After my initial interview with the hiring manager, it took three weeks for the recruiter to schedule the technical interview — even though I was told it normally takes only two days to hear back.
When the technical interview finally happened, it was clear from the start that the interviewer came in with an insecure and dismissive attitude, as if their goal was simply to reject the candidate. Instead of guiding or engaging constructively, the interviewer seemed intent on misleading and confusing me, giving contradictory answers to my clarifying questions — saying “yes” at first, then “no,” then offering a completely unrelated explanation.
During the first 15 minutes, they asked for introductions and general talk, wasting valuable time. When the technical portion finally began, the interviewer kept interrupting and offered no clear or supportive feedback. At one point, right in the middle of the coding exercise, they abruptly said, “Let’s talk about the team,” shifting the topic away from the technical content entirely.
This behavior felt disrespectful and intentionally unhelpful — rather than evaluating skills, it seemed designed to frustrate and derail the candidate. If an interviewer doesn’t want someone to join the team, the professional thing to do is to communicate that honestly, not to waste their time through vague and confusing interactions.
Overall, the experience felt toxic and unprofessional — with long delays, poor communication, and interviewers who lacked both clarity and respect. Airbnb promotes a culture of openness and kindness, but this experience reflected the opposite.
