The full interview process occurred in 4 stages
The first stage was a call from the recruiter. It was somewhat informal. We talked about my background, my design process, experience etc. to see if I was enough of a fit to move on to the next stage. The recruiter was really friendly and helpful.
The second stage was a rather simple HTML/CSS coding test on Hackerrank. After I had completed the test, the recruiter informed me that I would move on to the next stage (which would be the technical interview). He also told me what to expect and what to prepare for before the next stage.
The third stage was the technical interview, which was further divided into three parts:
- The first part included talking about myself, my background, my experiences etc. I was asked to select a design from my portfolio and go through it. The most important things they were looking out for was my design process, how I measure success, and how I conducted user research and testing.
- The second part was a coding test. Before this test, make sure you know the details about box-sizing and CSS specificity.
- The third part involved talking about 3 actionable changes that I would make to the site. Don't go all out and want to revamp the site or add new features. Think small. Also, think of why you're making the changes and how you would test them in an A/B test. They are looking out for your understanding of good and effective A/B testing.
After I completed the technical stage, my recruiter informed me that I would move on to the final face-to-face interview in Amsterdam. This interview involved four stages:
- 1st stage: A talk with HR where we discussed the package, relocation, living in Amsterdam etc.
- 2nd stage: A tech interview that involved coding, discussing my background, experiences, measures of success etc. I also went through the 3 actionable changes from before.
- 3rd stage: A design-thinking exercise where they test your problem-solving skills, business strategy, and design process. They will most likely ask you to solve a problem that's not strictly within the web/tech industry. This shouldn't scare you. Just follow the same process you would if it were in the web industry. Also, consider how you would test your solution.
- 4th stage: An informal talk where they would try to gauge my personality, motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and cultural fit within the company. They also wanted to know the areas or skills that I would like to develop.
My recruiter and interviewers were all really great and friendly. It was a great experience all in all. You don't have to be perfect - they're not looking for that. If you don't know what the answer is, admit that you don't but show an eagerness to learn.