Really odd interview process. At every step of the way, recruiters and engineering personnel seemed cold and uninterested. Interviews were slow to get scheduled and were rescheduled a few times. Got a denial email before completing any technical interview. Generally didn’t get good vibes from the company, which is really a shame considering their product.
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at SoundCloud (Berlin) in May 2016
Interview
Terrible management of the process (ignoring emails, very late answers, not acknowledging reception of the challenge solution, etc). I liked the fact that they provided feedback from the team members who personally interviewed me. However, this feedback was terribly inconsistent within itself and with the way individual interviewers made me feel during the process. It was also funny that one interviewer assumed that I don't know about a certain topic just because I didn't give him the analogy he had in his mind. All in all, it was a very disappointing experience which convinced me that it is certainly not a nice place to work and turned the image about the company in my head upside down.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What algorithm(s) and data structures does Lucene use to find the matching documents given a query, inverted index and matching criteria?
I went through interviews with a recruiter, an engineering manager, and also faced some technical challenges, including a bar raiser interview. The entire process was well-structured, transparent, and thoughtfully designed. Each stage gave me a clear picture of the role and team culture. Overall, I found the experience to be fair and engaging, and I would confidently recommend the interviewing process at SoundCloud to other candidates.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Standard questions, how to react in difficult situations etc.
Introduction:
A brief welcome and small talk to ease into the conversation.
Company Presentation:
The interviewer gives a short overview of the company and the position.
Self-Introduction:
The candidate introduces themselves, focusing on background, skills, and motivation.
Interview Questions:
Questions about experience, qualifications, and interest in the role.
Job-Related Tasks or Questions:
Sometimes practical tasks or technical questions are included.
Candidate Questions:
The candidate can ask about the company, team, or next steps.
Closing:
Final remarks and information about the next steps in the hiring process.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Question related to the working culture/remote work options