I started with a recruiter call where the recruiter described the interview process as FAANG-style and mentioned a team-matching step at the end. We talked through the process, and I also asked questions about why that structure seemed like overkill for a startup. The recruiter wrapped up about ten minutes early.
After that, the recruiter set my expectations for what was next: a code review and a LeetCode-style interview. What threw me off was the way the process felt designed around a specific profile, and it never seemed to fully reflect what I’d been pitched for.
8 months ago
Average Negative United Kingdom
My technical interview process leaned heavily on precision. I started with a PR review and then moved into more algorithmic work. The PR discussion felt constructive, but the later engineering evaluation felt like it was looking for exact correctness rather than functional iteration.
One coding round involved a problem that mixed encryption-style reasoning with strict expectations. During it, even small slips—like typing a standard command differently than the interviewer expected—were treated as issues. There was also a math-style calculation component where the interviewer wouldn’t let me run my own code to verify results and insisted it was about doing the remainder mentally.
8 months ago
Difficult Negative London, England
My interview stretched across at least five rounds, with the first four being the core sequence. It started with an initial screening call, then moved…
> 1 year
Average Positive Boston, MA
My recruiter started by aligning my background with customer-facing technical roles, and then the pace moved into a manager-level call focused on how …
> 1 year
Average Negative Israel
My early stages with Snyk were already rocky around scheduling. I would set a time, join a Zoom alone, and then only hear an apology or a reschedule l…
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What to expect
Distilled from the reports
Interview Structure & Timeline
The interview process typically consists of multiple stages, starting with a recruiter call, followed by a PR review, coding exercises, and system design discussions. Candidates noted variations in the number of rounds, with some experiencing as many as six interviews, leading to a lengthy overall timeline.
Recruiter callPR reviewMultiple rounds
Technical Evaluation Focus
Technical interviews often emphasize precision and correctness, with candidates facing challenges that require not just functional solutions but also adherence to specific expectations. This includes PR reviews, coding exercises, and systems design discussions, where small errors can significantly impact evaluations.
Coding exercisesPR reviewSystems design
Communication & Feedback
Candidates frequently reported issues with communication, including long gaps without updates and a lack of personalized feedback after interviews. This contributed to feelings of frustration and uncertainty throughout the process.
CommunicationFeedbackSilence
Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interviews
Interviews often included discussions focused on behavioral aspects and cultural fit, with candidates engaging in conversations about their working style and alignment with company values. These discussions were generally perceived as engaging and relevant to the role.
BehavioralCultural fitValues alignment
Candidate Experience & Respect
Overall candidate experiences varied significantly, with some feeling respected and engaged throughout the process, while others reported feeling undervalued due to administrative issues or abrupt changes in role expectations. This inconsistency affected candidates' perceptions of the company.
Candidate experienceRespectRole expectations
Final Outcomes & Role Clarity
Candidates expressed frustration when the final role offered did not align with their expectations or the initial job description, leading to confusion and disappointment. Some candidates were offered lower-level positions than anticipated, despite positive interview experiences.