Context: The role is Forward Deployed Engineer - Applied AI, however, I don't have AI experience yet at work. But they decided to push through in interviewing me anyway. There were lots of steps: Initial screening, Recruiter, Hiring Manager, 2 technical exams, CEO. The first 4 steps were okay, and I passed the 1st technical interview. However, it seems either their interview process is not yet well established, or the Recruiting Coordinator doesn't fully have an idea about what happens in each step. After the 1st technical interview, I asked the coordinator if the 2nd round is more on sysdesign or there is still live coding. The coordinator said there is live coding still. So I studied both DSA (for live coding) and sysdesign. When the 2nd tech interview came, it was all about AI. Even though the interviewer knows I don't have AI experience, he still kept asking me about AI. Then they gave me a 2nd chance. I didn't ask the coordinator for tips as I was thinking of covering each topics (AI, dsa, sysdesign), but the coordinator messaged me that I should focus on AI. I commented that it seems this round is still not general sysdesign, and the coordinator said yes because the role I'm applying for is Applied AI. So I studied a lot about AI, I think I can even answer the last round questions. When the interview came, it was another live coding, and not much about AI unlike the previous round. I'm just sad because the coordinator kinda made me focus on the wrong things. I think it's worse to give wrong tips because we spend time and effort as well in interviews.

The first round was a role alignment and fit check round. It was a casual interaction with one of the engineer to discuss what the current experience, what is expected from the role, check skills and expertise, if the role suits as per the expectation, discuss on mutlitiple scenario and day-to-day job to understand the role fitment.