Raisin Software Engineer Interview Questions
& Process

Started with a friendly recruiter call that laid out a pretty demanding process: a technical screen, reviewing a 'student's' code for a PR, then doing my own mini-project to create a PR, a demo interview, a sprint planning role play, and finally a chat with the hiring manager. Honestly, this is a ton of work for what's actually just a two-year contract, with a review only at 1.5 years. HR said most people get extended, but that's not exactly solid security, especially after all these steps. Another red flag was that the job kept getting reposted while I was interviewing, making it seem like they weren't serious about hiring externally or maybe it's just a formality for internal candidates. The first tech interview started nice but quickly became a 'trivia' session, asking theoretical questions about tech specs that felt like traps, trying to get me to second-guess myself. They also focused on tiny implementation details that are usually automated or caught by linters. It felt more like they wanted memorization than practical seniority. The scope was also unclear – I'd be responsible for four domains, a mobile team, and rotating stakeholders, but couldn't get a straight answer on priorities. Vague answers usually mean a 'crunch' culture. Given the compensation and contract type, it just didn't make sense with that level of responsibility. The code challenge was the most annoying part, a two-parter: first, review code from a 'student' that looked like it was done in under 30 minutes, making their mentoring claims questionable. Then, write my own code for a feature. My feedback on the 'student' code was pedantic, saying I 'struggled' with their internal libraries, which is weird for a Lead role where picking up a library takes minutes. They also critiqued my approach to multi-language support and performance, ironically things their own app seems to lack or do poorly. The whole process felt rigged, like you needed insider knowledge. For a fixed-term, in-office contract, the pedantry and lack of clarity make this a place I wouldn't recommend, not even for their products. It feels like they want to look like they're hiring externally but might be favoring internal moves instead of truly collaborating with new talent.

My interview experience with Raisin was quite disappointing. It began with an HR screening, then a follow-up round with an engineering lead to check on cultural and technical fit. After that, I had a live coding interview. I did well and solved all the problems, and the interviewer seemed positive. But then, radio silence. I didn't hear back, so I sent a follow-up email. Six days later, I got a rejection saying they were going with other candidates who were a 'better fit,' with no real explanation. It felt unprofessional given how they present themselves, especially since candidates put in a lot of effort.

The hiring process was super welcoming and supportive, I felt valued right away. The steps were structured well, efficient, and designed thoughtfully. Each stage felt practical and clear, making it a smooth and positive experience that shows the company cares about its people.