How to Get a Meta Job Referral

Below, we'll explain how to get a Meta job referral and how it can improve your chances of landing a job.

It should be no surprise that landing an interview at Meta is no easy feat.

The social media company receives an enormous number of applications every year.

And though it’s currently looking to expand its team following years of restructuring, Meta’s acceptance rate is as low as 5%.

Despite the difficulty of the interview process, a referral from someone who already works at the company can help you get a job.

Does a Meta Referral Matter?

While other FAANG companies rely heavily on referrals in the interview process, this may not be as true for Meta as it once was.

Meta receives hundreds of job applications a day.

As many tech companies have endured significant restructuring processes and layoffs in recent years, more qualified candidates are looking for jobs.

Some applicants who applied for jobs at Meta within the past year reported that the company no longer accepts referrals for new grad positions or internships. 

Other applicants with experience can still get a referral from a current employee.

Nevertheless, this doesn't mean you should find a referral from just anyone you can at Meta. Instead, you should do your best to find a referral that matches the following:

• Role: Your Meta referral will be much more effective if it is from someone in the same position you're applying to.
• Seniority: The higher up you go, the better. The hiring opinions of more Senior Meta employees will hold significantly more weight than those of junior employees.
• Team: Try your best to source your Meta referral from someone in the specific team you hope to join. 
• Familiarity: Sourcing a referral from someone deeply familiar with you as a person and as a candidate may be challenging, but recruiters can tell the difference.
• Quantity: The more referrals you can get from Meta employees, the greater your chances of getting an interview.

However, receiving a referral does not guarantee an interview or a job. 

Some applicants referred by a current employee did not pass the application stage or were told the position had already been filled.

Still, getting a referral can help you get your foot in the door at Meta and give you a vote of confidence as a candidate. 

Your referral will be considered throughout the hiring process and can help you achieve your goals.

Sourcing a Meta Referral

The best way to get a referral from Meta is to contact someone you know who already works at the company.

Below, we'll discuss identifying and contacting those people or their second-degree connections.

Exponent

First, check out Exponent's referral database and request a referral from one of our alumni.

Over a million candidates have used Exponent's interview prep courses to help them land tech jobs.

LinkedIn

The easiest way to find referrals from people at Meta is by using LinkedIn's search function.

LinkedIn has a powerful advanced search feature that lets you browse people who currently work or used to work at the company and the role you’re applying to.

In LinkedIn search, search for the company you're applying to (in this case, Meta), click on “people,” and then click "All Filters" to see a panel like this one:

Filter by 1st-degree or 2nd-degree connections to see the individuals within your network.

We've included the filter for the previous company so that those who used to work at Meta can contact others they know at the company.

University Alumni

If you're affiliated with a university, there are often alumni networks and programs you can reach out to.

Browse through the university network and find people who might be a good fit and would be interested. Ideally, they currently work at the company.

You can also use LinkedIn’s advanced search feature to narrow your search to alumni from specific universities.

Personal Network

Seeking a referral from someone within your network is the best way to achieve a referral.

Let your personal network know you are applying for a role at Meta, and then let your network do the work for you.

You can do this by directly contacting people via phone, text, or DM. Social media posts about your job search can also help generate a referral.

Someone you have met in person or know personally can give you a stronger referral and speak to your personal character, work ethic, and fitness for the job and company.

This can go a long way in helping you get an interview or a job.

Asking for a Referral

Asking for a referral can feel uncomfortable or daunting, especially if you don’t know the person well.

There’s always a risk of the person not responding or declining your referral request.

However, many large tech companies incentivize their employees to make referrals.

Let’s dive into how to draft cold email requests.

Close connection

For a close connection — someone you know personally or consider a friend — you can send a relatively simple and personable request similar to how you would usually talk to them. 

Take a look at the following:

“Hey, Stephen!

I'm applying for several jobs, including the Meta Machine Learning Engineer role.

I know you currently work there, and I heard that getting a referral might help me get an interview. Would you be able to refer me?

I'm happy to provide you with more materials to make the process as easy as possible!”

Make sure to consider the following when drafting your request:

• Keep it personal. This is your friend; there is no need to be formal.
• Explain the role you're applying for. Set the context for your friend.
• Explain why their referral would help. The part of your email that reads: "Getting a referral might help me get an interview," helps explain to your friend why their recommendation is valuable to you.
• Offer to help. This request doesn't end here; offer to provide more information to ensure it's as easy a process for them as possible.

Less close connection

Now, let’s tackle a cold email to someone a bit more distant through an alumni network or someone you know professionally.

Here's an example:

“Hey, Stephen!

I'm a Greendale University student, and I'm applying for a Meta Machine Learning Engineer role this year.

I saw that you are currently working at Meta as a data scientist. This is my dream job, especially as I learn about the possibilities of artificial intelligence in my classes.

I saw that you've contributed to Meta’s Recommendation Algorithm, one of my favorite parts of Meta.

I'm seeking your advice on applying to the Meta Machine Learning Engineer position and what working at Meta has been like for you. I'd also love to ask you for a referral if, following our conversation, you think I might be a good fit for the role.

Let me know if you'd like to have a conversation. I'm happy to accommodate your schedule.

Here are some critical elements of this message:

• Mention the connection. Highlight what brings you together, whether your university or a mutual friend.
• Do your research. Show that you've done the research about the person you are reaching out to. What about their profile, in particular, is relevant to you?
• Be upfront. Don't hide that you're looking for a referral. Instead, talk about how you are seeking a referral and seeking further advice and support in the process.
• Clear action item. Offer dates and times to connect so they can easily take the next step in the process.

Friend of a Friend

Sometimes, you'll want a friend or colleague to ask someone in their network on your behalf.

Here's an example:

“Hey, Stephen!

I'm applying for a few roles, including the Meta Machine Learning Engineer role.

I've heard that getting a referral boosts my chances of landing the job. I saw you're connected to Martha Stewart, a Data Scientist at Meta.

I thought we'd be a good fit because we both have experience in the public and private sectors.

Would you be willing to pass along a message on my behalf (I can draft it!) and see if she'd be open to chatting with me?

Here are some critical elements of this message:

• Explain why your mutual friend can help you. Why should your friend connect you to this person? Explain what makes this connection worthwhile.
• Offer to draft the message. Don't simply ask to be connected. Instead, offer to draft a quick message that your friend can send to your connection. This starts a "double opt-in" process — Martha must confirm she would like to connect with you before making the connection. Offering the request this way makes it easier for the friend to send it on your behalf.

After the Referral

When you get a referral from Meta, you will receive an email explaining that you were referred by an employee.

The email will contain a link to Meta’s Career Profile, where you can apply for up to 3 positions per referral. The referral link expires after 30 days, so act fast.

After you submit your application(s), you will receive an email telling you you will hear back from a recruiter within 10 days to 2 weeks. From there, all that’s left to do is wait.

While a referral does not guarantee an interview, it will certainly help your application and be useful to recruiters throughout the interview process.

However, whether or not you have a referral, you should still formally apply for the role on the Meta Careers page.

Don’t be surprised if the interviewer asks you about the person who referred you. Be ready to explain how you know the person who referred you and show familiarity with their position at Meta.

Once you receive a recruiter's email or phone call, you should focus on preparing for the interview.

Meta Interview Process

The Meta interview process can take anywhere from about 4 weeks to 2 months and involves:

• A screening call with a recruiter,
• A domain-specific screening call,
• An entire loop with a mix of domain-specific and behavioral rounds.

Meta prides itself on hiring creative professionals who can learn and adapt to precarious environments rather than domain experts.

The structure is flat rather than following a vertical hierarchical structure, meaning you will likely be interviewed by a mix of peers, higher-ups, and cross-functional partners.

Meta’s technical interviews are known to be challenging, so make sure to spend time brushing up on your technical area knowledge. Remember that these interviews are meant to examine your thoughts and work in an ambiguous environment, so don’t worry about being perfect.

After you finish the whole round of interviews, you should get an answer from a Meta recruiter within a week or two.

More Resources

Ready to ace your Meta interview? Study up with these other resources available through Exponent:

• Meta interview guides
• Top Meta interview questions
• Meta PM interview course
• Practice mock interviews with peers