Technology and Software

How to Get a Job at GitLab

GitLab is an all-remote software company with a public hiring handbook, role-based interview steps, and values-driven evaluation. This guide explains how to apply, what to expect, and how to prepare.

Verified August 26, 20262,108 words14 public sources

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Quick answer

To get a job at GitLab, apply through the official jobs page, tailor your resume to the role, and study GitLab’s public handbook, values, and operating principles. Expect a process that may include screening, assessments, technical interviews, team interviews, references, and background checks, but the exact loop varies by role, location, and seniority.

About GitLab

GitLab is a technology and software company that operates as an all-remote employer. Its careers pages and public handbook emphasize transparent hiring, role-based evaluation, and a candidate experience grounded in company values, operating principles, and competency-based interviews.

Who may be a strong fit

GitLab may be a strong fit if you want remote-first work, a public and structured hiring process, and a company that evaluates candidates on both role skills and alignment with values like collaboration, transparency, iteration, and results for customers.

Roles and departments

Engineering

GitLab publicly shows engineering-related job families in its handbook library, including technical and leadership tracks. These roles are typically evaluated with role-specific competencies and, for some positions, technical interview exercises.

Backend EngineerFrontend EngineerFullstack EngineerInfrastructure EngineerSite Reliability EngineerDatabase Reliability EngineerMachine Learning EngineerEngineering Manager

Customer Support

GitLab’s customer support hiring guidance is public and role-specific. Candidates are encouraged to review eligibility details and present a resume that clearly shows relevant skills and experience.

Support EngineerSupport ManagerSupport Readiness Specialist

Talent Acquisition / People Group

GitLab publicly documents recruiting and candidate-experience-related roles in its handbook library, showing that it hires for people, sourcing, and recruiting functions as well as product and engineering work.

RecruiterSourcerCandidate ExperienceTalent BrandTalent Enablement

The hiring process

GitLab’s public candidate handbook lists a multi-stage process that can include application review, a screening call, assessments for some roles, technical interviews for some roles, team interviews, references and TMRG connection, and finally offer plus background screening.

The exact interview loop varies by role, and GitLab explicitly says some steps—especially assessments and technical interviews—are only required for certain roles. Screening-call length can also vary, with specialist roles sometimes taking longer.

1) Application process

What to expect

You apply through GitLab’s jobs site, and the company says it aims to review every application, though not every applicant will receive a response.

How to prepare

Submit a role-matched resume, read the full job description, and confirm that your experience aligns with the listed responsibilities and location/eligibility notes.

2) Screening call

What to expect

A recruiter or hiring team member may hold an initial call, typically around 30–40 minutes, though some specialist roles may require more time.

How to prepare

Be ready to summarize your background, why you want the role, the scope of your work, and any constraints around location, work authorization, or schedule.

3) Assessment or technical interview

What to expect

Some roles include an assessment or a technical interview. GitLab’s technical guidance says certain technical interviews may be based on a merge request exercise shared at least 72 hours in advance.

How to prepare

Practice explaining your approach, not just your answer. For technical roles, review relevant systems, code quality, debugging, collaboration, and how you would work through a merge request.

4) Team interviews

What to expect

You may meet with the hiring manager and other team members to discuss skills, working style, collaboration, and role-specific scenarios.

How to prepare

Prepare examples that show ownership, communication, customer focus, and how you work in a remote environment. Use concise stories that map to the competencies in the job description.

5) References and TMRG connection

What to expect

GitLab’s candidate process can include reference checks and a TMRG connection stage.

How to prepare

Keep references informed, choose people who can speak to your recent work, and be ready to discuss how you work with diverse teams in a remote setting.

6) Offer and background screening

What to expect

If selected, the process concludes with an offer and background screening.

How to prepare

Review the offer carefully, confirm any remaining eligibility questions, and respond promptly to requests from the recruiting team.

Application and resume strategy

The strongest application strategy for GitLab is to match your materials to the specific role, demonstrate relevant competencies, and show that you understand GitLab’s remote-first culture and public values. Because the hiring process varies by function, tailor your approach to the exact job family rather than using a generic software-company application.

Application steps

Start with the official jobs board and save the live description for the role you want.
Read GitLab’s candidate handbook, values, and operating principles before applying.
Match your resume to the job’s responsibilities, tools, and competencies.
If the role is remote or location-sensitive, verify eligibility before submitting.
Prepare a short explanation of why GitLab and why this role fit your background.
Follow up professionally if you are contacted, and keep your availability clear.

Resume tips

Lead with measurable impact, not just responsibilities.
Use bullets that show the outcome of your work, especially for customer-facing, technical, or cross-functional projects.
For support roles, explicitly show relevant skills and experience, since GitLab’s guidance calls this out.
For technical roles, include collaboration signals such as code reviews, merge requests, debugging, and system ownership.
Keep the resume easy to scan and aligned to the role description rather than overloading it with unrelated detail.

Useful resume keywords

Use only the terms that truthfully match your experience and the live job description.

remote collaborationcustomer outcomesownershipiterationtransparencycross-functional communicationmerge requestscode reviewincident responsecustomer supportstakeholder managementbackendfrontendfullstackinfrastructuresite reliabilitymachine learning

Networking tips

Use GitLab’s public handbook and jobs pages to understand the language the company uses before you reach out to employees or recruiters.
If you network, keep your message specific: mention the role family, why it fits, and one or two ways your experience aligns.
Focus on thoughtful questions about the team, responsibilities, and remote collaboration rather than asking for a referral upfront.
If you connect with current employees, ask what competencies matter most in the role and how the team works asynchronously.
Be respectful of GitLab’s transparent, public-first culture by showing that you have already done your homework.

Interview preparation

GitLab’s public interview guidance points to a competency-based process that evaluates both values and role skills. The safest preparation approach is to study the job description, prepare evidence for the relevant competencies, and practice explaining how you work in an all-remote environment.

Themes to prepare

Role-specific technical or functional depth
Collaboration in remote and asynchronous settings
Ownership and accountability
Customer outcomes and business impact
Transparency and clear communication
Iteration and continuous improvement
Values alignment with GitLab’s public principles

Preparation tips

Answer with specific examples and outcomes.
Tie examples back to the competencies in the job description.
For technical interviews, be ready to explain tradeoffs, testing, and debugging steps.
For remote roles, show how you communicate clearly, document decisions, and keep work moving without constant meetings.
If you are given an exercise in advance, use the time to understand requirements and prepare questions.
Review GitLab’s values and operating principles so your examples sound natural and grounded.

Practice questions

1Tell me about a project where you had to work asynchronously with a distributed team.
2Walk me through a time you improved a process, product, or customer outcome.
3Describe a situation where you had to balance speed and quality.
4What is an example of a difficult problem you solved and how did you approach it?
5How do you handle feedback, code review, or cross-functional disagreement?
6For technical roles: how would you review or improve this change set?
7For support roles: how do you prioritize customer issues and communicate clearly under pressure?

Your 30-day application plan

Days 1-7

Understand GitLab and choose the right role target.

Review the official careers page, jobs board, candidate handbook, values, and operating principles.
Pick one or two role families that match your background.
Save the live job description and note required competencies, tools, and eligibility rules.
Draft a short application narrative: why this role, why GitLab, why now.

Days 8-14

Tailor your application materials.

Rewrite your resume for the target role using measurable outcomes.
Add keywords and experience from the job description in a natural way.
Prepare a clean list of projects, tools, and results you can discuss in interviews.
If needed, update your LinkedIn or portfolio to reflect the same positioning.

Days 15-21

Practice interview stories and role-specific exercises.

Create STAR-style stories for collaboration, ownership, iteration, and customer impact.
For technical roles, practice explaining a recent project, debugging approach, or code review example.
For support roles, rehearse clear examples of handling customers, prioritizing issues, and communicating under pressure.
Do a mock interview and refine weak answers.

Days 22-30

Apply, network, and stay organized.

Submit the application through the official jobs site.
Reach out to one or two relevant contacts with a short, specific message.
Track application status, interview dates, and follow-up items.
Prepare logistics for remote interviews, including a quiet environment, notes, and a stable connection.

Frequently asked questions

Does GitLab hire remote workers?+

Yes. GitLab describes itself as an all-remote company and says its working style is designed for flexibility. Always confirm location eligibility on the live job posting before you apply.

What are the main hiring stages at GitLab?+

GitLab’s public candidate handbook lists application, screening call, assessment for some roles, technical interview for some roles, team interviews, references and TMRG connection, and offer plus background screening. The exact process varies by role.

How long is the screening call?+

GitLab says the screening call is typically 30 to 40 minutes, but some specialist roles may take longer.

What should I put on my resume for GitLab?+

Use a resume that highlights the skills and experience most relevant to the role. Focus on measurable outcomes, clear collaboration examples, and role-specific tools or responsibilities.

Does GitLab look for values fit?+

Yes. GitLab publicly lists values such as collaboration, results for customers, efficiency, diversity/inclusion/belonging, iteration, and transparency, and it also uses operating principles in hiring conversations.

Will every technical role include a test?+

No. GitLab says assessments and technical interviews are required only for certain roles, so the exact process depends on the position.

Should I mention AI use in an interview?+

If you use AI, GitLab’s careers page points candidates to its guidance on using AI in interviews. Review that page carefully and be transparent about your use so you stay within the company’s expectations.

Where should I apply for GitLab jobs?+

Use GitLab’s official jobs page and current openings board. Because roles change frequently, verify the posting details before applying.

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Sources and methodology

This guide is based on publicly available GitLab sources and general job-search advice. Hiring practices and openings can change at any time, so confirm details on the official careers site before applying.

If you want to get hired at GitLab, focus on three things: a role-matched application, evidence of the competencies that matter for the job, and clear preparation for a remote, values-driven interview process. GitLab’s public handbook gives candidates more transparency than many companies, but the details still vary by role, so always check the live job post before applying.

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