BigBasket Interview Experience – Senior Manager, Data Engineering Duration: ~75 days Outcome: Position put on hold My interview experience with BigBasket was unfortunately quite disappointing and reflected a lack of structure and coordination throughout the process. 1. The initial round did not take place as the panel did not join, citing an internal scrum call. After waiting for 15 minutes, I dropped off and considered withdrawing from the process. Although HR reassured me it was a one-off issue, this created a poor first impression. 2. The first round was rescheduled and conducted, but the interview exceeded the scheduled 1 hour and extended to 1.5 hours. 3. The second round was the only stage that proceeded smoothly without delays or rescheduling. 4. For the third round, I was asked to attend a face-to-face interview at their office. Despite arriving on time, I was made to wait for approximately 45 minutes before the panel joined. 5. The fourth round involved a Director who was unavailable in India, resulting in a 2-week delay. The interview again exceeded the scheduled duration and required one reschedule due to technical issues from the panel’s side. 6. The fifth round was also scheduled as a face-to-face discussion with senior leadership (CTO and Chief Architect). However, neither was available, and the round was conducted by a Senior Engineering Manager instead. It appeared to be arranged informally, primarily to avoid cancelling after I had already traveled to the office. 7. After five rounds with largely positive feedback, I was informed there might be additional discussions with senior leadership. I raised concerns about the increasing number of rounds, and HR initially agreed to reconsider. Later, I was told there could be two more rounds (managerial and cultural fit), pending confirmation. 8. Three days later, I was informed that the position had been put on hold due to organizational restructuring and appraisal cycles. Overall, the process involved multiple reschedules, extended timelines, and inconsistent communication. Significant time and effort were invested, including taking leave, working remotely, and attending in-person interviews, only for the role to be put on hold after nearly 2.5 months. For a senior leadership role, such a prolonged and unstructured hiring process raises concerns about planning, decision-making clarity, and candidate experience. Key takeaway: Trust your initial instincts about a company’s interview process, they often reflect broader organizational practices.