I recently went through the interview process at Red Hat, and it was an insightful and challenging journey. Here’s a breakdown of what I experienced: 1. Application and Screening After submitting my application, I had an initial phone screening with HR. They mainly focused on my background, work experience, and motivation for applying at Red Hat. It was a quick check to make sure I met the basic qualifications for the role. 2. Technical Interviews The next step was a technical interview where I was asked about various topics like Linux fundamentals, open-source technologies, and Red Hat-specific products (like Red Hat Enterprise Linux). They tested my hands-on skills and problem-solving abilities, particularly in a Linux environment. I also had to do a live coding session. It wasn’t just about writing code but also explaining my thought process and optimizing my solutions on the go. This was probably the most intense part of the interview! 3. Behavioral Interview There was a separate behavioral interview, which focused on teamwork, how I handle challenges, and my experience working in collaborative environments. They asked a lot about how I would fit into Red Hat's open-source, collaborative culture. 4. Culture Fit and Open Source Since Red Hat is known for its open-source philosophy, they were very keen on understanding my experience with and commitment to the open-source community. We talked about any contributions I had made to open-source projects, and how I stay involved with the community. 5. Follow-Up and Offer After the interviews, there was a reference and background check. Red Hat communicated well throughout the process, and they ensured I knew what was happening at each stage.

What process? I applied online, I received a call letting me know they had two different positions open (two different products) - the person I spoke with said he would have the hiring manager contact me about one of the positions that he did not have much detail on. Fast forward a week or so, I receive an interview invite from the recruiter/talent acquisitions fellow - literally, a scheduled interview (no contact asking for my availability or etc). I declined the meeting but never heard back from the recruiter so out of courtesy, I attending the interview. BAD IDEA! I was completely blind sided, for one. The person I interviewed with knew nothing about the product and role that I was interviewing for (which is ridiculous). Overall, there was no process - it needs some fine tuning for sure. For such a large company, they should be a master at this now but clearly they are not. Honestly, a huge disappointment. Terrible experience.