I applied online. I interviewed at DevRev (Cebu City) in May 2026
Interview
Context: The role is Forward Deployed Engineer - Applied AI, however, I don't have AI experience yet at work. But they decided to push through in interviewing me anyway.
There were lots of steps: Initial screening, Recruiter, Hiring Manager, 2 technical exams, CEO. The first 4 steps were okay, and I passed the 1st technical interview. However, it seems either their interview process is not yet well established, or the Recruiting Coordinator doesn't fully have an idea about what happens in each step.
After the 1st technical interview, I asked the coordinator if the 2nd round is more on sysdesign or there is still live coding. The coordinator said there is live coding still. So I studied both DSA (for live coding) and sysdesign. When the 2nd tech interview came, it was all about AI. Even though the interviewer knows I don't have AI experience, he still kept asking me about AI. Then they gave me a 2nd chance. I didn't ask the coordinator for tips as I was thinking of covering each topics (AI, dsa, sysdesign), but the coordinator messaged me that I should focus on AI. I commented that it seems this round is still not general sysdesign, and the coordinator said yes because the role I'm applying for is Applied AI. So I studied a lot about AI, I think I can even answer the last round questions. When the interview came, it was another live coding, and not much about AI unlike the previous round.
I'm just sad because the coordinator kinda made me focus on the wrong things. I think it's worse to give wrong tips because we spend time and effort as well in interviews.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
During my 2nd interview (retake), design a deduplication store
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at DevRev (New Delhi)
Interview
The first round was a role alignment and fit check round. It was a casual interaction with one of the engineer to discuss what the current experience, what is expected from the role, check skills and expertise, if the role suits as per the expectation, discuss on mutlitiple scenario and day-to-day job to understand the role fitment.
Initial call with the recruiter, followed by two technical rounds, and then a call with the hiring manager. The recruiter was very communicative and responsive throughout the process. The two technical rounds were similar, where you'd solve a problem with an engineer and they would have some follow-up questions.
Everything went smoothly until I got to the hiring manager interview. He came across as annoyed/disinterested from the very start and had asked me what problems I had been asked during the technical rounds, as if he felt I shouldn't have been able to solve them. Throughout the conversation, it was clear to me that he did not value my experience. When I had asked him about any feedback or concerns towards the end of the call, he referred to a question that he had asked earlier that he didn't like the answer to. When I addressed it to add some context, he put his head down and started scribbling on his pad like he didn't want to hear it. I was so put off by the interview that I withdrew my candidacy following the call. I could not see myself thriving under that type of leadership.
All that said, everyone else I dealt with during the process was great.
Thanks for sharing your experience. We’re glad the initial stages of the process were positive and appreciate your honest feedback on the final interview. We take this seriously and will use it to improve consistency across our hiring journey.
Wishing you the very best in your future endeavors.
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