This is a very detail review and might be useful for you to better understand the recruiting process of Toptal
Interview Date: 2020-DEC
Channel: Video Conference
Three processes. The first process is a quick introduction (the interviewer is friendly) and understanding about you, second process is the online quiz (challenging but acceptable) and the last is the technical interview session (problem is happening here).
In the last interview, the interviewer first ask me to explain my solution submitted in the online assessment I completed in 3 weeks ago, but as software developer, I do not think I have to remember what logic/code I have written in 3 weeks ago. After that, he jumped into the conclusion that the solution I provided is not from me and will proceed to close my application permanently. I am fine if they would like to further verify my technical and problem solving skills since we have 1 hour meeting scheduled, but unfortunately, the interviewer just feel like his understanding is the fact and ended the interview just in 3 minutes (+- 2 minutes). That's the reason why I feel they are not recruiting in honest.
Next, he replied my email and show me the link that he think I copied from, however, this is not the case. I told him I was referring to other articles about the theory, but I did not refer or copy the code at all. Besides, I was trying to explain to him, if someone implements the algorithm such as Radix Sort, Linked List and etc. in his solution, does it mean the code/solution is not written by the person?
The agenda of the last interview session
Opening - 15 seconds
Interviewer: Hey, how are you
Me: I am fine, thank you. May I know what should I call you?
Interviewer: I am fine too
Ermmm, I not sure is this a normal conversation or he is reading a script?
Interviewer requested me to explain the solution I provided in the technical test - 1 minute +
Interviewer told me will close my application permanently because he feels like the solution is not from me without further clarification - 1 minute +
TOTAL: 3 minutes (Scheduled duration: 1 hour)
I am good if they think my technical skillset is not what they are looking, but as the top performer of Senior Developer in a US Company - National Instruments (NI), I cannot accept someone made the conclusion that my solution is not from me without further verification. Yes, no verification at all, and the interview session is just few minutes. If he has concern or doubt on my solution, he can always provide a new question for me to solve it in the interview but he did not.
Lesson Learned
Strengthen your technical skills, because although you're a skillful person, but for Toptal, it's never sufficient
Write some comments in your code to explain how the logic works to avoid the reviewers misunderstand the solution is not from you although you have limited time in the online quiz
If you are not recruited, it doesn't mean that's a bad news.
Good Luck