Inframarket SDE-1 Interview Experience - A Cautionary Tale

Role: Software Development Engineer - 1
Application Method: Referral
Timeline: 2+ months (including delays)
Final Outcome: Offer revoked/Fake hiring

Initial Process

Applied through a referral and received a call from HR for the screening round. The HR representative was professional and pleasant during this stage. After clearing the screening, the technical interview was scheduled within 2 days.

Technical Interview Rounds

Round 1 - DSA Problems

Interviewer: Senior Software Engineer
Problems Asked:

1. Sort Colors variation - A twist on the classic Dutch National Flag problem
2. Aggressive Cows - Binary search on answer problem

The interviewer was sharp and technically sound. Good experience overall in this round.

Round 2 - Low Level Design

Interviewer: Engineering Manager
Problem: Design a Chess game

Excellent round with a very patient and skilled interviewer. The EM listened carefully to my approach and provided good feedback throughout the discussion. Really impressed by the technical depth and mentoring approach.

Round 3 - Cultural Fit

Interviewer: Principal Architect
This was more of a cultural and behavioral round. The Principal Architect was knowledgeable and kind, which gave me confidence about the engineering talent at Inframarket.

Where Things Went Wrong

HR Final Round Issues

After completing all technical rounds successfully, the final HR round became a nightmare:

• Communication Gap: HR stopped responding to calls and follow-ups
• Delayed Scheduling: Final round was delayed indefinitely without proper communication
• Poor Experience: When finally scheduled, the HRBP was unprofessional

The Final HR Round

Interviewer: HRBP (Human Resources Business Partner)

Red flags during this conversation:

• Made inappropriate comments about "coming here for learning, not money"
• Expected me to know personal details about him beforehand
• Suggested I should have asked my referrer about "what kind of person he is"
• Overall unprofessional and condescending attitude

Note: I later found similar experiences about this HRBP on other LeetCode posts, which unfortunately aligned with my experience.

The Final Outcome

Despite agreeing to join after the HR round, the offer letter was never provided. After weeks of follow-up:

• Fake Hiring Revealed: Later discovered this was likely a fake hiring drive
• No New Hires: No candidates were actually hired from this process
• Company Layoffs: The company was simultaneously laying off existing employees

Key Takeaways

1. Technical Team Quality: The engineering team (SSE, EM, Principal Architect) was genuinely talented and professional
2. HR Process Issues: Major red flags in HR processes and communication
3. Fake Hiring Concerns: Be cautious of companies conducting interviews without genuine hiring intent
4. Background Research: Always research the company's recent hiring/layoff trends

Lessons Learned

While initially disappointed, I'm grateful this didn't work out as it led me to a much better opportunity at an MNC. However, companies shouldn't waste candidates' time with 2+ month processes only to revoke offers or conduct fake hiring drives.

Advice for Future Candidates

• The technical interviews are solid and good practice
• Be prepared for potential HR-related issues
• Research recent hiring trends before investing significant time
• Don't take rejections personally - sometimes it's a blessing in disguise

Rating: Technical Process: 8/10 | Overall Experience: 3/10

Posted anonymously to share experience and help fellow job seekers make informed decisions.