A recruiter reached out to me and I did a phone screen first. After that, the process moved to an online assessment that really threw me off: it was anchored around a fairly complex SQL query plus data annotations in .NET. Once that was done, I had an interview with the hiring manager.
What followed felt tougher than the earlier steps. I ended up with an on-site format with the same hiring manager plus two engineers. Even though the overall structure was “normal,” the vibe was noticeably off for me. There were a lot of interruptions and the questioning felt mildly aggressive and condescending, with a few moments that turned into gotcha-style exchanges. One example stuck: they asked me to explain everything that happens in a web request, but they interrupted when I started describing the typical path from button click to fetch to the network request, and then redirected because they seemed to want something else—yet they weren’t able to be specific about what they meant.
5 months ago
Difficult Positive Manchester, England
The most surprising part of my interview experience was how low-pressure it felt. There was no real sense of pressure, and the technical lead who interviewed me kept checking in at intervals, reminding me to stay calm and to be myself.
The questions and interaction never felt like a setup to catch me off guard. I didn’t end up with an offer, but I genuinely felt supported during the interview process, which left me with a much more positive impression than I expected.
6 months ago
Easy Negative United States
I had an initial screening and then received follow-up communication saying they wanted to move forward to the next interview. They asked me to share …
8 months ago
Average Positive Stoke-on-Trent, England
I was contacted by a recruiter who was very clear about the role, the benefits, and the interview stages, and after that I agreed to move forward. A f…
8 months ago
Average Positive Stoke-on-Trent, England
My process was straightforward and stayed pretty focused on practical communication. After the initial steps, I went through two stages: the first was…
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What to expect
Distilled from the reports
Initial Screening & Communication
The interview process typically begins with a recruiter call that covers the role and the candidate's background, with varying levels of clarity and responsiveness. Some candidates reported positive experiences with clear communication, while others faced delays and ghosting after initial contact.
Recruiter callCommunicationInitial screening
Technical Assessment
Candidates generally faced a technical assessment that included SQL and coding questions, often delivered via platforms like HackerRank. The difficulty varied, with some finding it straightforward while others felt it was disconnected from the conversational tone of earlier interviews.
SQLCoding assessmentHackerRank
On-site Interviews
On-site interviews often involved multiple interviewers and a mix of technical and behavioral questions, with experiences ranging from relaxed and conversational to more aggressive and unclear. The atmosphere and tone during these interviews significantly impacted candidates' perceptions of the process.
On-siteBehavioral questionsInterview tone
Presentation or Case Study
Some candidates were required to deliver a presentation or complete a case study as part of their interview, which was seen as an important opportunity to demonstrate communication skills and technical understanding. The effectiveness of this stage varied based on how well it was integrated into the overall process.
PresentationCase studyCommunication skills
Process Timeline & Structure
The overall timeline for the interview process ranged from a few days to several weeks, with some candidates appreciating the structured flow while others felt it was slow or disorganized. The pacing and clarity of each stage were crucial to candidates' experiences.
TimelineStructured processPacing
Outcome & Feedback
Candidates frequently reported a lack of closure after interviews, with many not receiving feedback or offers despite positive interactions during the process. This left some feeling frustrated and uncertain about their performance and the company's decision-making criteria.