Technossus Senior Software Engineer interview questions

Initial screen by the hiring manager, then three rounds of interviews with progressively more senior technical staff. If you get past that, you get a 1:1 with Technossus' client where you will actually be working. The questions asked were less technical and more wanting to get to know the applicant - how they think, how they work, and what they have done, not necessarily how the applicant solved any specific technical problem. The discussions were candid and low-stress. Surprisingly, the most technical questions were asked by the client in the 1:1, not Technossus. All the way through, I was just myself and answered the questions as they came. If there was something I didn't know, I said so and took my best guess. I received an offer for a contract-to-hire position. They like to start at contract to hire, then convert once they trust you. I declined the offer because I have a distain for contract-to-hire and the salary would have been a pay cut from my current salary. They countered with a higher salary and direct hire, full time employment. While the compensation was better, it was just not where it needed to be. (Why would I change jobs for $3K more per year? I can stay where I am and get a bigger annual raise than that.) Also, we discussed my dislike for contract-to-hire and salary before the initial offer was made. They already had the knowledge of where I was, what I liked and didn't like, and what I wanted, yet they still low-balled the offer. That left a bad taste that tainted the counter offer. They seem to be a great bunch of folks that I probably would have like to work with. They just didn't want to pay what I needed/wanted. It could be because they are a consultancy and paying less means they make more profit.