Klarna Data Scientist Interview Questions
& Process

Klarna's interview process for Data Scientist in Stockholm, Sweden, can be quite lengthy, which makes sense given the high volume of applicants. My experience involved 6 rounds over more than 2 months, all conducted online. It started with a brief HR call to introduce myself and discuss expectations. Next was an Abstract Reasoning round with analytical puzzles, for which they provide practice questions. Then came a case study where I had to propose an ML solution for a given dataset, with a bonus for deploying it on AWS. The fourth round was a Skill interview to present my case study solution and answer related questions, including those about my resume experience. Following that was a Behavioral round based on the STAR method and Klarna's leadership principles. The final round was a 90-minute Live Coding and Team Fit interview. I had to build an ML solution for a toy dataset using sklearn in real-time, with the freedom to choose any algorithm like XGBoost. Internet access and asking doubts were allowed. Honestly, none of the rounds were extremely difficult. If you don't know an answer, it's best to admit it directly and explain your thought process, as that's what they're most interested in.

First there was a screening interview with the tech recruiter, then a take home assignment and a logic test. After that, there were two interviews: one with other data scientists where we discussed the technical case and some business-specific questions, and another with a manager about Klarna culture and leadership principles. The final interview was with the hiring manager, again covering Klarna's culture and principles, and also discussing the team's current projects and challenges.

Applied for a data science position and got a link for a logical thinking test (18 questions, 15 mins). You have 7 days to complete the test and I immediately got an interview request from Klarna, even though I haven't yet completed the test. So aparently, my CV and my skills were interesting enough that they didn't even wait for the logical test result. I found the test pretty easy and completed all 18 questions in time. However, a few days before the scheduled phone interview with Klarna, they suddenly let me know that I didn't pass the test, which I honestly do not believe, since it was pretty simple and they cancel the call. And to be honest, years and years of studies, experience and technical skills should be more important than a random logical test which everybody can pass with a little practice. You don't need any skills or knowlege for that, you only need to have seen a few similar tests.