thinking.
1. Application:
Start your journey at Airbnb by exploring open roles on their careers site or connecting with a current employee for a referral.
Make your resume speak to impact—highlight projects that involved ownership, innovation, or cross-functional teamwork.
Show alignment with Airbnb’s mission and values through your cover letter or personal statement.
Ensure your LinkedIn, GitHub, or portfolio link is up-to-date and consistent with your target role.
2. Recruiter screen:
Objective: Understand your experience and assess general alignment with Airbnb.
What to expect:
This is a 30-minute call to understand your background and motivation. You’ll discuss your resume, previous roles, and why Airbnb excites you. Review Airbnb’s mission and core values beforehand to demonstrate alignment. Use this time to ask about team culture and interview timelines.
Preparation tips:
- Read up on Airbnb’s mission and community impact.
- Have concise stories to describe your journey and goals.
- Prepare thoughtful questions about the role/team.
3. Hiring manager interview:
Objective: To assess your hands-on experience, collaboration style, and alignment with Airbnb’s values and role expectations.
What to expect:
This stage involves a deeper dive into your professional background, focusing on your problem-solving style, collaboration skills, and product instincts. The conversation is typically led by the hiring manager or a team lead and is designed to assess how well you align with the expectations of the role.
Preparation tips:
- Review your key projects and be ready to discuss your role, challenges faced, and the impact you made.
- Research the team or product area you’re applying for to ask thoughtful, relevant questions during the interview.
- Demonstrate a user-focused mindset, especially in product, design, or engineering roles.
4. Skills assessment/Take-home exercise:
Objective: Gauge your technical or domain-specific strengths.
What to expect:
Depending on the role, you may receive a take-home assignment miming real-life tasks, such as writing scalable code, designing a product flow, or critiquing a marketing strategy.
Note: Airbnb values thoughtful execution and clarity in the take-home exercises.
Preparation tips:
- Showcase structured thinking and decision-making.
- Explain trade-offs and assumptions.
- Keep the user in mind—Airbnb values experience.
5. Final interview loop (Virtual/On-site):
Objective: Airbnb is a deep dive into your core competencies and collaborative style. It usually consists of 3 to 5 interviews with team members from various functions, including engineering, product, design, and leadership.
What to expect:
- Technical interviews: Problem-solving, debugging, and live coding questions.
- System Design interviews: Evaluate your ability to architect scalable and efficient software solutions.
- Behavioral interviews: Expect situational questions to know how you collaborate, lead, and align with Airbnb’s values.
Preparation tips:
- Structure your responses using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to communicate your experiences.
- Spend time familiarizing yourself with Airbnb’s latest product updates and strategic initiatives, showing you’re genuinely engaged with the company’s direction.
6. Airbnb’s culture fit assessment
Culture isn’t a checkbox—it’s integrated into every conversation. Airbnb’s Core Values guide every hire:
- Champion the Mission
- Be a Host
- Embrace the Adventure
- Simplify
- Every Frame Matters
How to prepare:
- Be ready to speak to real moments of teamwork, setbacks, and growth.
- Focus on how you create impact while being human-centric.
- Show passion for community, product, and meaningful experiences.
7. Offer and negotiation:
If you successfully pass the final loop, you’ll receive an offer package that may include:
- Base salary
- Annual bonus eligibility
- Equity grants or RSUs
- Airbnb travel stipend
- Remote flexibility options
Always feel confident negotiating your offer based on your market value and personal priorities.
Preparation resources
Preparing across technical, behavioral, and strategic dimensions is essential to succeed in Airbnb’s interview process. These resources can help:
- Airbnb newsroom: Stay updated on product launches, design philosophies, and company milestones directly from Airbnb teams.
- Practice mock Interviews: Practice with Educative mock interviews.
- Grokking the Coding Interview Patterns: This course covers 28 essential coding patterns for problem-solving in tech interviews. It is ideal for coding interviews.
- Grokking the System Design Interview: This course offers a structured approach to designing scalable systems, perfect for senior engineering and backend roles.
- Grokking the Behavioral Interview: This course helps to craft structured and values-aligned answers during the interview.
Final thoughts
Airbnb seeks candidates who are skilled and aligned with its mission and values. By preparing intensely, showcasing thoughtful examples, and approaching each step with intention, you’ll position yourself to thrive in the Airbnb interview process—and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard are Airbnb interviews?
Airbnb interviews are considered challenging due to their emphasis on technical depth, system design, and culture fit. Candidates must demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, product thinking, and alignment with Airbnb’s core values. Preparation and real-world examples are key to succeeding.
How many rounds of interviews are there at Airbnb?
The Airbnb interview process typically includes five to six rounds, starting with a recruiter screen, followed by a hiring manager interview, a skills assessment or take-home task, and a final interview loop consisting of multiple technical and behavioral interviews.
How long is the Airbnb interview process?
The Airbnb interview process usually takes 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the role, availability, and scheduling. Some steps, like take-home assessments or final round coordination, can impact the timeline.
What is the final round of Airbnb interviews like?
The final round at Airbnb, known as the “Loop,” includes 3–5 interviews with cross-functional team members. It covers technical challenges, system design (for technical roles), behavioral questions using the STAR method, and a culture interview to assess alignment with Airbnb’s values.
How long does Airbnb take to make an offer after the final interview?
Airbnb typically responds within 1 to 2 weeks after the final interview loop. However, timelines vary based on role, team coordination, and candidate volume. If you’re waiting longer, following up with your recruiter for an update is appropriate.
Company Interview Process
