TiDB Interview Questions
& Process

The hiring process was unstructured and messy, definitely unorthodox. It was hard to get clear information. Be wary of the recruiter or TA. I've never seen a company hire like this before. They insist on getting your prior compensation to figure out the offer, and then they don't even extend it. They like to communicate on WeChat instead of official email.

The interview process involved 5 separate 1-on-1 interviews, followed by a final 2-person panel presentation with the hiring marketing director and the VP of Sales. The stages were: 1) recruiter screening call, 2) marketing director of demand gen (hiring mgr), 3) VP of Sales, 4) HRBP, 5) VP of Comms, 6) Final presentation. I assume that I did not get the position as I never heard back from the recruiter/company, and saw the job re-posted a few days later. I obviously would have appreciated a courtesy email at the least.

The process started with a 30-minute recruiter call. Then there were 5 rounds on Zoom, each lasting an hour. They asked fewer algorithm questions compared to Google/Amazon and focused more on project-based questions like self-introduction and challenges. It's important to prepare company core values, like 'to be an owner'.

My interview experience at PingCAP was top-notch. From the get-go, they were transparent, gave timely feedback, and kept me updated on next steps via email. The panel was excellent, ranging from the recruitment team to the highest level of the organization. I even had the opportunity to meet a co-founder. Although the role was remote, they invited me to their office so I could experience the company culture and meet the team I'd be working with. They're a strong startup with a solid interview process! I couldn't accept the offer for personal reasons, but I wish the PingCAP team all the best!