The HR interview and the conversation with the engineering manager were smooth and clear. In the live coding round, the task was fairly easy. I implemented a basic solution without using external libraries and briefly discussed its time complexity, thinking out loud throughout and trying to invite feedback.
However, the interviewer remained mostly silent or gave vague responses that didn’t lead anywhere. I suggested potential improvements and alternative approaches in hopes of sparking a discussion, but the only response I received was, “I don’t know, you tell me.”
It was frustrating, as I had no idea whether my solution was on the right track or if we should explore it further before moving on. Only at the end, when I explicitly asked for feedback, the interviewer provide insights into what he had expected.
For most of the session, it felt like I was talking to myself.