Clearwater Analytics (CWAN) – Noida, India
Round 1:
This was an online CoderPad assessment conducted over a call with two panel members. The DSA question was relatively straightforward and based on a greedy approach. I was able to solve it successfully and cleared the round.
Round 2:
The second round was a face-to-face technical interview at the office, again with two panel members. The problem involved designing a custom linked list with specific behavior. Although the problem itself was simple, this being my first in-person interview, I fumbled under pressure and could not complete the solution.
Unfortunately, the experience during this round was disappointing. One of the panel members frequently lost his temper, which made the discussion unprofessional and uncomfortable. Instead of guiding the conversation or maintaining a calm interview environment, he seemed more focused on asserting his seniority and technical authority rather than conducting a constructive discussion with a mid-level engineer having around four years of industry experience.
Additionally, the interviewer switched from English to informal language during the discussion, which further added to the discomfort. Had the interaction been more respectful and supportive, I strongly believe I could have completed the problem without much difficulty.
Interviews should be a platform to fairly evaluate skills, not to intimidate or demean candidates. Professionalism and respectful communication always matter.
I am deliberately not naming the individual, as I believe in maintaining basic ethics and respect. I hope the organization takes feedback like this seriously and continues to ensure a respectful interview culture.
That said, I interacted with four other employees during the interview process, and they were all polite, calm, and professional.