Building “Minicom”: How our engineering interviews illustrate our values

At Intercom, the company's engineering interview process is designed to showcase its values and culture through a unique challenge called "Minicom," where candidates build a smaller version of the Intercom Messenger within a set timeframe. This approach emphasizes the importance of iterating quickly, shipping small products, and learning from failures, reflecting the company's philosophy of starting small and building cupcake-sized products. The interview process also highlights the value placed on collaboration, with pairing sessions that mimic real-world experiences, allowing candidates to work together with Intercom engineers to solve problems. Additionally, the company prioritizes learning curves, hiring individuals who demonstrate strong fundamentals and a fast rate of learning, as they scale with the company's growth. By doing so, Intercom aims to create a transparent and personal interview process that not only evaluates candidates but also provides them with a valuable experience that can be shared with others.