A recent Reddit post by a software engineer has ignited a fiery debate within Indian tech interview difficulty. The engineer, after a grueling six-month job hunt, called Indian job interviews “insane” compared to those in Europe. This has brought to light concerns about gatekeeping and the fairness of hiring practices for non-IIT talent.
The techie highlighted a stark contrast: his friend in Europe secured two job offers in three months with straightforward interviews. In India, however, candidates face demands to implement “end-to-end machine code” and possess in-depth knowledge of “Garbage Collector internals,” knowledge rarely applied in real-world scenarios. Missing one detail can lead to immediate rejection.
Gatekeeping or Supply and Demand?
The frustrated indian engineer theorized that tech interview difficulty has escalated because more Tier 2 and Tier 3 college students now have access to preparation material. This influx, he believes, has made cracking tech companies much harder than before.
However, many disagree, attributing the difficulty to basic supply and demand. With a massive pool of applicants for limited positions, companies resort to tougher interviews. As one user put it, “If they ask only job-relevant questions, they’ll get 1,000 qualified candidates. It’s like a government exam now—you just have to cram the whole syllabus and hope for the best.”
The Frustration is Real
Many Reddit users expressed their frustration with the unpredictable and often toxic interview culture. Comments like “Indian Interviewers are egoistic, they take revenge, not interviews” reflect the sentiment. While some argue that FAANG interviews maintain global consistency through “bar raiser” rounds, the personal experiences of rejection after positive feedback reveal the emotional toll on candidates.
Also Read: Impact of Technology on Jobs in India
The debate continues: Is the difficulty a necessary filter due to high competition, or does it unfairly gatekeep talented individuals from non-elite colleges?
