There were total 6 rounds and interview was mainly on data structures, system design, java advanced.
It was a horrible experience as I clearly told the recruiter about my one month notice period yet he kept pressuring me to join the office within 2 days. He wanted me to abscond from the current company and give them a joining date within two days even though they did not release the offer letter. I said it's not possible as I am at my grandparent's home to celebrate holi festival. The recruiter literally asked me to take train next day after holi and join the company day after that. #micromanagement.
I asked simple standard questions to the manager like the shift timings. He replied if you are looking for a government job timings then RedBus is not for you. #smh ( How hard is to say you have flexible work schedule). I told my expected ctc to the HR upon asking and he then gave me a lecture for about half an hour on why I should not focus on salary as I must have gotten hike twice in two years of my career span and it is enough money for me. And if I am looking for only good hike then Redbus is not for me. The hike was pretty cleverly calculated. It was just thousands more than the offer I was holding. In salary negotiation round, the senior recruiter discussed the cost of living in bangalore and how I can manage my expenses in this salary by living in paying guest accommodation and all.
After accepting the offer, I had one engagement session with my would-be manager and HR. They said they are planning to open the office and I have to come back to office. As redbus is a premier startup and they need to write ideas on whiteboard and discuss.
This was way above the line and the last straw. It was upsetting because corona was increasing in my country India, and the second wave hit just a week after the HR made this comment. He and the other managers of the company had no regards of people’s lives and just want to go back to the office to micromanage employees. I ended up not joining the company.
