I was contacted by a very friendly recruiter initially, though they have since quit.

I completed the CodeSignal assessment, which included two LeetCode easy and two medium problems. Partial credit is awarded. If you provide partial solutions to the medium problems, you will advance to the power day. The questions are adjacent to LeetCode style but not identical.

The "power day" is what's commonly known as a "super day." It consists of four stages.

The first stage involved a LeetCode-style question related to a banking app, with the interviewer asking you to improve the solution iteratively. Towards the end of this interview, I was asked to identify the top 'k' users, which is a solvable medium question, but challenging within a 10-minute timeframe. Prior to that, the task might involve something like storing users in a hashmap and then performing additions or subtractions.

The next interview was system design. As many have noted, the request was fairly basic, involving the design of a credit application. Don't expect questions about advanced topics like sharding. A basic API outline was considered sufficient.

The subsequent interview was either behavioral or a business case.

For the behavioral interview, it follows the STAR format. Be prepared to describe how you successfully navigated a challenging situation.

I had the business case interview last. The interviewer presents a very simple case. While the case itself is straightforward, you are not allowed to take notes, making it difficult to follow a hypothetical business scenario. It's crucial to pay close attention.

They will mention it's a company secret, and then show you a console application. The interviewer will then present a program of about 250 lines of code with a minor error, such as a misplaced minus sign. Your task will be to correct the code and restore its functionality.

After completing these stages, I received a call three days later informing me that my performance wasn't outstanding. While I felt I had done well, perceptions can vary. At least I won't be 'pipped' this year.

Jokes aside, all the interviewers were genuinely friendly and made a real effort to assist me throughout the process. I wish everyone the best of luck.

Additionally, the recruiter will call to inform you of the outcome, even if it's a rejection. This is considered an efficient communication practice.

Write a banking app, but not like on LeetCode. They give too many requirements.