I went through a process that started with references before the technical stages, which immediately felt weirdly early. After my HR contact reassured me it was just a simple questionnaire, I still felt embarrassed once my former manager and colleagues told me what the reference request system looked like. It even forced full-screen behavior and warned them about tracking activity when they tried to switch tabs, which made the whole thing feel kind of unsettling.
The rest of the technical loop was fairly classic: a coding challenge, then a 90-minute pair programming session, followed by separate 60-minute backend and 60-minute frontend interviews. I genuinely enjoyed meeting the engineers and felt like they were the kind of people I could work with.
9 months ago
Average Positive United States
I started with a recruiter phone call where we walked through my background and why I wanted the Software Engineer role. A couple days later I got a take-home coding assignment. The whole flow felt pretty lightweight and straightforward—then after I submitted it, I found out they had already hired someone, and I didn’t move forward.
What stood out to me was how little the later interviews seemed connected to the work I turned in. After submitting the take-home, the interviews that followed leaned heavily toward “tech trivia” style questions and definition-heavy prompts rather than digging into my problem-solving process or how I approach breaking down a task. I also noticed the panels didn’t really reflect much diversity, and the experience felt more like testing recall than evaluating how I’d actually build software.
> 1 year
Average Positive San Francisco, CA
I started with a recruiter-style screening—usually just a conversation about my background and fit—then I’d get a take-home coding assignment. Across …
> 1 year
Difficult Positive San Francisco, CA
I went through an entirely video-chat process. After an initial call, they sent a take-home assignment that was simple on the surface but turned out t…
> 1 year
Average Positive San Francisco, CA
I had an initial screening focused on culture and product, followed by a take-home code challenge that involved working inside an existing Rails appli…
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What to expect
Distilled from the reports
Initial Screening & Reference Check
The interview process often begins with a recruiter call to discuss background and fit, followed by an early reference check that some candidates found unsettling and intrusive. This stage sets the tone for the rest of the process, with varying levels of engagement from the recruiters.
Recruiter callReference checkCandidate experience
Take-Home Coding Assignment
Candidates typically complete a take-home coding assignment that varies in complexity and time requirements, often taking longer than initially estimated due to unclear documentation or setup issues. The assignment is a critical component that influences the subsequent interview stages.
Following the coding assignment, candidates participate in multiple technical interviews that can include pair programming, backend and frontend discussions, and systems design questions. The interviews often focus on practical engineering problems rather than theoretical knowledge.
Candidates frequently report a lack of meaningful feedback throughout the process, with many receiving generic rejection emails that do not address their specific work. This can lead to frustration and a sense of wasted effort.
FeedbackCommunicationRejection
Overall Process Experience
The overall experience can vary significantly, with some candidates appreciating a fast and organized process while others feel it is disjointed and lacking in respect for their time. The culture and engagement level of the interviewers play a significant role in shaping candidates' perceptions.
Process organizationCandidate experienceCompany culture
Final Steps & Offer Communication
The final stages often involve a conversation with senior leadership, such as the VP of Engineering, which can provide insight into the company's direction. However, candidates have noted that the offer communication can sometimes feel rushed, impacting their decision-making process.
Final interviewOffer communicationLeadership engagement