I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Pinterest
Interview
Pretty standard SWE loop; recruiter call -> 1 hour technical screen -> 5 interview final round (3 DSA; 1 hiring manager; 1 system design)
They were standard leetcode DSA questions. Medium/hard level. I thought they were very straightforward.
I interviewed for a mid-level position and finished all 3 DSA questions about 5-10 minutes early, correctly, and with optimal solutions. We were very communicative throughout and I really enjoyed this process with all three engineers. The hiring manager interview went very well as well and he even mentioned multiple times that he thought I was perfect for the role. I didn't receive an offer, so I may have faltered during the system design portion.
My recruiter was very responsive in the beginning of the process and then practically ghosted me after the final round for a few weeks, which was disappointing considering how much time I had put in. I was also very open with them about my timeline that I was in the offer stages with another company so I needed to move quickly, which they had assured me wouldn't be an issue. Despite this, I ended up signing at another company before I had an answer back from Pinterest due to this timing.
Overall I really enjoyed the interview process. It was definitely difficult and nerve-wracking, but the interviewers were among the nicest and most engaged I've ever encountered.
Also notable, the entire process including team matching is very long, and you must team match in order to get an official offer. I would budget, optimistically, about 2-3 months to get an offer in hand.
Some feedback for the company if it's helpful:
It would be so useful to receive any level of feedback after the final round considering how much time an interviewee puts in during the entire process.
I would also please ask to be more prompt with updates after the interviews. It's really imperative especially for those in multiple interview loops who are trying to make the best decisions on next steps for their careers.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
I would prep with DFS/BFS questions the most and also focus on system design backend optimizations.
1st round technical phone screening with in 1 hour.
One follow up question was asked.
The problem was not too hard, but it requires you finish really fast without bugs.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Leetcode 1564. Put Boxes Into the Warehouse I.
Follow up: what is maximum total box sizes.
Recruiter call, tech round, onsite and rejection call. They sent me an email about a week after the last onsite and asked me to schedule a call on the same day. I scheduled a call to listen 30 second long rejection notice. A half of interview rounds were horrible. Interviewers were not prepared and arrogant.
Good experience not the best outcome. Was 1000% sure I completed all coding and sys design but was told didn't get enough signal for the competency round. Overall very organized but not very satisfied with the response.