The interview process included:

• Screening with a recruiter
• Online coding round
• Five additional rounds (2 coding, system design, hiring manager interview, and a values & mission alignment interview).

Overall, most interviewers were good, and the questions were reasonable. However, one interviewer in a coding round was completely distracted throughout the session. They were not actively listening, dismissed the provided solution, and insisted on implementing their approach instead. Ironically, at the end of the interview, they suggested using a specific DSA approach—which was exactly what I had proposed at the beginning but was initially rejected. It was clear they were not engaged, as they were eating lunch and distracted by other things. This reflects poorly on both the candidate's experience and Gusto's.

Additionally, in technical rounds, interviewers do not provide clarity when candidates ask questions to better understand the problem. Instead, they leave it up to the candidate to make assumptions, which can lead them in the wrong direction, especially if they lack prior domain knowledge.