Wise Recruitment Process: Maki Tests & Interview Tips

If you're applying to Wise (TransferWise), you're aiming to join one of the most innovative and fast-growing fintech companies in the world. Wise enables millions of people and businesses to send, receive, and manage money across borders - and to support this mission, the company looks for candidates who are analytical, adaptable, and strongly aligned with its values of transparency, customer obsession, and ownership.

As a candidate, it's important to understand that Wise's recruitment process is selective and designed to identify individuals who can thrive in a fast-paced, data-driven environment. A key part of this process is the online assessment stage. Wise uses Maki, a modern testing platform built to measure real skills through short, focused evaluations. Depending on the role you're applying for, you may be assessed on numerical reasoning, programming skills, verbal comprehension, logical thinking, situational judgement, behavioural traits, role-specific simulations, and more.

These assessments help Wise evaluate how you think, how you make decisions, and how you would perform in realistic work situations. With the right preparation, you can approach them confidently and demonstrate your full potential.

This page guides you through each step of the Wise recruitment process, breaks down the Maki assessments in detail, and provides preparation strategies to help you maximise your chances of success.

Good to know about the Wise recruitment process

• Wise currently employs around 6,500 people worldwide, showing how quickly the company has expanded in recent years.
• Its workforce has grown by close to 18% in just one year, moving from roughly 5,500 employees in 2024 to about 6,500 in 2025.
• Most of Wise's employees are involved in customer operations and support, while a significant share work in product, engineering, and technology teams, reflecting the company's strong focus on user experience and product development.
• Wise has increased its hiring and marketing efforts globally, especially in the United States, as part of its broader growth strategy and preparation for a potential listing on Wall Street.
• Because the company continues to scale at a fast pace, it regularly recruits candidates across a wide range of roles, from operations and customer support to engineering, product, compliance, and more.
• Wise relies on Maki for its online assessments, using short, skills-based tests to identify applicants who can adapt quickly and perform well in a dynamic environment.

Recruitment process at Wise

Although the exact steps may vary depending on the role and location, most candidates go through a similar structure throughout the hiring journey.

Step 1 - Application

The recruitment process at Wise begins with an online application where you submit your CV and answer a few short questions about your motivation and experience. Wise places strong emphasis on clarity and relevance, so your answers should be concise, concrete, and focused on real examples from your past roles. This first stage helps the hiring team understand whether your background aligns with the responsibilities of the position and whether you're a good match for the company's mission and values.

Tips to succeed in this stage:

• Make sure your CV is clean, structured, and easy to read.
• Highlight achievements rather than responsibilities-Wise values measurable impact.
• Tailor your application to the role by selecting examples that show why you are a strong fit.
• Answer the motivation questions clearly and avoid generic statements; show that you understand Wise's mission and what attracts you to the role.
• If you have experience in fast-paced, customer-focused, or data-driven environments, make sure to mention it.

Step 2 - Interviews

The interview stage at Wise begins with a conversation with one of the company's recruiters, usually over the phone or on Zoom. This first discussion gives Wise an initial sense of your experience, motivation, and career goals, while also giving you the opportunity to learn more about the role, the team, and the hiring journey ahead. If you progress to the next stage, you meet the people you may later work with, including team members and your prospective lead.

These conversations focus on what the role involves day to day, the impact you can have, and how your working style aligns with Wise's values. You can expect a combination of open-ended and scenario-based questions that explore how you make decisions, collaborate with others, and respond to practical challenges. Depending on the role, you may also complete a technical assignment, case study, take-home task, or other job-specific exercise.

Engineering candidates often participate in paired programming sessions or system-design discussions that take place on platforms such as HackerRank or LeetCode, where you work through technical problems alongside an interviewer. Product candidates, meanwhile, are assessed on product thinking, stakeholder collaboration, and their approach to solving meaningful customer problems. While most interviews take place online, some candidates may be invited to meet the team in person at a Wise office.

Tips to succeed in this stage:

• Review the job description carefully and prepare examples that demonstrate relevant skills and achievements.
• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly and convincingly.
• Learn about Wise's mission, culture, and operating principles so you can show how your values align with the company.
• Prepare thoughtful questions for the team-Wise appreciates curiosity and candidates who think critically about the role.
• For technical roles, practise coding exercises, system design concepts, and common interview patterns on platforms like HackerRank or LeetCode.
• Ensure you have a stable internet connection, a quiet environment, and the necessary tools ready, especially if you will be using a shared coding platform.

Step 3 - Online Assessments (Maki Tests)

Once the first interview stage is completed, many candidates are invited to take online assessments through Maki People, the external platform used by Wise to evaluate practical skills and cultural alignment. The tests you receive depend on the role, but most applicants complete a problem-solving exercise or an attention-to-detail assessment designed to measure accuracy, reasoning, and structured thinking. Some positions include questions on SQL or other programming languages, as well as numerical reasoning tasks, particularly when the role involves working with data. Many candidates also take the Wise Culture SJT, which explores decision-making and values alignment.

Another possible assessment is a short recorded video task where you answer three questions about yourself and how you relate to Wise's culture, helping the team understand your communication style and motivation. Common questions include: describing Wise's mission, explaining a mistake you learned from, and discussing how you handle negative feedback.

To prepare effectively, candidates can use our Wise - Maki Practice Test, which mirrors the formats used in the recruitment process. A free 10-question sample test is available to anyone who creates an account on our PracticeTestsCareers platform.

Tips to succeed in this stage:

• Practise under timed conditions to build speed and accuracy, especially for problem-solving and attention-to-detail tasks.
• Review SQL, Java, or other programming fundamentals, as well as numerical reasoning basics, if the role involves data work.
• Read Wise's mission and values before completing the Culture SJT or the video questions to better understand what Wise looks for.
• For the recorded video task, answer clearly and concisely, focusing on your reasoning rather than generic statements.
• Train with practice material similar to the real tests, such as our Wise - Maki Practice Test or the free sample available on our platform.

Step 4 - Offer

Once all interviews and assessments are completed, the hiring team meets to review the feedback gathered throughout the process and evaluate each candidate's overall performance. If you are selected for the role, your recruiter will contact you to present the offer and guide you through the details. After you accept, the Wise team will explain the onboarding process, outline what to expect during your first days, and help you prepare for your transition into the role. This final step marks the beginning of your journey as a new member of the Wise team.

Tips to succeed in this stage:

• Take time to review the offer carefully and prepare any questions you want to clarify with your recruiter.
• Make sure you understand the role expectations, onboarding timeline, and long-term career opportunities.
• If something is unclear or you need more information, ask openly-Wise values transparent communication.
• Once the offer is accepted, start familiarising yourself with Wise's mission, product, and culture to make your onboarding easier.
• If possible, review Wise's tools and documentation shared with you ahead of your start date so you feel prepared from day one.

Wise Values

Wise is a mission-driven company operating in a fast-changing environment, where teams are encouraged to innovate, learn quickly, and navigate challenges with a practical mindset. Because the organisation is working to transform the money-transfer industry on a global scale, it seeks people who care deeply about the mission, who focus on delivering meaningful outcomes, who prioritise customers above everything else, and who contribute to a calm and supportive work environment. These values shape the way Wise hires, collaborates, and measures impact across teams.

The four core values of Wise:

• This isn't just a job, it's a revolution - Wise looks for individuals who want to drive meaningful change, step out of their comfort zone, and work collaboratively to improve the way money moves worldwide.
• Getting things done - Ownership is highly valued. Wise expects people to take responsibility, overcome obstacles, and deliver results while maintaining a balanced and supportive approach to teamwork.
• Customers > team > ego - Decisions are anchored in what benefits customers first, with teamwork taking precedence over individual recognition. Humility and customer-centric thinking are central expectations.
• No drama, good karma - Wise encourages open communication, respect for different perspectives, and constructive discussion. The company places importance on transparency, assuming good intentions, and avoiding unnecessary conflict.

These values play an active role throughout the Wise recruitment process. Interviewers look for clear examples of how candidates make decisions, collaborate with others, handle challenges, and keep customers at the centre of their work. The Wise Culture Assessment on Maki also reflects these principles, presenting situational questions that evaluate whether a candidate's behaviour and reasoning align with the company's expectations. This specific test is included in our online preparation materials, allowing candidates to become familiar with the format and the type of judgement Wise looks for. Demonstrating behaviours consistent with these values can significantly strengthen a candidate's performance in both interviews and assessments.

Tips and advice to succeed in Wise assessments

The online assessments used by Wise are designed to be selective and fast-paced. They measure not only analytical ability, accuracy, and structured thinking, but also how well candidates can adapt to real-life decision-making scenarios. Preparing effectively can make a significant difference in your performance.

Here are some practical tips to maximise your chances:

• Practise regularly with timed exercises similar to Maki tests to improve both speed and accuracy.
• Review the fundamentals: logical reasoning, pattern recognition, basic maths, SQL essentials (if relevant), and careful reading for attention-to-detail tasks.
• Recreate real test conditions by working at a computer, limiting distractions, and timing each session. This helps you manage pressure during the actual assessment.
• Read instructions carefully-many mistakes come from rushing or overlooking key rules.
• Prepare for culture-based questions by familiarising yourself with Wise's values, as these are directly assessed in the Wise Culture SJT.
• For the video task, practise speaking clearly and structuring your answer: motivation → reasoning → example.
• Stay consistent in your reasoning across all assessments so your profile reflects a coherent decision-making style.

To go further, our Wise - Maki Practice Test replicates the types of assessments used in the hiring process, including the Culture SJT. You can also try a free 10-question sample test after creating an account on TestsCareers, giving you an authentic preview of the formats used by Wise.

Common interview questions at Wise

During interviews, Wise evaluates a mix of behavioural skills, technical ability (when relevant), product thinking, and alignment with the company's mission and values. Below are examples of questions frequently asked across different roles.

General questions

• What interests you about Wise's mission and values?
• Why do you want to work at Wise rather than another fintech company?
• Tell us about a time you failed. What happened, and how did you handle it?
• Describe a situation where you had to learn something quickly to solve a problem.
• What motivates you in your day-to-day work?

Culture and values questions

• Which of Wise's core values resonates most with you, and why?
• Describe a moment when you prioritised customer impact above your own preferences or comfort.
• Tell us about a time you contributed to a positive team environment.
• How do you handle disagreements or conflicting viewpoints at work?
• How do you ensure transparency and avoid unnecessary conflict in your team?

Technical and engineering questions

• Implement a circuit breaker pattern in a WebClient, and explain how you would adapt it if requirements changed mid-interview.
• How would you design a system to process international money transfers at scale?
• A WebClient calls Service B and Service C. If one fails three times in 10 minutes, stop calling it for 5 minutes before retrying. How would you implement this logic?
• Walk us through how you would improve this piece of code: what refactors, optimisations, and testing strategies would you use?
• How would you design or migrate to a new observability tool for the organisation?

Product and leadership questions

• How would you analyse and prioritise a request to move to a new monitoring or observability platform?
• Describe a time you influenced cross-functional teams to deliver a complex product.
• How do you define success for a product you manage?
• How do you grow teams, make hiring decisions, and manage technical or product debt?
• What approach do you take when revenue impact and technical trade-offs conflict?

Case studies and real-world challenges

• Wise may present a real operational or technical challenge, not a hypothetical case. Be prepared to analyse large, complex problems such as cross-border transaction optimisation or fraud detection.
• Some candidates are asked to produce a written document (1-2 pages) explaining their strategic approach to scaling, revenue contribution, hiring philosophy, or technical architecture.

HR questions

• Why are you leaving your current company?
• What makes you a strong fit for this role at Wise?
• Can you walk us through your most impactful project in the past year?
• How do you continue developing your technical or professional skills?

FAQ - Wise Interview Process

Conclusion

Preparing for the Wise recruitment process requires a solid understanding of the company's values, a clear grasp of the skills being assessed, and the ability to perform under time pressure across different interview stages. Whether you are applying for a role in engineering, product, data, or operations, Wise expects candidates to demonstrate structured thinking, ownership, and a customer-focused mindset. The online assessments on Maki People and the culture-based questions play a central role in evaluating how well you would contribute to Wise's mission.

With the right preparation, you can approach each stage with confidence and significantly increase your chances of success. Our Wise - Maki Practice Tests and free sample assessment give you realistic training aligned with the formats used in the hiring process, helping you become familiar with the test structure, improve your accuracy, and refine your reasoning. By preparing effectively and understanding what Wise looks for, you give yourself a strong advantage throughout the application journey.