Submitted the initial challenge, which many candidates seem to find challenging. Had a conversation with the recruiter, which went well. Received a take-home assignment that was somewhat complex due to unclear instructions, but I approached it as an opportunity to demonstrate problem-solving skills. Spoke with the hiring manager, which was a positive experience. Presented my solution in a PowerPoint presentation to three senior engineers during the final stage. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it through the last stage and received a rejection. The feedback I got was that it was a difficult decision for them, and they encouraged me to reapply when the position reopens in five months. While the recruiter was kind and professional, I found the outcome disappointing, especially after investing significant time and effort into the take-home and presentation. During the process, I was told they were happy with my solution and my presentation. I provided a comprehensive explanation of the business impacts and scale of the problem. However, their rejection cited that I didn’t adequately answer some questions, which seemed inconsistent with the feedback during the interview. Adding to the frustration, a month later, I noticed they posted a senior position similar to the role I interviewed for. I reached out to the recruiter but received no response. Later, another recruiter contacted me, seemingly unaware of my prior interaction with the company. This lack of communication and respect for candidates' time has been disappointing. Another observation I made during my interviews was a lack of diversity. The interviewers seemed very similar in background and demeanor, which left me questioning whether their hiring decisions prioritize a specific “profile.” This might not have been a factor in my case, but it’s worth noting for others considering applying.

I also took on the notorious screening test that everyone else here has discussed. Everyone else has already expressed why it's very silly, so I won't weight in. Regardless, I received their special token of acknowledgment that I was able to adequately complete their exercise that was completely immaterial to the position (IMO, a new grad with good ChatGPT skills could complete it). Next, I spoke with a seemingly thoughtful design manager. They acknowledged the unrealistic expectations of a single hire and their ability to complete the posted responsibilities alone, but we left the door open to ways to mitigate that down the line should I be hired. Next steps were a presentation on my most previous work on a Design System. I thought, "maybe I ought to use a case study from a very applicable situation where appropriate resourcing wasn't an option, and how I overcame that obstacle to find success." Instead, the panel let me talk through how I would solve this exact problem—scaling the expertise of one person to arrive at a solution that required a half-dozen other people—in front of them for about 45 minutes, but at the end, the panelists asked why I didn't just do it all myself as a single person. I tried to explain why but it wasn't sticking. I got a rejection the next day, directly from the design manager., explaining why. However, the feedback was exactly what I'd anticipated; "we want to see how you just do everything yourself." This expectation from Pulley reveals that they are completely in over their heads with what to expect from the role. Bullet dodged.