Worst Interview Experience – CEO Round Feedback
I cleared the first aptitude round, the second technical round (questions on .NET, React, and pattern problems), the third technical round (easy LeetCode questions like second highest number and pattern problems), and the fourth technical round (binary search, pattern questions, and other LeetCode problems). I successfully answered all the questions in every round.
In the final CEO round, I again solved all the questions asked:
Find the second highest number
Given a string, return a string containing only the characters that appear exactly once
Rotate a 2D array by 90 degrees
Despite solving all problems correctly, the CEO concluded that I “need to improve my technical skills.”
What was shocking is that the CEO clearly did not understand problem-solving concepts such as time complexity, space complexity, or alternative valid approaches. I was told that my solution was “wrong” simply because it was different from the approach the CEO had in mind—even though the solution was correct and efficient.
The exact attitude was: “I don’t care if it’s right or wrong. For me, it’s wrong.”
This is not how technical interviews should be evaluated.
After clearing multiple technical rounds and demonstrating consistent problem-solving ability, being rejected for such a vague and unjustified reason is extremely unprofessional. It felt like the final decision was based on personal bias rather than technical competence.
This was, without a doubt, the worst interview experience I have ever faced—demotivating, unfair, and a complete waste of a candidate’s time.
