I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at Toptal (Podgorica) in Aug 2022
Interview
I was dreaming for for Toptal for last two years. It was my second attempt (first time i failed because of english level) and i really upset about the results
The worst interview process I ever saw. I expected more from such company.
They give only 15 minutes for algorithmic task and expect you to solve it, debug and test. And of course it should be implemented in the most performant way. So if you are not a geek who like to spent an hour for practice algorithmic every day you have almost zero chance to accomplish it. For instance i've made a mistake in 1 row (the final result calculation) but didn't have time to debug and find out the simple mistake (it took only 5 minutes after interview).
So if you expect to work in a team of great developers - you are a dreamer. There is no good interview process. They are hiring only ones who like spend time on algorithmic practice. No code design interview, not ci/cd/project configuring interview, not testing interview, no mind-set interview. Nothing. Only algorithms.
I really upset about dreaming work for you for last two years.
If you still want to work for them just spend from 2 to 4 weeks for algorithm practicing and you will match their expectations as a "Professional developer"
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at Toptal (Podgorica) in Jul 2019
Interview
I got a ping from HR about a job with them. Asked to provide times and I was given times either in the morning, nothing available in the afternoon. It took more than two weeks to schedule something at 6pm EST. So in the end it seems that I spoke to someone in Serbia or Macedonia and they complained to me a hundred times that it is midnight and they are tired. It was some 20 year old boy that quizzed me on a processes that I have been doing for 15 years. There was a clear language barrier(I am born and raised in the US), as he could not understand my answers and neither I could understand his questions.
Not a real professional experience.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Asked what I did, and afterwards given a task to do with my favorite editor under 15 minutes or so. I was first told that I could use the internet to look at the official API but was then told that I cannot use solutions that are provided on the internet and instead figure it out, in the remaining 5 minutes. Totally disconnected from reality. If that is the talent that they are looking for they are delusional and will hire all cheaters that will cheat and find a way to get them the solution that they are looking for. At one point the interviewer asked if I was looking at another monitor, like he thought that I was cheating(while looking at me the whole time on the camera). I would not recommend this company to any of my friends.
