The interview questions were straightforward, primarily focused on Maps and other data structures. I prepared by practicing medium and hard-level problems on LeetCode, and during the interview, I felt I performed well. I answered all the questions, successfully executed the program, explained the time complexity, and carefully considered edge cases. The interviewer seemed very pleased with the result, mainly because the problem was already solved very efficiently, covering all necessary edge cases. Given my strong performance, I was optimistic about moving forward in the process. However, I received a rejection email without any specific feedback, which was disheartening. It appears they found another candidate whose skills aligned more closely with the role. While I understand the competitive nature of the job market, I can’t help but feel that companies are taking advantage of the current situation. With so many applicants available, even well-qualified candidates are being dismissed without proper consideration. This makes the entire interview process feel like a waste of time and effort, as candidates are left without any constructive feedback or understanding of where they stand. It's very frustrating and disappointing when companies don't recognize the effort and preparation that goes into these interviews. Instead, they seem to be using the abundance of applicants to their advantage. This experience has left me questioning the fairness and transparency of the hiring process. I definitely didn't expect this from a company like Rippling. Advice for Future Applicants: During the phone screen, make sure to confirm with the recruiter that the position is still open and that they haven't finalized any candidates. Also, ensure that you're being shortlisted because you have all the required skills to be successful and that the recruiter has discussed your candidacy with the hiring manager before scheduling a technical interview. This way, you won't be left waiting for the recruiter to send your resume to the hiring manager with high hopes of proceeding to the next stage.