Hey everyone,

I wanted to share an experience I recently had while interviewing at Paypal. My goal is to reflect on the process and help others navigate similar situations more effectively.

Background

I have around 2.5 years of experience and was approached for a Full Stack developer role. The position seemed exciting, though I didn’t clarify upfront what level (SDE-1 or SDE-2) I was being considered for—a mistake on my part. I assumed it for SDE-2 because I followed articles which was quite similar to my process but again it has to be cleared since it was like Full Stack Developer by name so i thought it same level.

The hiring process involved multiple stages:

Online Assessment (OA) – Cleared.
Round 1: DSA Interview – Cleared.
Round 2: System Design Interview – Cleared.
Round 3: Role Specialization Interview – Cleared.
Round 4: Bar Raiser (Hiring Manager) – Cleared.

After clearing all the rounds, I waited for feedback. A week later, I reached out to the HR representative, only to learn they had forgotten to follow up. Then came an unexpected twist—they wanted me to attend two additional rounds for an upgraded role since I had received positive feedback so far.

Additional Rounds

Round 3: Role Specialization (again) – Cleared.
Round 4: Bar Raiser (again) – This round didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, but I gave it my best effort.

Okay so let me tell you about Round 4 here:
This round was quite similar to HM rounds. There were no questions related to DSA or system design. Instead, the entire discussion revolved around understanding how I think and approach problems. It wasn’t entirely clear on what basis I was being evaluated, but it seemed to focus more on my thought process rather than technical expertise.

While the lack of clarity in judgment criteria was a bit unusual, I’m taking this as a learning experience and moving forward with optimism.

After these rounds, I had to reach out again for feedback after 10 days of silence. The HR representative finally informed me that the last round wasn't positive, and the role I was interviewing for had already been filled which was SDE-1. They mentioned they’d "consider me for future positions"—a phrase that felt more like a polite brush-off.

This whole process went for more than a month. I was serving notice period for which only one week is left, not sure they will come up with new openings in this much time left I will update this post if they really do but I have lost hopes now.

This experience was incredibly disheartening. I invested significant time, energy, and effort into the process, especially while serving my notice period, only to be left feeling undervalued. For them, it's just another day at work, but for candidates, these processes are emotionally and mentally taxing.

Here are my takeaways:

Clarify the Role Early: Always ask for the level and expectations upfront. This avoids surprises midway through the process.
Seek Regular Updates: Don’t hesitate to follow up on feedback; it reflects your interest but also ensures transparency.
Your Time and Energy: Be selective about additional rounds unless you’re confident about the opportunity and the organization’s commitment.
Don’t Take It Personally: Rejections and mismanagement are common, but they don’t define your worth.

Closing Thoughts

While I appreciate the learning opportunity, the lack of consideration and communication in the process left a bitter taste. It’s essential for companies to recognize the effort candidates put in and treat them with respect, regardless of the outcome.

For anyone going through similar experiences—stay strong, keep learning, and know that better opportunities are out there.

Thanks for reading! I hope this helps others reflect on their own processes and decisions.

Let me know what you think or if you’ve faced something similar ?