Real, anonymous reports from people who interviewed for Software Engineer at Karat, newest first and distilled into what to expect across the loop.
After I got the initial email with the process details, I was invited to a technical interview. It felt pretty straightforward: I joined a live video call and worked through a live data structures and algorithms test. Once the time was up, I received feedback on how I did, and overall it came across as a good, well-run experience. I also liked that the setup felt modern and smooth, and that the environment made it easy to focus on the work rather than fighting the tooling.
My first contact was scheduling and getting sent into a technical screen. The format felt time-boxed and a bit rigid: I was given a hard one-hour window, and the interaction style made it hard to build momentum. I started with a rapid setup where I was asked to explain my background in about a minute, and then the core of the session turned into a quiz of multiple questions with abstract scenarios where I had to come up with solutions.
Interviews typically start with brief introductions followed by a coding challenge, often in a live video format. The environment is generally modern and user-friendly, although some candidates reported issues with the code editor that affected their performance.
Candidates can expect a mix of data structures and algorithms questions, often resembling LeetCode problems, with a focus on time and space complexity. The coding portion is usually time-constrained, requiring quick problem-solving under pressure.
The level of communication varies; some candidates felt the interviewers were friendly and supportive, while others experienced a more rigid, scripted interaction with limited back-and-forth. Feedback post-interview is often general and lacks actionable insights.
Candidates may have the opportunity to redo parts of the interview if they feel their performance was not reflective of their abilities. However, managing time effectively during the interview is crucial, as many reported feeling rushed.
Interviews often begin with questions about the candidate's background and experiences, which serve to set context before diving into technical challenges. This segment is generally brief but important for establishing rapport.
Candidates reported mixed feelings about the overall experience, with some finding it straightforward and others feeling frustrated by the structure or lack of clarity regarding role expectations. The outcome often depended on both technical performance and the interview dynamics.