20 Cruise Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviewing for a job at Cruise, there are a few things you can expect. First, you’ll likely be asked questions about your experience with self-driving vehicles. The interviewer will want to know if you have any experience working with autonomous vehicles, and if so, what kind of experience you have. You should also be prepared to answer questions about your skills and abilities when it comes to working with self-driving vehicles. In addition, the interviewer may ask you questions about your experience with the Cruise platform, as well as your experience with other Cruise products.

Cruise Interview Process

The interview process at Cruise can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least a phone screen and an onsite interview. The onsite interview will usually consist of meeting with multiple people from the team, including the hiring manager. There may also be a case study or technical assessment as part of the interview process. Overall, the interview process is generally positive, although some candidates have found the questions to be challenging.

1. What do you know about Cruise?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company and its products. It also gives you an opportunity to show that you’ve done some research on the organization before your interview.

Example: “I know that Cruise was founded in 2013 by Kyle Vogt, Daniel Kan and Jorgen Vardoen. The three founders were former students at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab. They started the company with the goal of making self-driving cars safe and accessible for everyone. In 2016, they raised $12 million from GM Ventures and other investors. Then, in 2017, they launched their first product—a self-driving car service called Cruise Anywhere.”

2. Give an example of a time when you had to solve a problem that was not straightforward. How did you approach the problem?

This question can allow you to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and how you approach challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of a time when you had to solve a complex problem that required critical thinking and analytical skills.

Example: “When I was working as an IT specialist for a large company, there were times when the network would slow down or even crash. This happened often enough that we needed to find a solution. We decided to hire another IT specialist who could work remotely and help us with these issues. It helped us save money on hiring full-time employees while still providing our employees with access to technology.”

3. Do you have experience working with autonomous vehicles and/or robotics?

This question is a great way to determine if the company you’re interviewing with has experience working with autonomous vehicles. If they do, it’s likely that you’ll be expected to work with them as well. It’s also an opportunity for you to show your knowledge of this technology and how it works.

Example: “I have worked with autonomous vehicles in my previous role as a software engineer. I was responsible for creating code that would allow the vehicle to navigate through its environment safely without human intervention. This included setting up sensors and cameras to detect obstacles and other vehicles on the road, as well as programming the car to respond appropriately.”

4. Have you ever worked in a team environment? If so, can you give me an example?

Cruise is a collaborative company, and they want to know that you’re comfortable working with others. This question helps them understand your teamwork skills and how you’ve used them in the past.

Example: “I have worked in teams before, and I find it beneficial because it allows everyone to contribute their unique skill set. In my last position, I was part of a team that developed an app for our client. We each had different roles, but we all worked together to create a successful product.”

5. Tell us why you want to work at Cruise.

This question is a great way to show your interest in the company and its values. It also gives you an opportunity to highlight any research you’ve done on the organization.

Example: “I want to work at Cruise because I’m passionate about self-driving vehicles, and I think this company has some of the best technology in the industry. I also love working with people who are as excited about their jobs as I am. Your mission statement really resonates with me, and I feel like I would be a good fit for this team.”

6. Are you comfortable working in a dynamic environment where things are constantly changing?

Cruise is a fast-paced company that’s constantly innovating and improving its products. Your interviewer may ask this question to see if you’re comfortable with change and can adapt quickly. Use your answer to show that you enjoy working in an environment where things are always changing. Explain how you use your problem-solving skills to adapt to new situations.

Example: “I love working for a company like Cruise because it means I’m always learning something new. In my last role, I worked as a software engineer on a team of developers who were constantly updating the app we were creating. It was challenging at times, but I enjoyed being able to solve problems and implement changes quickly.”

7. Describe your experience with software engineering.

Cruise is a software company, so it’s important that you have experience with the field. When answering this question, make sure to highlight your technical skills and how they can benefit the company.

Example: “I’ve been working as a software engineer for five years now. I started out in my career as an intern at a tech startup where I worked on building new features for their website. After graduating from college, I was hired by a large corporation where I worked on developing apps for smartphones. My most recent position was at a small startup where I helped build the first version of Cruise.”

8. How would you describe yourself as a teammate?

Cruise is a fast-growing company that values teamwork and collaboration. Your answer to this question can help the interviewer understand how you would fit into their team culture. Use your response to highlight any specific skills or traits that make you an effective teammate.

Example: “I am a highly motivated individual who thrives in collaborative environments. I enjoy working with others to solve problems, brainstorm ideas and find solutions. In my previous role as a software engineer, I was part of a team that developed new features for our product. We worked together to develop innovative solutions that helped us meet our deadlines.”

9. Describe your experience in systems development or operations.

Cruise is a technology company that develops and operates self-driving vehicles. This question helps the interviewer understand your experience in systems development or operations, which can be important for this role. Use examples from your past to show how you’ve used systems development or operations skills to achieve success.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist, I worked with a team of developers to create new software applications for our clients. We also monitored existing programs to ensure they were running smoothly. For example, we would check on the status of each application’s servers and make sure there weren’t any issues. If there was a problem, we would troubleshoot it and fix it before notifying the client.”

10. Can you tell me about a project that you worked on that didn’t go well? Why do you think it didn’t go well? What could you have done differently?

This question is designed to give the interviewer insight into your problem-solving skills and ability to learn from mistakes. Your answer should include a specific example, what you learned from it and how you would do things differently if given the opportunity.

Example: “In my last position as an engineer on a team that was building self-driving vehicles, I had a project where I needed to create a system for the vehicle to detect pedestrians in its path. After several weeks of work, we were able to get the system working but found out that it wasn’t accurate enough to be used in our vehicles. We decided to scrap the project and start over with a different approach.”

11. How would you handle conflict if two teammates were disagreeing?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your ability to work with a team and resolve conflict. Your answer should show that you can collaborate with others, communicate effectively and solve problems.

Example: “I would first make sure I understand the issue from both sides. Then, I would try to find common ground between the two teammates by asking questions to help them identify their shared goals. If they still disagree on how to achieve those goals, I would encourage them to come up with solutions together so we could all evaluate them and choose the best one.”

12. Tell us about a time where you made a mistake and how you handled it.

Cruise is looking for candidates who are willing to admit their mistakes and learn from them. This question can help you show your ability to take responsibility, apologize and improve yourself.

Example: “When I was working as a server at a restaurant, I accidentally gave the wrong order to one of my tables. When they brought it back to me, I apologized and offered to make them something else or give them a discount on their meal. They were very understanding and said that they would like another dish. I made sure to double-check the order before bringing it out.”

13. We need our engineers to be able to effectively communicate their thoughts and ideas in a variety of settings. Can you tell me about a time you had to deliver bad news to someone?

This question is designed to assess your communication skills and ability to handle difficult situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about the situation and how you handled it.

Example: “When I was working as an engineer for a large tech company, we were developing a new app that would allow users to order food from their phones. We had been testing the app with several different restaurants in our area, but one of them started having issues after installing the app. The restaurant owner called me because they thought there was something wrong with the app.

I explained to him that the app was still being tested and that he should give us another week or two before making any final decisions. He agreed to wait, and when we released the app to the public, he was very happy with it.”

14. What is your desired salary range?

This question is a common one in many industries, but it’s especially important to be prepared for when interviewing with Cruise. The company has an open culture that encourages employees to share their opinions and ideas openly, so you should feel comfortable answering this question honestly.

Example: “I’m looking for a salary of $75,000 per year. I know that the position requires me to work on-call shifts, which means I would need to have enough money saved up to cover my expenses while working as a driver.”

15. How many years of full-stack web application development experience do you have?

This question is a great way to assess your experience level and determine if you’re qualified for the role. If you have less than five years of experience, it’s likely that you won’t be able to meet all of the requirements for this position. However, if you have more than five years of experience, you may still not be eligible for the job if you don’t have the required education or certifications.

Example: “I’ve been working as a full-stack web application developer for three years now. I started out as an entry-level developer but quickly gained valuable experience by taking on challenging projects and learning from my mistakes.”

16. Our engineers often have to make important technical decisions independently. Can you tell me about a time you had to make an important decision without consulting anyone else?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to make independent decisions and how you used critical thinking skills to solve a problem.

Example: “In my last role, I was tasked with creating an algorithm that would allow our company’s self-driving vehicles to navigate through traffic safely. The project required me to use complex math equations and algorithms to create a system that could identify objects in the road and respond appropriately. I had to research several different methods of coding before deciding on one that would work best for our company.”

17. Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?

Cruise is a collaborative environment, and the interviewer wants to know if you’re comfortable working with others. Your answer should show that you are willing to work in a team setting.

Example: “I enjoy both working alone and as part of a team. I find that when I’m working on my own, I can focus more on the task at hand, but collaborating with others helps me learn new things and solve problems faster. In fact, I prefer to start by working alone so I can get an idea of what needs to be done before involving others.”

18. Tell us about a time where you took initiative to improve a product or system.

Cruise is looking for candidates who are proactive and willing to take on challenges. Use this question as an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills, leadership qualities and ability to work in a team environment.

Example: “In my last role, I noticed that the company’s website was not mobile friendly. This made it difficult for customers to find information about our products. I brought up my concerns with management, and we decided to hire a web developer to create a new website. The project took several months to complete, but once it launched, customer engagement increased by 20%. My initiative helped the company save money while improving its online presence.”

19. Explain what Object Oriented Programming means to you.

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of computer programming. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you have experience with this type of coding and can apply it in real-world situations.

Example: “Object Oriented Programming, or OOP for short, is a method of writing code that uses objects. Objects are reusable pieces of code that contain data and functions. They’re useful because they allow me to write less code and reuse existing code when I need to. This saves time and money.”

20. A lot of our employees are big fans of automation. What tools do you use for testing and deployment?

This question is a great way to see how the candidate will fit in with your team. It’s also an opportunity for you to share some of Cruise’s culture and values.

Example: “I’m a big fan of automation myself, so I use tools like Jenkins and CircleCI for testing and deployment. These tools allow me to work more efficiently by automating many of my processes. They’re also easy to learn and implement, which makes them ideal for our company.”