Reddit Experience · 2026 Q1

Second round interview was basically the managers talking about the job and company, but I got rejected

SWE Phone Screen Hard
58 upvotes 76 replies

Interview Experience

I'm struggling to understand what went wrong, and it's really eating at me. The first round was a phone screening where the recruiter complimented my skills, and I asked all the right questions. I pre

Full Details

I'm struggling to understand what went wrong, and it's really eating at me. The first round was a phone screening where the recruiter complimented my skills, and I asked all the right questions. I prepared extensively for the second round. I actually got sick from the stress, but I decided not to postpone because I was the first candidate to be interviewed, and I'd already practiced so much. I researched the hiring managers (who were actually analysts in the department I applied to, not HR). The interview lasted an hour, but it was mostly *them* talking about the company and the role while I asked questions. I made sure to look into each interviewer's background, and they seemed genuinely impressed by the questions I asked. **I had all the required skills and even more.** I thought I'd advance to the final round where I could actually sell myself and talk more about my abilities. Instead, they told me they're not moving forward. I asked for feedback but received no response. Now I'm spiraling. Was it my braces? The way I sound? My race? I don't know, and it's killing me because I studied so hard and continue to study. This was my chance, and I cried so much over it. Has anyone experienced something similar? What could have gone wrong when the interview seemed to go well?
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