Navigate the hiring process

Getting interviews

Referrals have the highest response rate: ask former colleagues and people you know at the company, and make it easy by sending the job link and a two-line summary of why you fit. Recruiter outreach on professional networks works better with a complete profile that matches your resume. For cold applications, apply early after a role is posted and tailor the resume.

A typical loop

1. Recruiter call: background, interests, logistics and compensation expectations.
2. Technical screen: one or two coding problems, sometimes an online assessment.
3. Onsite or virtual loop: several coding rounds, system design for mid-level and above, a behavioral round, and sometimes a domain or AI-assisted round.
4. Hiring committee or debrief, team matching, and an offer.

Ask the recruiter early for the exact round types, the languages allowed, whether an AI assistant is available, and the preparation material the company publishes.

Managing several processes

Keep a tracker with each company's stage, dates and contacts. Try to align final rounds and offers in the same few weeks; it is normal to tell a recruiter you have other processes and ask them to move faster or slower.