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The Reality of Tech Interviews in 2025: What’s Changed — and What It Means for You

career advancement Jun 30, 2025

Tech hiring is in an unusual place: rebounding from the 2022–2023 slowdown, but nowhere near the hiring peaks of 2020–2021. Senior engineers in AI and infrastructure roles are seeing multiple offers and premium compensation, while early-career engineers and those in core domains (frontend, backend, mobile) face tougher, slower searches.

Here are the most important shifts shaping interviews this year:


Higher technical bar — same formats

Data structures & algorithms (DSA) and system design interviews still dominate, but companies now expect stronger, cleaner solutions under tighter time constraints. What was “good enough” in 2021 often isn’t enough now.

System design interviews have grown more complex, too: even mid-level candidates are now asked about topics like stream processing and geospatial indexing — once reserved for staff-level discussions.


Downleveling and team matching as new filters

More candidates are offered roles below their current level, especially at senior and staff levels, with the promise of “growing into” higher roles later.
Team matching — where passing candidates must find a team before getting an offer — has quietly become another hurdle, sometimes delaying offers for months or lowering final compensation.


Startups vs Big Tech: diverging interview styles

Big Tech largely sticks to algorithm-heavy formats, supported by years of calibration data. Startups and AI-first companies increasingly favor open-ended, practical projects — sometimes letting candidates use AI tools openly. This shift better reflects real work, though it’s harder to scale.


What preparation now looks like

  • Junior engineers (0–2 years): heavy emphasis on coding problems — about 150–200 practiced.

  • Mid-level (2–4 years): balanced prep between coding, system design, and behavioral interviews.

  • Senior engineers (5–8 years): focus more on system design and leadership stories; coding is still tested but is less differentiating.

  • Staff+ roles: strongest emphasis on architectural thinking, business impact, and cross-functional leadership.

Behavioral prep matters more than many expect, especially at senior levels and above.


Signs of hope

Tech hiring is up roughly 40% year-over-year, driven by AI, infrastructure, and security roles. Major companies still hold tens of thousands of open roles, and AI startups often compete for specialized talent with high offers.

Interviewing may feel like its own sport, but the playbook is widely shared. Engineers investing in deliberate practice — mock interviews, study groups, and strategic prep — still see outsized results.


In summary:
The hiring bar is higher, processes are more selective, and the landscape favors specialized skills. But with focused, level-appropriate preparation, engineers can still thrive — even in today’s tougher, more competitive market.

 

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