First Interview of 2026
I had my first interview of the year recently. It was for a mid-level backend role. Here's what happened and what I'm taking from it. How I got there I'd seen the job post and shared a project I'd built (REEN) with the CEO. He was interested and asked for my LinkedIn and resume. That led to the interview. A couple of days before, I asked if there was anything he'd recommend I prepare. He said initial interviews are mainly about testing your understanding. I assumed most questions would be about my project, so I geared my preparation that way. What actually happened The interview was scheduled for 30 minutes; he'd said that if I made it to the end, I'd move to the next stage. I didn't—I only lasted about 15 minutes. The CEO and COO were professional and serious. I admired that. The CEO in particular came across as someone who's not only into software but also hardware; I noticed some robotics setup in the background. I think I felt a bit intim...