A third-party recruiter suggested I speak with TripAdvisor. I was informed they wanted to conduct a phone interview. Consequently, I prepared myself in a distraction-free area of my home, ensuring no computers or electronics were nearby.

About two minutes into the interview, the hiring manager expected me to have a computer available for reviewing and submitting code. However, this requirement was not communicated prior to the interview. Fortunately, I was able to retrieve my computer and start it up for the interview, though I was somewhat flustered at that point.

The questions posed were challenging and heavily focused on algorithms. I struggled with some of the more obscure answers, as the questions seemed to be directly extracted from a textbook. A couple of days later, I was informed that they were no longer interested in my candidacy.

This outcome feels like a blessing in disguise. Given the poor communication surrounding the interview process, I can only wonder what the day-to-day experience would have been like at the company.

What is the complexity of (some) search algorithm?