Real, anonymous reports from people who interviewed for Software Engineer at Smith+Nephew, newest first and distilled into what to expect across the loop.
After the recruiter outreach, they sent me a HireVue for the first step. Not long after, I got pulled into a live video interview track where I had two back-to-back sessions scheduled across consecutive days. The questions felt mostly based on my resume, with a few curveballs that weren’t exactly coding-focused—things like whether I understood certain niche acronyms and whether I’d had any exposure to systems architecture while studying.
My interview path felt clean and organized. First there was a HireVue on demand step, and then I moved to a video chat with my potential boss. The final stage was in-person if I got selected, and I did.
Candidates typically start with a HireVue or phone screening, followed by one or more technical and behavioral interviews, often culminating in an onsite interview with multiple interviewers. The process is generally organized and flows from asynchronous to live interactions.
Interviews often include a mix of technical questions, particularly around coding practices and specific programming languages like C++, alongside behavioral questions using the STAR format to assess candidates' experiences and problem-solving approaches.
While the initial stages of the interview process are often quick, candidates report significant delays in receiving feedback or offers, leading to feelings of uncertainty and frustration during the waiting period.
The overall tone of interviews varies, with some candidates experiencing a friendly and relaxed environment, while others report confrontational or uncomfortable interactions, particularly during initial screenings.
Onsite interviews can be intense, often involving multiple back-to-back sessions that include technical problem-solving under pressure, which candidates feel requires thorough preparation, especially for unexpected components like whiteboard challenges.
Candidates suggest that anticipating the structure and components of the interviews, especially the technical depth and behavioral expectations, could improve their confidence and performance during the process.
