Getting an internship at Spotify
Heyy guys, another article, as you intend to dive into this, please open your Spotify app and listen to my summer 2021 playlist.
Pre Information
First thing is that Spotify’s internships are only for students or new grads at any level.
They also don’t sponsor visas for the program.
Yes, the internship is paid (In my opinion, well paid)
I would try to give as many exact dates as possible during the article.
Application
If there is something I hate when applying for a job, it is filling lengthy forms, damn it can be so frustrating as sometimes you have to copy and paste the same information in the CV you attached in the form again, or the ones that make you do an online test on behavior.
With Spotify, it was quite straightforward, a simple form and you upload your CV.
I applied on the 23rd of September 2020 and got the normal automated email response.
I applied for two positions; User Research and Product Design. I wasn’t too confident in my UR application because my previous experience showed more Product Design, but I still made the application, better to try than cancel myself and not apply.
In the description of the roles, you see a timeline, and yes as a planner that I was, I added these dates to my calendar so I know when to expect feedback.
First interview
Before my first interview, I got an email that stated I was moved to the shortlist sometime in January 2021. If you applied for more than one role you get them individually.
Got a mail on the 1st of Feb to schedule my first interview, chose the 8th of Feb. The mail came with the name of the person that would be my interviewer. I thought that was so helpful, so I actually went to check the person online, opened the LinkedIn profile too in incognito (because Linkedin is a snitch lol). I wanted to find possible questions that I might get.
I spent a few hours on YouTube watching how to answer interview questions and one helpful tip is actually practicing the answers to possible questions before the day, as sometimes it might be difficult to think about yourself on the spot.
My first interview was with a Senior Designer and not an HR person as I first thought. During the interview, I got a lot of the “What would you do in this situation” type of questions after I spoke about myself.
Those 45mins were so short. Good to note that every interviewer would have their way of getting the answers they want so it would most likely not be the same for everyone.
Writing this now, I wonder if post-corona, you can choose physical interviews as the offices are a beauty to behold.
After the interview, I was so blank as I didn’t know if it went well or if it didn’t.
Second Interview
But of course, it went well, that's why I can write this 😂😂😂
Got another mail on the 17th of February, asking me to select a new time for the final interview round and at that moment, I didn’t know if getting this mail meant the first was good or the first and the second determines the entire process (I am an overthinker and my mind did its thing).
I also got the name of the second interviewer and I chose Feb 22nd but this time it was a Senior Engineer.
Yes, I got rejected for the User Research role around this time. I didn’t do any interviews too for that application too.
For interview preparations, I searched the person and I just thought they wanted to see my relationship with developers since it was a product design role and collaboration is very important.
The interview was the same 45mins, but this time, it was so casual, we were discussing and I wasn’t necessarily answering questions. The interview was so good that afterward I felt so good about myself knowing I aced this one.
As I thought before, he asked about collaborations and I showed him my GitHub and what I have coded before, and my experience working as a designer on a team.
Now I wonder if I had this interview because of my past development experience.
Also good to note that each team/comapny looks for different skillset/personality when filling a role and sometimes you might actually be so good in something but get rejected because the team/company isn’t looking for what you have. That's why I don’t take application rejections so seriously anymore.
Third Interview
After my internship, I now believe everyone's path is different and even though there is a template, it might go off that and that’s okay.
On 4th March, I got a mail from HR that two teams are interested in having me as an intern.
Before then, I forgot that big companies usually have smaller teams working on different aspects.
I was also informed that they would like me to go through my portfolio and a case study.
I didn’t prepare for this because speaking about my work comes easy to me especially since I did the work and wrote the case studies myself.
The interview was on the 5th of March and lasted 45mins too, I was interviewed by two Design Managers.
Can’t forget, one of the Managers said she read this medium article before the interview. More shocking was that it wasn’t even a design-related one.
The interview went well, I didn’t know how I reacted after because it was difficult to get a reading since it was two people on the other end, but I thought if I am getting an extra interview then I must be doing well.
Another interview tip, have a bottle and glass of water beside you.
Offer Time
I got my Offer on the 8th of March.
That is September 23rd, 2020 to March 8th, 2021 for application to offer
Almost 6 months in total.
The day I signed, my manager sent a welcome mail.☺️
In retrospect, I was happy signing but I didn’t really feel it until the summer came.
Onboarding and Swags
I resumed 7th June and got my work equipment before, it still didn’t feel real until I got my work stuff.
Also got some swags too.
During the Internship
My Internship was amazing. It was more lovely and exciting than I imagined, I loved working with my team and my Manager. The 3 months went by so quickly too.
I didn’t have to worry so much about the working environment as Spotify’s team is very diverse and yet inclusive at the same time, so adjusting in didn’t take as long as I thought.
Asides from my salary, I got a food card, free Spotify premium, sick days, and 7 paid vacation days (I think this was related to the Swedish labor laws).
Read more about my Internship on the Spotify Design blog
Getting an Internship
The important thing I think to get an internship is showing you can translate your schoolwork into reality and having a body of work to prove it goes a long way. This is where my 2 years of experience in design came in handy.
Would I do it again? Yesss, without thinking.
Watch this highlight to also get tips from other interns on how to get in.
Finally,
I’m really grateful to Raha who informed me about the internship before they opened, my manager and my team for the best summer, everyone that was part of the application process, and the amazing people I met at Spotify.
If you want to know the process for a full-time role, you can also read Funmi’s interview experience getting an iOS Design System Engineer role at Spotify, here you go.
