What It's Like to Be a Data Scientist at Whatnot
As a Data Scientist at Whatnot, you will be using data to drive the growth and success of the leading live shopping marketplace. You will work with a massive dataset of user behavior, transactions, and live stream data to uncover insights that will help shape the future of the product. The data science team at Whatnot is a critical part of the company's decision-making process, and you will have the opportunity to work on projects that have a direct impact on the company's bottom line. You will be responsible for everything from building recommendation algorithms to designing experiments to optimize the user experience.
The role of a Data Scientist at Whatnot is both challenging and rewarding. You will be expected to have a strong foundation in statistics, machine learning, and data engineering. You will work closely with product managers, engineers, and marketers to solve some of the most interesting problems in e-commerce. The tech stack for data science at Whatnot includes Python, SQL, and a variety of cloud-based data tools. The culture is one of collaboration, innovation, and a shared passion for using data to make a difference.
Salary & Compensation
Whatnot offers competitive compensation packages for Data Scientists, with salaries that are in line with top-tier tech companies. The compensation package typically includes a base salary, stock options, and a performance-based bonus.
| Level | Base Salary | Total Comp (incl. equity) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (L1-L2) | $130K–$170K | $180K–$240K |
| Mid (L3-L4) | $170K–$220K | $240K–$300K |
| Senior (L5+) | $220K–$270K+ | $300K–$350K+ |
Interview Process
The interview process for a Data Scientist at Whatnot is designed to assess your technical skills, your problem-solving abilities, and your cultural fit. The process typically consists of 4-5 rounds.
- Recruiter Screen — A 30-minute call with a recruiter to discuss your background and your interest in the role.
- Technical Screen — A 60-minute interview with a Data Scientist where you will be asked to solve a data-related problem.
- Take-Home Assignment — You will be given a dataset and a set of questions to answer. You will be expected to present your findings to a panel of data scientists and product managers.
- Onsite/Virtual Loop — A series of interviews with members of the data science, product, and engineering teams. These interviews will cover a range of topics, including your past projects, your technical skills, and your ability to think strategically.
- Final Round — A final interview with a senior leader in the data science or product organization.
How to Stand Out
To stand out in the Whatnot Data Scientist interview process, you need to demonstrate a strong passion for e-commerce and a deep understanding of how data can be used to drive business growth. Here are some tips to help you succeed:
- Show your work: Have a portfolio of data science projects that you can share. This could be a blog, a GitHub repository, or a presentation that showcases your skills.
- Understand the product: Be a user of Whatnot and have a good understanding of the company's products and the live shopping community it serves.
- Be a great storyteller: Be able to communicate complex data-driven insights in a clear and compelling way.
- Think about the business: Show that you can think about the business implications of your work and that you are focused on driving business value.
- Be curious: Show that you are passionate about learning and that you are always looking for new ways to use data to solve problems.