Agoda interview questions

Interviewed mid 2024 for senior backend engineer role in Bangkok, Thailand. The first round was a live coding test. They gave me a leetcode medium problem about stack. The second round was system design with an software architect. I nailed the system design and lasted around 50 minutes discussion. However, the interviewer then asked me additional questions completely unrelated to the system design earlier. After 20 minutes overtime, they finally gave me turn to ask. I ask about how I performed, and they answered that they were looking for someone who knew about all protocols. I got rejected after that round.

**BEWARE** Agoda is a tech wannabe company that preys on working professionals from lower-cost countries or countries with stronger currency in HOPES that the allure of relocating to Bangkok will win you over. 1. The Talent Acquisition team has NO recruiting strategy. They just shotgun blast all their job postings worldwide in hopes of getting enough applicants. Very antiquated system. I wouldn't even call it a strategy. 2. The process is SUPER lengthy, rigid, & unnecessary (you guys aren't Google). They will run you through the wringer only to lowball you on their offer. 3. They will LOW-BALL YOU. They hope the allure of an exotic new country will make you forget the significant pay cut they are offer you. In my case, my base alone was a >54% reduction and no equity is offered. They even fought me on my original comp expectations I submitted. For a "data driven company," they sure lack benchmarking data. 4. The People Team is JUNIOR at best. Not very impressive at all. Most of them have watered-down credentials and backgrounds that are supposed to be "impressive." My interviewer had the same number of years of experience as I did and was already a "Director". They source the majority of their talent from 3rd world countries. I could do her job and mine with more success and capability. They expect people with a significant professional amount of years of experience in their job postings, only to downlevel you and your compensation package. My advice to the People Team and Management, try working for an actual FAANG/Tech company, and you can learn a few things. Their current business strategy and model, especially on sourcing talent methods, are NOT STRATEGIC and lack critical thinking.