Interview Stages
Round 1: Technical Interview
- Process: One-hour technical interview, no prior HR call or tech screen.
- Topics: 30 minutes project discussion, 30 minutes coding (a common LeetCode problem).
- Focus: Coding required compilation and passing test cases. Algorithmic thinking seemed key.
Round 2 & 3: Design Interviews
- Process: One round per week, scheduled via email. Early termination if failed.
- Topics: Design questions (specifics not recalled).
- Focus: Performance was average due to early preparation stage.
Outcome & Team Matching
- Initial team chose another candidate. Matched with a different team afterward.
Round 4: Hiring Manager Interview
- Process: Project deep dive in Chinese.
- Focus: Technical depth and clarity under pressure.
Round 5: Director Interview
- Process: 20-minute behavioral + project overview (non-repetitive from prior rounds).
- Focus: Motivation and impact, less technical detail.
Offer Stage
- Recruiter requested competing offers for negotiation leverage.
- Declined offer after receiving Meta's offer.