Picnic Java Developer Interview Questions
& Process

First, an HR screening where they asked about you, your background, and motivation. Then, a test task where you had to solve a real-life use case. After that, a tech interview with questions about your technical background, motivation, and a discussion about your test task decisions. Next, a behavioral interview asking about how you handle different situations from your previous experience and how you approach hard tasks. Finally, a pair-programming session where you need to solve a real-life task and then suggest improvements if your solution isn't the best. The process is good, and feedback is given fast.

I had two interviews, one in Oct 2024 and another in June 2025. I didn't even get to the second stage, receiving a generic rejection. I felt I presented myself well both times, explained my understanding of their business, and asked appropriate questions. Given that they seem to have similar positions open all year, I suspect many are ghost positions and they don't actually hire anyone. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time.

So I had an HR call first, then a github assignment, followed by a technical interview focusing on that assignment. After that, there was a 1.5-hour pair programming session and then a chat with the CTO/Director. The CTO wasn't super friendly. I didn't feel great after talking to the CTO because he seemed unsure about what I could contribute. The pair programming round had some technical glitches, and explaining an error took up most of the time. I pretty much knew this wasn't the place for me after that. I asked for feedback two days later and got a rejection, saying I didn't do well on the assignment follow-up questions. The interview experience wasn't great; they pay below market for a junior Java dev role and expect you to know Java already. It felt like a waste of time. Joining picnic didn't seem worth the intense interview process. If you're strong in algorithms and data structures, this might not be for you; they seem really into the latest tech and good coding practices, and I didn't get the impression they focus on complex math or algorithms. It felt like my skills wouldn't be used well if I joined. Software development is more than just new tech and good coding; you need to solve complex problems efficiently. The interview process being entirely in Java for a junior role is odd, especially when you're expected to know a lot already. I definitely won't apply again.