I applied online. I interviewed at Uswitch (London, England)
Interview
The first interview was a phone call with 2 senior developers to discuss my situation, experience, role, company profile, team, etc. All the guys quite friendly so it was a good one.
Next step was a small project/code test to complete at home in your own time. I submitted the project but the feedback was very disappointed. They were expecting a simple code without checking invalid inputs nor edge cases, so their notes included things like:
“too much error handling”,
"checking the type of args feels like overkill"
“redundant code” (for checking an invalid input, a case they did not consider),
"tradeoff between making code run in all possible situations and writing legible code is important”.
So it seems that they are interested in developers writing short and elegant code, and not in those ones that think of invalid inputs, impact, edge cases, robustness, etc.
Interview Process Experience:
The process consisted of three stages:
Recruiter Screen: Initial conversation went smoothly, covering background and role expectations.
Tech Lead Interview: Technical discussion with the team lead to assess architectural thinking and problem-solving approach.
Senior Developer Panel: Final round with two senior developers. This session proved challenging due to frequent interruptions during my problem-solving process. Both interviewers consistently interjected while I was working through technical questions, disrupting my thought process and making it difficult to demonstrate my analytical approach. The constant interruptions prevented me from articulating complete solutions and showcasing my methodical problem-solving methodology.
Reflection: While I appreciate rigorous technical evaluation, the interview format didn't allow for the collaborative yet focused discussion that typically highlights a candidate's strengths. In production environments, I thrive when given space to think through complex problems systematically before discussing trade-offs—an approach that's delivered measurable results throughout my career.