I went through four rounds of interviews for a role at Tesla, all of which I was told were urgent and time-sensitive. I rearranged my schedule multiple times to accommodate these requests, expecting the same level of commitment from Tesla's side. Unfortunately, the process felt disjointed and ended with no communication or closure.
The first round was a standard recruiter screen—straightforward and easy. The second round was onsite with someone currently in the role, which was informative. The third round involved back-to-back sessions with senior technical leads. These felt like they were meant to assess how you think rather than whether you had the "right" answers, which I appreciated.
The final round was with the Head of Autonomy. He was late and briefly popped into the call to say so, which I understood. However, once he joined, he asked probing questions about my current employer that I couldn’t answer due to an NDA. He didn’t seem to appreciate that boundary. The interview was cut short, and I got the impression he wasn’t fully engaged—possibly rushing to his next meeting. He also seemed more interested in hearing agreeable responses than thoughtful, realistic ones. When I proposed alternative solutions to a problem he posed, he seemed dismissive.
Despite going through all rounds and making time on short notice, I was ultimately ghosted. No follow-up, no feedback—just silence. For a company that emphasizes innovation and excellence, this experience was disappointing and unprofessional. Candidates deserve respect, especially when they invest time and energy into the process.