O'Reilly Media Software Developer interview questions

1) Call with engineering manager. This was a super nice guy and we have productive, casual conversation about my role and software I use at my current job. 2) Take home assignment. This was entirely fair and do-able while maintaining my current job. 3) Virtual onsite Everybody was so kind and approachable. Contrast this with another interview I had later that week (with a big tech company). Over there I met with a load of asocial aliens.

I applied online and was given a coding challenge straight away (no phone screen, no speaking with a hiring manager) that they wanted completed by the end of the week - a few days. I was told they would get back to me at the beginning of the next week after reviewing it. I completed the challenge on time. Sounded like they wanted to move! Great! The next week goes by and nobody reaches out to me. I send a follow-up email and I'm told they'll get back to me in the next week. Two weeks go by and another follow-up email sent then is ignored. Then covid-19 hits many weeks later and I receive an email stating they are now instituting a hiring freeze. My coding challenge was never even reviewed as far as I can tell. A simple message letting me know you've decided to move on with other candidates would've been appreciated. So, thanks for wasting my time and ignore me O'Reilly. That was extremely rude to ask me to do a coding challenge within a few days and then ignore following up on your end for two months(!!!) before pulling the plug entirely due to events beyond your control. I admired this company once. Good luck!