My first onsite rejection
I guess there has to be a first time for everything. Sorry in advance for the long post. I started interviewing a few weeks ago, and I haven't gotten any offers yet, but today I got a rejection from Reddit. I'm worried about what this means for my chances with my other upcoming onsites, next week I'm interviewing at Google, Snap, and Atlassian. I'm an iOS engineer with 6 years of experience, but this was my first time interviewing in Big Tech. The hardest question I was asked to interview for my current job was literally writing Fizz Buzz, so I started studying DS&A and mobile system design since February preparing for these onsites. I had thought I did really well on my onsite, which consisted of mobile system design, iOS live coding, and behavioral (but no algorithm questions, surprisingly). In the first live coding session, I got all of the required tasks and bonus tasks done. In the second one, I was rushed at the end by the interviewer, but I kept my cool. Later he apologized after he realized he accidentally ended the interview 15 minutes early after misreading the schedule. The hiring manager initially said my results were looking good. But after getting the rejection email, I now realize that I made some pretty dumb mistakes. My system design interviewer asked me to open the Reddit app on my phone, but I had to download it first (stupid, I know). Then when I was asked about how I would implement UI for nested comments, I suggested nested views, which in hindsight was a really stupid answer. When he mentioned a better approach, I realized how dumb my solution was. Then in my short behavioral interview, my answers were mediocre at best. Finally, in the wrap up with the hiring manager, he asked if I was interested in both senior and non-senior roles, and I said I was only interested in senior. I don't know how to turn this ship around exactly in time for my other onsites next week. It took me 6 months to get to this level of preparedness for these interviews, but I feel like I still jumped in too quickly. I'm kind of just lost. TC 180k (contractor with no benefits) (6yoe)
You are ready or you are not. You aren’t going to change that much in a few days. Spend the time preparing for the next interviews and do the best you can. The thing that is in your control now is your attitude. Don’t be defeatist and don’t stress about the last interview. Be confident about your past experience and preparation. Go into the next interviews with a positive attitude. That is the single most important thing you can do now. I absolutely do not expect an offer from every company I interview with. Interviews are imperfect and your success or failure can be as much luck (due to questions asked) as knowledge. Again, make sure you have a positive attitude before next week!!!
Should have walked out soon as you were told to download the Reddit app. Easily the worst thing to happen to Reddit is that app. Lol. Reread this to see the interview was at Reddit. The comment still stands though. Their app is horrible.
Sounds like you did well and they just didn’t end up choosing you. Just keep trying.
If you fail 9 big tech on sites but get the 10th offer you’ll forget all about it. Interviewing is a skill unto itself. Look at it that way and don’t be afraid to fail just keep improving. It’s the stubborn people who finally make it.
Don't get bummed, keep trying. Some of the interviews may play to your strengths while other's may not. Don't kick yourself too much when they don't. Honestly I've found it to be related to luck also. For example I had 6 onsites recently and my best round in all of them has been behavioral. For some reason for Stripe's interview it was my weakest and the reason they rejected me, which totally surprised me. In hindsight now, it was bad mismatch with the interviewer and I'm not bummed anymore about it. Got some pretty awesome offers from several companies so why cry over spilled milk. But when I got the first rejection I felt like maybe I wasn't ready so I studied super intensely and the interviews got less stressful and my confidence got stronger. So I'd say just keep at it, something will work out.
Did they call you to let you know about the rejection, or sent an email?
Reddit is kind of fickle with their interviews. Take away some learnings from this experience, regroup and kick butt at the next one's.
I’ll try, thank you!