Factorial Product Designer Interview Questions
& Process

My interview got set up pretty quick after I applied. The first meeting was just an intro to the role and company stuff. After that, we got into the actual job-related interviews, which included a design assessment test. That part took about 1 to 1.5 hours and had some specific questions to check my skills.

I applied for a Product Designer role at Factorial after they reached out saying my profile was a great fit, even suggesting me for higher roles due to my experience. The interview process was long and messy, with changes as we went, which made it frustrating. First, there was a 45-minute HR chat where they checked my experience and motivations. They laid out the plan: a chat with the design director, a technical test, and if I passed, a review of the test with the team, and finally, a meeting with the CTO. Then, I had interviews with the Product Director. The first one, supposed to be an hour, went for 1.5 hours. Most questions weren't about the role or my experience but more like gossip about how other companies work and team structures in my past jobs. After that, they scheduled another meeting with the same Product Director, which wasn't in the original plan. This one was another hour, making it 2.5 hours total with them. In this second chat, I presented a portfolio case, which was supposed to happen in the first meeting. Next was a disproportionately hard technical test with an 8-hour limit. It was impossible to solve it with the depth they wanted, including designing a solution, an interactive prototype, a presentation, and all the documentation, in that time. I spent more time than they gave to try and make it as solid as possible. The feedback on the test was overly detailed and unrealistic, treating it like a final product instead of a timed exercise. They criticized me for not developing things that weren't clearly asked for in the prompt. They also judged the UI design with undue subjectivity for a technical test. They didn't evaluate my analytical skills, prioritization, or how I structured the solution under time constraints, only the final deliverable with unreasonable expectations.

The initial chat with the recruiter went fine, but then the hiring manager interview was a bit chaotic. Usually, a casual chat is fine, but this time it felt like I was bombarded with random questions. I barely got a word in before another question was thrown at me. I was meant to present a project at the end, but we ran out of time because of all the initial questions, and I had to rush my answers. They also didn't give me a chance to ask my questions at the end. They told me I wasn't a fit for a staff product designer role, which I didn't even apply for. It really felt like the hiring manager and recruiter weren't on the same page, making it a waste of time for everyone.