I recently went through the interview process with Coinbase, and I wanted to share my experience to help others make informed decisions before investing time in their process.
The initial stage consisted of an aptitude test with 40 comprehensive questions to be completed in just 20 minutes, followed by a cognitive test with 100 questions in the same time frame. These assessments were challenging, and as someone with experience in recruitment processes, I can confidently say that results from cognitive and behavioral tests are rarely binary. They typically offer a detailed analysis, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.
A day after the test, the recruiter told me that my results were positive and that I would receive a coding test link. However, after a month of waiting with no further communication, I had to reach out via a general email. The recruiter had never contacted me via email; all communication was through phone calls, which made the process feel unprofessional and disjointed.
When I finally inquired about my status, the recruiter informed me that I did not pass the cognitive test—a complete reversal from what was initially communicated. The explanation was vague and dismissive, leaving me with the impression that my results were never thoroughly reviewed. This feedback was delivered over the phone, without any formal email communication. It felt like my time was wasted, and there was a clear lack of transparency and professionalism.
If this is how Coinbase handles their hiring process, I wonder what their internal culture is like. The lack of transparency, unprofessional communication, and unclear assessment metrics made me question their approach to hiring. I was not the only one who felt this way; the recruiter mentioned that other senior candidates had also expressed similar concerns.
In my opinion, it's not worthwhile to invest your time in Coinbase's interview process unless you're prepared for vague outcomes and poor communication.