Just wanted to share my recent interview experience:

Coding Round 1:

Palindrome (medium level) - K

Remove duplicate characters in a string (e.g., input: 'aaababbcc' -> output: 'ba')

Behavioral:
Standard questions focusing on teamwork, problem-solving, and handling challenges.

Coding Round 2:

Bridge between two islands

Find common ancestors

System Design:
Design Facebook Marketplace

I had a great experience overall, especially with Coding 1, Behavioral, and System Design rounds. However, I faced some challenges during the Bridge between Two Islands problem in Coding 2.

I was hopeful for a positive outcome given the effort and time I put into preparation, but unfortunately, I got rejected.

This process really made me feel like interviews can be heavily influenced by luck. Sometimes, no matter how much you prepare, things just don’t align. I guess I am not a lucky person this time. :(

I didn’t receive a rejection email, but my recruiter mentioned that the board didn’t approve me to move forward with an offer. Does this mean it was a close decision, and the final outcome was determined by the board?