kevin. Software Engineer Interview Questions
& Process

I applied via LinkedIn. First, I had a video call with a Recruiter. At the end of that call, they gave me a Java Spring project. I had to analyze it and write down improvements, implement them if possible, or add comments in the code. Then, I had a 2-hour video call with a tech lead for a code interview. It focused on the Java Spring project. In the first 15 minutes, I talked about the improvements I planned and made. The rest of the interview involved adding more features to the project live. For live coding, make sure your IDE is ready before the call, and explain your thoughts before coding. If a solution is long, add comments explaining your steps and then write the code. This way, the recruiter can confirm if you're on the right track. Comments are also good if you're short on time. Lastly, there was a cultural fit interview with the hiring manager where I was asked about past projects, challenges, and similar things.

The hiring journey kicked off with a brief 15-minute chat. Right after, they sent over a technical challenge. I got to work on it at my own speed, and when I felt ready, I scheduled the technical interview. This interview was pretty much a two-hour code review of my submitted solution, with a small bit of live coding thrown in. Passing that meant I moved on to a cultural chat with the team lead. During this chat, the lead gave me the lowdown on the role, the team dynamics, and the kind of challenges I'd encounter if I got the job. They also asked me to share a bit about my background and posed a lot of questions like, 'Tell me about a time in your career when you had to deal with a specific issue...'. Honestly, I really enjoyed the whole experience. I especially liked that they gave me the technical challenge to work on for a few days, which felt like a realistic work task, unlike those timed algorithm tests some places use. Plus, they were super quick with their responses and moving things along. I only had to wait a day after the technical interview and two days for an offer after my final interview. All in all, a fantastic process.

I had a good chat with HR, they were very nice. Then I had two code review interviews with engineers who were extremely arrogant. They were very dismissive and acted like they were on a power trip. For example, after I admitted I hadn't thought of a certain idea, one interviewer said it wasn't just a good idea, but a 'brilliant' one, and continued to make similar comments. It felt like there was no real discussion, just them trying to assert dominance. Surprisingly, HR said the feedback was positive and wanted to discuss compensation, but I decided not to proceed because I didn't want to work with those engineers.