How long does the Duffel interview process take?

Most candidates spend between 4 and 8 weeks from recruiter screen to offer. The onsite loop itself runs in a single day or is split across two half-days, with debrief and offer typically within 5 business days after.

How should I prepare specifically for Duffel?

Focus on three things: (1) the company DNA shown above — what they actually grade for, (2) the rounds in your loop, especially the round most candidates underestimate, and (3) drilling on the question types in this guide using a structured framework like CIRCLES or STAR.

Does this apply to engineering or design roles at Duffel?

The DNA stays the same — what changes is the round mix. SWE candidates face coding screens instead of Product Sense; designers face portfolio reviews and design exercises. The "what they value" and behavioral signals carry across all functions.

Other roles at Duffel:Product Manager Software Engineer Sales Customer Success Solutions Architect

Growth · Sales Interview Guide

Applies via Ashby

How to Pass the Duffel Sales Interview in 2026

The Duffel DNA (TL;DR)

Duffel values candidates who demonstrate strong analytical problem-solving, technical proficiency, and a deep understanding of API-first products. They seek individuals who are proactive, customer-centric (especially for developer users), and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving travel tech landscape.

The Duffel Interview Loop

Your onsite loop will typically consist of 5 rounds.

1
Round 1
Recruiter Screen
Motivation, territory fit, logistics.
2
Round 2
Sales Pitch / Demo
Pitching the company's product to a mock prospect.
3
Round 3
Deal Strategy
Pipeline management, multi-stakeholder navigation, MEDDIC qualification.
4
Round 4
Customer Discovery
Asking diagnostic questions, surfacing pain, qualifying.
5
Round 5
Behavioral / Leadership
Past evidence of ownership, influence, resolving conflict.

The Danger Zone: Top Reasons Candidates Fail

Based on our database of Duffel interview outcomes, avoid these common traps:

Vague descriptions of pipeline stages without specific actions or criteria for moving deals forward.
Underestimating the importance of IT and procurement in enterprise sales, or failing to engage them early.
Focusing too much on technical features of the API without translating them into business benefits for the OTA.
Describing an unresolved conflict.

Test Yourself: Real Duffel Questions

Three real prompts pulled from our database.

Type · Ownership

Tell me about a time you took ownership of a problem that wasn't strictly within your job description. What was the situation, and what did you do?

Type · Product Pitch

Imagine you're pitching Duffel's API to a mid-sized online travel agency (OTA) that currently uses a fragmented system of airline direct connects and GDS. Pitch them on why they should integrate with Duffel.

Type · Conflict Resolution

Tell me about a time you had a significant disagreement with a cross-functional team member (e.g., engineer, designer, marketer) about a product decision. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?

+ many more questions, signals, and worked examples

Unlock the rubric →

Duffel Interview Question Bank

A sample from our database, grouped by round. Sign up to see the full set.

9 of 19 questions shown

Recruiter Screen

1
Type · Motivation
What interests you about working in sales for a travel tech company like Duffel, and what do you know about our specific market position?

Sales Pitch / Demo

2
Type · Product Pitch
Imagine you're pitching Duffel's API to a mid-sized online travel agency (OTA) that currently uses a fragmented system of airline direct connects and GDS. Pitch them on why they should integrate with Duffel.
3
Type · Objection Handling
During your pitch, the OTA manager says, 'We're concerned about the reliability and uptime of a single API provider. What guarantees do you have regarding Duffel's service level agreements (SLAs)?'
+ 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)

Deal Strategy

4
Type · Pipeline Management
Describe your process for managing a sales pipeline. How do you prioritize opportunities, and what metrics do you track to ensure you're on pace to meet targets?
5
Type · MEDDIC Qualification
Walk me through how you would apply the MEDDIC framework to qualify a potential enterprise client for Duffel. Give specific examples for each letter.
+ 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)

Customer Discovery

6
Type · Diagnostic Questions
A potential client, a travel management company, mentions they are looking to 'improve their booking experience.' What are the first 5 diagnostic questions you would ask to understand their specific needs and pain points?
7
Type · Surfacing Pain
The client says, 'Our current system is just slow.' How do you dig deeper to understand the *business impact* of this 'slowness'?
+ 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)

Behavioral / Leadership

8
Type · Conflict Resolution
Tell me about a time you had a significant disagreement with a cross-functional team member (e.g., engineer, designer, marketer) about a product decision. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?
9
Type · Ownership
Tell me about a time you took ownership of a problem that wasn't strictly within your job description. What was the situation, and what did you do?
+ 7 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)