I had a Karat round through Coinbase.

The interview format was as follows:

• 7 min - Introduction
• 10 min - API Design
• 43 min - 2 DS & Algo questions

I was rejected but received feedback about my experience. The feedback indicated that my design skills are very poor.

I'm unsure how someone can evaluate design skills in just 5 minutes.

In those 7 minutes, the interviewer explained the question in 2 minutes, and I then had 5 minutes to design. Please be aware that asking any questions meant wasting your time, as the timer was running. The interviewer constantly reminded me, "Your time starts now," "2 minutes remaining," then "1 minute remaining," and finally, "Time over!"

When it comes to evaluating design skills, there is no definitively "good" or "bad" design unless it is discussed. Design is not a mathematical equation where you simply solve it and provide the output.

Coinbase will likely lose many good candidates (if not me) due to this Karat process.

I will not ever recommend Karat. I am also wondering why Coinbase does not recognize this problem.