Real, anonymous reports from people who interviewed for Software Engineer at Xero, newest first and distilled into what to expect across the loop.
After a technical interview that I passed, the next round was a dedicated Values Assessment interview. I asked what it covered, because I wasn’t sure whether it would be another coding round or something more culture-focused. The reply made it sound like a standard culture-fit interview—mostly behavioral questions in a structured, STAR-style format.
The process felt noticeably hard from the start, and the difficulty kept showing up in the technical parts. After recruiter touchpoints, I ran into coding questions that were tough in a way that made me feel like I had to be sharp on both problem-solving and correctness, not just “get something working.” Depending on the stage, the assessment took the form of either live work or a take-home task, and I also experienced pair programming with a given question.
The interview process typically follows a structured sequence starting with a recruiter screen, followed by a technical assessment, and concluding with behavioral and cultural fit interviews. The overall timeline can vary, with some candidates experiencing delays and extended durations, while others report a quicker progression through stages.
Candidates encounter a mix of coding challenges, often involving data structures, algorithms, and practical programming tasks, typically administered via HackerRank or live coding sessions. The technical interviews may also include system design components that assess problem-solving and design thinking skills.
A separate values assessment interview is standard, focusing on behavioral questions framed in a STAR format, aimed at evaluating cultural fit and teamwork capabilities. Candidates should prepare for questions around conflict resolution, collaboration, and personal motivations.
Candidates report a generally high level of difficulty throughout the interview process, with expectations for both technical proficiency and soft skills. Some candidates felt the technical questions were misaligned with the role's requirements, leading to confusion about what to prepare for.
Communication throughout the process can be inconsistent, with some candidates experiencing long delays and vague feedback, while others found the process clear and well-guided. It's important to follow up if updates are slow or unclear.
Many candidates expressed a desire for clearer expectations and better alignment between interview content and job descriptions. Preparing for potential misalignments and understanding the interview format can help mitigate surprises during the process.