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Ask HN: What do your job interviews look like?

24points byHixon101d
For those who have recently (Summer 2026) gone through software engineering job interviews, have you noticed any changes in the interview process?

Is it still the usual Leetcode, system design, behavioral and leadership questions, and maybe technology specific questions (e.g., Spring for Java devs, borrow checker details for Rust devs, etc.)?

Or have you noticed something completely different because of the AI agentic era, with companies taking a fundamentally different approach to interviewing engineers? If so, could you share some of the more unique or unusual things you've seen?

Comments

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Same interview process. Recruiter call, Live coding, System design, Behaviour interview.

The only difference is that in the Live coding session they now allow AI to be used. I didn’t use it and went old way (because I had already rehearsed it the old way, and found no feedback on the internet about how the company assess AI usage, so I didn’t want to be the Guinea pig)

Interview took place this summer. Major tech company in EU (not faang tho). Also Live coding is not leetcode.

Did a few interviews during the summer and received 2 offers. No AI involved, except screening the CV.

But one thing is very common. It's that the cultural fit interviews are longer and carry more value than ever (possibly more than technical interview). Out of 5 stages, 2 or 3 are meeting non tech people, coming to the office, having an informal chat, etc. Companies really want to know you as a person and are very careful who they pick. It's the same for remote, hybrid or office based work.

Yes, something different. 5 stages interviews are more common now, technical questions during first HR interview (they record and use transcript), personal projects don't matter, recommendation don't matter.

Thinking about which profession to choose next, cause I'm not passing so many gates so far.

Interview first task, help this laptop (windows) install ai agent (Openclaw or Hermes). that's what happen in my last interview.
What job interviews? The market is trash dude
now more like IA interviews, in order to speak with ppl at least you need to speak with a couple of machines.