I applied online. The process took 5 weeks. I interviewed at Rakuten (Tokyo)
Interview
I applied online. About three weeks later, I received an invitation to take a technical test and video interview online. The technical test was the same one everyone takes and is described numerous times on this forum. Although my position was for front-end web development, the test was only available in languages usually used on the back end (I had to re-learn PHP just to take this).
The video interview is just a self-introduction and you're given ample notice of what to expect. There's really no excuse if you screw this part up.
Two weeks later, I attend an interview at the Tokyo HQ. I was told on the spot that it was a technical interview, having not been given any information prior. Within the first 30 seconds, it became obvious that HR and the department that I applied to were not communicating. The interviewers were expecting someone with a very different skillset than what I had.
I was a bad match for the job, and that's fine. But this conclusion could have been reached by reading the first five lines of my resume.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Please explain your experience...
- optimising for performance
- minifying script
- concatenating script
- writing tests
Applied online. Initial screening with the hiring manager. Questions from resume. Technologies used. Java basic questions. Salary expectations. About the role and team. Leetcode question - no coding - just mention the approach. System design question.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Leetcode question - no coding - just mention the approach. System design question.
Disorganized, no HR reached out to discuss about the administrative details and salary and benefits, the hiring manager reached out directly, scheduled a meeting and asked about HR questions(visa, RTO etc.)
The hiring manager was late for over 5 mins minutes, no apologies, no greetings. Negative experience
The interview covered Python libraries, networking, and my software engineering experience. While questions were basic, they can be tricky for seniors. Review your definitions alongside your past projects to succeed.