A typical software developer interview process: Application - Submit resume/portfolio, recruiter screens for basic fit Recruiter Call - 15–30 min intro call covering background, salary expectations, role overview Technical Screen - Coding challenge (LeetCode-style) or take-home assignment Technical Interviews - 1–3 rounds covering algorithms, system design, and/or debugging real code Behavioral Interview - Culture fit, teamwork, past experience (STAR method) Final Round / Onsite - Loop of mixed technical + behavioral with senior staff or hiring manager Offer - Compensation negotiation, offer letter, background check

For your first technical interview, you were initially presented with a LeetCode problem categorized as medium difficulty. Following your response to this problem, the interview progressed to a discussion about fundamental principles in software engineering, where you were asked to elaborate on some basic concepts. This format aimed to assess both your problem-solving skills through the coding challenge and your theoretical understanding of software engineering principles.