Draper Interview Questions
& Process

So, there were like two rounds. The first one was a phone call, kind of a behavioral thing. Then the second one was a technical interview over video, where the interviewer shared slides and asked questions based on them.

They mostly asked me about my previous work, the projects I've done, and how I solve technical challenges. There were also a couple of questions about cantilever beams to check my basic knowledge of mechanics. The vibe was really good, super clear, and direct. The person interviewing me made it easy to talk and follow along.

I was contacted by the team for an interview, but they scheduled it without asking for my availability first. After some back-and-forth emails, we managed to set up a video call with the hiring manager. During this first interview, the hiring manager asked for writing samples, which I sent via email afterwards. I also proactively provided my availability for the following week in case they wanted to proceed. After they reviewed the samples, I received an invitation for a follow-up on-site panel interview with members of Draper's team, which was supposed to be the final stage. I wasn't told who would be on the panel, and the proposed date was again inconvenient. After requesting and receiving the names of the panel members, I attended the second, in-person interview. It seemed to go okay, though there was a strange moment where the head of the team debated with me about the distance between Long Island City and Manhattan. Other than that, the interview felt reasonably good. The hiring manager mentioned they'd make a decision within a day or two and would let me know by then. She also hinted that the team lead might want another writing sample, though she didn't think it was necessary. Later that same day, I received an email asking for a writing exercise to be completed by 10 am the next day. I found this unprofessional given the short notice, but I completed and submitted it that night. I didn't get confirmation of receipt. Three days later, I got an automated rejection email stating I didn't meet minimum qualifications, which surprised me given my extensive experience and the two interviews. I found their process to be unprofessional and off-putting.

Draper's interview process was quick and they were communicative and responsive throughout. There was a recruiter screen (combo of screen + deeper interview questions) and then a four-person in-person panel interview with behavioral and scenario based interview questions. While I did not advance beyond this stage, I appreciated the efficiency (~2.5 weeks from application to turndown) and humanity (call from recruiter vs generic system email turndown) of their process, both of which have generally been lacking across the board during my job search process.