The company provided a coding challenge in advance, but during the live interview the task was changed without prior notice. I was expected to work in a large unfamiliar codebase and implement backend functionality under significant time pressure. The process felt disorganized from the start. The technical environment did not function as expected, APIs and requirements were unclear, and parts of the exercise appeared disconnected from the company’s actual technology stack. There was a noticeable gap between the hiring process and the engineering reality, which led to inconsistent expectations throughout the session. More concerning was the lack of technical coherence during the discussion. Some fundamental aspects of the codebase and system design could not be clearly articulated when questions arose, which was surprising given the context of the interview and the seniority implied by the role. Overall, the interview did not resemble a structured or rigorous technical evaluation. Candidates should be prepared for a improvised experience rather than a well-calibrated assessment.

The HR interview was unusually long and exhausting, stretching to almost an hour of relentless questioning about cultural fit, past experiences, and mandatory office days. After reflecting on my interview, I'm confident I communicated effectively and professionally. Despite this, I was rejected before even getting the chance to take the technical assessment, which should be the true measure of a candidate's potential contribution. The stated reason was that they chose someone who could start sooner, but with multiple positions open, this explanation didn't seem genuine. It felt like the HR representative was acting as a gatekeeper, making decisions based on personal impression rather than objective qualifications.

I had only 2 interviews (HR, Pair Programming). After the last one, I didn't receive any feedback, so I asked for the status, but no one got me back. Still don't know whether I've been rejected or not