20 Fivetran Interview Questions and Answers

When you’re interviewing for a position at Fivetran, you can expect questions that assess your technical skills, as well as your ability to think critically and solve problems. In addition, interviewers will want to know more about your experience working with data, and how you would approach replicating data into a cloud data platform.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample questions and answers that you can use to practice for your interview. With these questions, you’ll be able to show off your knowledge of Fivetran’s products and services, as well as your skills in data analysis and problem-solving.

Fivetran Interview Process

The interview process at Fivetran can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least a phone screen with a recruiter, followed by one or more interviews with members of the team you would be working with. For some positions, you may also be asked to complete a presentation or coding challenge. Overall, the interview process is generally fair and efficient, although some candidates have reported feeling disrespected or ghosted after their interviews.

1. What are your thoughts on the role of data in business today?

This question is a great way to gauge your understanding of the role data plays in business. It also allows you to show how you can apply that knowledge to your work as a Fivetran engineer.

Example: “Data has become an integral part of business today, and it’s important for companies to have access to their own data so they can use it to make informed decisions. I think Fivetran is a great solution because it helps businesses automate the process of replicating data into cloud platforms where they can analyze it.”

2. How would you pitch Fivetran to a prospective client?

This question is an opportunity to show your sales skills. You can use this question to demonstrate how you would approach a client and convince them that Fivetran’s services are the best option for their company.

Example: “I would start by explaining what Fivetran does, which is automating data replication into cloud platforms. I would then explain why our software is beneficial to companies who want to replicate their data into cloud servers. For example, I might mention that it saves time and money when compared to other methods of replicating data.”

3. How comfortable do you feel with public speaking, and why?

This question is a great way to determine how comfortable you are with presenting your ideas and thoughts in front of an audience. This can be especially important for those who work in sales or marketing positions, as they may need to present their products or services to clients or customers.

Example: “I have always been interested in public speaking, but I never had the opportunity to do so until college. In my communications program, we were required to give at least one speech per semester. I found that I really enjoyed it, and I was able to get positive feedback from my professors on all of my speeches. I think this helped me develop confidence in myself and my abilities.”

4. What is the last book that you read?

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s interests and how they spend their free time. It can also help you determine if they are up-to-date on current technology trends. If you’re interviewing for an IT position, it’s likely that you’ll be expected to stay up-to-date with new technologies.

Example: “The last book I read was The Lean Startup by Eric Ries. This book helped me understand why startups fail and what steps companies should take to avoid failure. I think this knowledge will be helpful in my role as an IT professional.”

5. Why should we hire you instead of someone else?

This question is a great way to test your confidence and ability to sell yourself. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight some of your most important skills or qualifications that make you the best candidate for the job.

Example: “I am an extremely organized person who has experience working with large amounts of data. I have also worked in a fast-paced environment before, so I know how to prioritize my tasks and meet deadlines. These skills are what led me to apply for this position, as I think they would help me succeed here.”

6. Have you ever been pressured into doing something unethical at work?

This question is a way for interviewers to assess your moral compass and how you respond to pressure. When answering, it can be helpful to explain what the unethical action was and why you refused to do it.

Example: “In my last role as a database administrator, I had been asked by my manager to delete some data from our servers. At first, I thought this request was normal because we were always purging old data, but when I asked him more about it, he told me that they wanted to hide some of the company’s financial information from an upcoming audit. I immediately reported this incident to human resources and resigned from my position.”

7. How would you define an MVP?

An MVP is a product that has the minimum features needed to test a business idea. It’s important for developers to understand what an MVP is and how it can be used in their work. Your answer should show your interviewer you know how to define this term and use it in your work.

Example: “An MVP is a product with just enough features to test if there is a market for a new product. The goal of an MVP is to get feedback from users about whether they would buy the full version of the product or not. I have worked on projects where we created MVPs before creating the final product. This helped us save time and money by finding out which features were most important to our customers.”

8. Give me an example of a time when you had conflicting priorities, how did you handle it?

When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you had multiple priorities and how you managed them. This can show the interviewer that you are able to balance your workload and prioritize tasks effectively.

Example: “In my previous role as a database administrator, I was responsible for managing several databases at once. One day, one of our company’s websites experienced some issues with its database. While working on fixing this issue, I also needed to update another website’s database. I handled both projects by prioritizing the website experiencing issues first and then moving onto updating the other website.”

9. Describe your experience working within a team environment.

When applying for a position with Fivetran, it’s likely that you’ll be working in a team environment. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable collaborating with others and have experience doing so. In your answer, explain how you’ve worked as part of a team in the past. Share an example of a time when you helped solve a problem or complete a task as part of a group.

Example: “In my current role as a software engineer, I work on a small team of developers. We often collaborate on projects together. For instance, we recently had to create a new program that would help streamline our company’s data storage process. My team and I all contributed ideas to the project and discussed different ways we could improve the system.”

10. What is your favorite programming language and why?

This question is a great way to see if you have experience with the company’s technology. If they ask this, it’s likely that Fivetran uses one or more programming languages and you should name the ones you’re familiar with.

Example: “My favorite language is Python because I find it easy to read and write. It also has many libraries for common tasks like data analysis and web scraping. In my last role, I used Python to automate some of our most time-consuming processes.”

11. Do you like writing code from scratch or using pre-existing pieces of code?

This question can help the interviewer understand your preferences and how you might approach a project. You can answer by describing what you enjoy doing most, but also include that you are willing to do whatever is necessary for the job.

Example: “I prefer writing code from scratch because I find it more rewarding to create something new than use pre-existing pieces of code. However, if there’s a specific function or process I need to complete, I am happy to use existing code as long as it meets my needs.”

12. Tell us about a recent development project that you were involved in.

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company’s products and how you can apply them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any specific features that you used or if you were involved in creating new ones.

Example: “At my previous job, I was part of a team that developed a new feature for Fivetran called ‘data masking.’ This feature allows users to hide sensitive data from other employees who don’t need access to it. For example, an employee may have access to sales information but not customer credit card numbers. The data masking feature makes sure that only those with permission see the relevant information.”

13. How would you describe yourself as a salesperson?

Salespeople are an important part of any company, and the interviewer may want to know how you would fit into their sales team. Use your answer to highlight your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and ability to work with others.

Example: “I am a very outgoing person who is always willing to talk to anyone about my product or service. I believe that it’s important to listen to what people have to say and respond in a way that makes them feel comfortable. I also think it’s important to be honest when selling something so that customers can trust me.”

14. What is the most difficult thing for you to sell?

This question is a way for the interviewer to learn more about your sales experience. They want to know what you struggled with and how you overcame it. Your answer should include an example of a time when you had difficulty selling something, but you eventually found a solution that worked.

Example: “The most difficult thing for me to sell was our company’s data replication software. I have always been good at explaining complex things in simple terms, so this was surprising to me. However, after talking to some colleagues, we realized that many people don’t understand the importance of replicating data into cloud platforms. We created a presentation that explained why companies need to replicate their data and added a demo of our product.”

15. At what point do you know when a sale is dead?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience with sales and how you handle them. They want to know that you can recognize when a sale is not going well, so they can understand your thought process in handling it. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to try to salvage the sale.

Example: “I’ve had several instances where I knew a sale was dead before my client did. When I first started working as a consultant, I worked for a company that sold software. The company’s clients were usually large corporations, but sometimes small businesses purchased their products too. One day, I got a call from one of our smaller customers who said they wanted to cancel their order. I asked why, and they told me they didn’t need the product anymore. I explained that we could offer discounts on future orders if they kept the current one. They agreed, and I saved the sale.”

16. What makes you enjoy working in sales?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and understand what motivates you. Your answer should reflect your personality, skills and interests.

Example: “I enjoy working in sales because I love helping people find solutions to their problems. In my last role, I helped a client who was looking for a way to automate data replication into cloud platforms. After researching several companies that could provide this service, I found Fivetran and explained how it would benefit them. They ended up choosing us, and I’m excited to work with another company that’s looking for ways to improve its processes.”

17. What do you think is important when working with customers?

This question is an opportunity to show your customer service skills. You can use this question to discuss how you would interact with customers and what you think are the most important qualities of a good customer service representative.

Example: “I believe that it’s important to be empathetic when working with customers. I always try to put myself in their shoes, so I can understand their concerns and needs. I also think it’s important to have patience when working with customers because sometimes they may not know exactly what they want or need. It’s my job as a representative to help them figure out what they’re looking for.”

18. When have you failed during a sale? How did you recover?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to recover from failure and learn from it. Use examples of times you failed, but also how you used those experiences to improve your skills or knowledge.

Example: “I once had a client who was looking for a way to replicate their data into multiple cloud platforms at once. I told them that Fivetran could do this, however, when I tried to replicate their data, it didn’t work. It turned out that they were using an older version of SQL server, which meant we couldn’t replicate their data. We ended up upgrading their database software so we could complete the project.”

19. Provide an example of when you fell short of your sales goals, what happened and how did you overcome this obstacle?

This question is a great way to learn more about how you respond to challenges and what steps you take to overcome them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you fell short of your goals but were able to recover from the situation.

Example: “In my first year as a sales representative for Fivetran, I had a goal of selling $100,000 worth of our software. However, after three months, I only sold $50,000 worth of software. This was a challenging experience because I wanted to prove myself as a valuable employee. To overcome this obstacle, I spent extra hours in the office studying the product and learning how to better communicate its benefits to potential clients.”

20. What was the biggest deal you’ve closed and how did you close it?

This question is a great way to show your potential employer that you have experience closing deals and can apply those skills to their company. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the value of what you’ve done for previous employers and how you were able to close the deal.

Example: “The biggest deal I closed was when my current employer wanted to move all of their data into our cloud platform. It took me two months to convince them to do so because they had been using another provider for years. However, once I explained the benefits of moving to Fivetran, they agreed to make the switch.”