DSA - variant of KOKO eating banana, applying bunch of operations to get a final state of an array. Interviewer who took this round was very good. He was so kind and made the whole interview very comfortable.
LLD - design quick commerce app like zepto.
HM round
- This was easily the worst interview I’ve ever had. I was asked to travel all the way to the office just to attend a 30-minute virtual round, and it turned out to be unnecessarily hostile and dismissive. The interviewer seemed fixated on my past and came across as arrogant rather than genuinely trying to understand my profile.
When I said I was looking for learning and growth, he immediately accused me of being dishonest and claimed he can “catch” such answers. I tried to explain that I wanted to work with strong engineers and grow into a better leader, but he shut that down too, saying there’s nothing to learn in the role and even predicting that I’d regret joining and leave in a few months. It felt completely baseless and condescending.
The conversation wasn’t constructive at all. Every time I asked a question—about expectations, responsibilities, or growth—he avoided answering and pushed the question back to me. There was zero effort to provide clarity or make it a two-way discussion.
What stood out the most was how out of touch the advice felt. Being told not to switch jobs, not to chase money or brand, and to just “be honest” ignores the reality a lot of us come from. I don’t come from a privileged background with guidance or safety nets—I’ve had to figure things out on my own and make decisions that balance growth, stability, and financial security. In today’s environment, with layoffs and constant uncertainty, that kind of advice feels disconnected from reality.
Overall, it didn’t feel like an interview—it felt like being judged and lectured by someone unwilling to understand a different perspective.
My advice to people who think they’ve achieved everything in life is simple: stay humble and stop assuming your way is the only right way. The world has changed, and so have the challenges people face. Step out of that bubble and try to understand different backgrounds and realities before judging someone.
Also, stop lecturing people about not working for money. For many of us, money isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s stability, security, and responsibility. Not everyone has the privilege to ignore that.
A few more things that would actually help:
Treat interviews as a two-way conversation, not a power display.
If you ask candidates to travel, respect their time and effort.
Answer questions honestly instead of deflecting them—it builds trust.
Don’t assume intent; try to understand the person in front of you.
Give constructive feedback instead of making predictions about someone’s future.
And most importantly, create an environment where people can speak openly instead of feeling judged.
Experience should make someone more empathetic and practical—not more dismissive.