Travel Boutique Online Senior Software Development Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - I recently interviewed with tbo.com, and I must say that it was one of the worst interview experiences I've ever had. Having given over 20 interviews in my career, this one left me feeling undervalued and frustrated. I want to share this so future candidates can be better prepared and so that the company can improve its process.

The key issues I encountered:

1. Lack of Professionalism:
The interviewer didn't introduce herself and didn’t turn her camera on, which immediately set a tone of detachment. I expected a more respectful and engaging interaction, especially from a company of this size.


2. Rushed Process:
From the moment the interview started, it felt like the interviewer was in a hurry. She asked me to explain my project but didn’t give me enough time to properly respond. She quickly moved on to the coding question, expecting immediate answers without providing proper context or details.


3. Poor Problem Explanation:
The technical question was vague, and the interviewer provided insufficient guidance. I assumed this was a DSA round based on the problem, so I explained an API chunking solution. She then abruptly stopped me and said it should be an executable file. This key detail had not been communicated clearly beforehand, which caused unnecessary confusion.


4. Lack of Technical Competence:
To my surprise, the interviewer seemed unfamiliar with programming concepts and couldn’t even read my code properly. Her inability to engage in technical discussions made me question her expertise. It felt like I was speaking to someone with very little experience in software development, which was disappointing for a senior-level interview.


5. Rude and Arrogant Attitude:
The interviewer displayed a rude and arrogant attitude throughout the process. She interrupted frequently, offered no constructive feedback, and was dismissive of my efforts. When I requested feedback on my approach, she simply told me to ask HR for further clarification, which was unhelpful.
Suggestions for Improvement:

Interviewers should introduce themselves and engage respectfully with candidates to create a professional atmosphere.

Ensure that interviewers are qualified to assess candidates on a technical level, especially for senior positions.

Provide clearer instructions and requirements upfront, so candidates know exactly what’s expected of them.

Constructive feedback should be given during or at the end of the interview to help candidates learn and grow.


Overall, this experience made me question the quality of hiring processes at tbo.com. I hope the company takes these points seriously and improves the way they conduct interviews. A company’s reputation is reflected not just in its products but also in how it treats potential employees during recruitment.