8x8 Lead Data Engineer interview questions

From the outset, the interviewer appeared disengaged, frequently interrupted my answers, and adopted a condescending tone. Rather than facilitating a constructive discussion, the interview felt more like an inconvenience to them. The structure lacked clarity, and the approach did not seem competency-based or designed to effectively assess a candidate’s suitability. A few key concerns: - Inconsistency with the Job Description: Apache Kafka was listed as a ‘nice-to-have’ in the JD, yet in the interview, it was treated as a critical requirement. Similarly, best practices were emphasised in the JD, but when I asked about them, my question was dismissed rather than discussed. - Lack of Open-Mindedness: There was little room for different perspectives. When discussing handling changing data in Salesforce, alternative solutions were not entertained. - Misaligned Evaluation Criteria: I received post-interview feedback stating that while I had strong experience in QA, operations, and management, they were looking for someone with more technical expertise in data warehouse topics. However, there were no questions on QA or operations during the interview to justify this feedback, raising concerns about how candidates are being assessed. - Poor Interview Technique: The interviewer frequently used rhetorical questions such as “right?” but didn’t allow for responses, which disrupted the flow of the discussion. Key responsibilities like team leadership, data quality, and documentation—highlighted in the JD—were not discussed at all. If this interview style reflects the broader company culture, I would question whether it fosters collaboration, open dialogue, and a genuine exchange of ideas. The overall experience felt unstructured, unprofessional, and unlikely to identify the best candidates for the role. While I appreciate the opportunity, this experience did not leave a positive impression of the company or its hiring process. This was despite having had a fantastic initial call with the talent team that had got me excited about the opportunity.