Canva Data Scientist Interview Questions
& Process

Had an initial HR phone screen to go over the job and see if my experience matched. It was pretty quick. Then, there was a technical SQL interview with 3 SQL questions that got harder, plus one question about general theory.

Canva's hiring process is quite the rollercoaster, like a mystery novel with constant plot twists. I went through two separate interview cycles over nine months for a Lead Data Scientist and an Analytics Engineering Manager role. It involved multiple technical and leadership rounds, and I even got a verbal offer. However, their recruitment strategy seems to be a bit unpredictable, as the roles either got paused, downgraded, or canceled after the verbal offer. For the Lead Data Scientist role, I applied in March 2024, reached the final round, but was told the position was paused. It reopened two months later, I had a team meet and greet, but on the final day, I was informed the role was downgraded to an individual contributor and was no longer available. The Analytics Engineering Manager process dragged on for over three months with five rounds and several assurances of an offer, only for the role to be pulled post-verbal offer because leadership decided it wasn't needed anymore. The recruiter was nice, and the interviews were okay, but they were stuck delivering bad news. It feels like Canva's hiring process operates on a 'Move Fast and Break Candidates' Spirits' principle. So, if you decide to apply, be prepared for a wild ride.

The recruiter screen was pretty straightforward. They asked about my past projects and experience with experimentation. We also discussed my current company, why I'm interested in Canva, and why I want this particular role. They were also very upfront about the compensation.