average software engineering interview in 2026

@iansbrash

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SoundTikTok sound · original sound - iansbrash

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+19.7K views over 8.8d · ~2.2K/day · 8 observations

Why it worked

The video uses hyperbole and relatable frustrations within the tech industry to create humor, tapping into the anxieties of job seekers and making it highly shareable.

Summary

A humorous take on the perceived difficulty of software engineering interviews in 2026, suggesting that even with extensive experience, candidates might face unrealistic demands and ultimately be rejected. The video satirizes the high expectations and competitive nature of the field.

Structure

1Introduction to the "average software engineering interview in 2026"
2Questioning the possibility of an entry-level role with no experience
3Highlighting unrealistic experience requirements (5 years for a framework released last year)
4Mentioning the use of AI and pen-and-paper technical interviews
5Presenting a hypothetical scenario about saving a mom vs. the CEO
6Concluding with a candidate having multiple internships still being rejected and ghosted

On-screen text

average software engineering interview in 2026

Original caption

all that just for the role to go to an internal referral 😭 #coding #ai #programming #claude #computerscience

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Transcript

you're applying for an entry level role with no experience?? how about you interview, you'll fucking kill yourself. you're not in a top 20, I think we have some unpaid roles open. the framework was released last year, but we require 5 years of experience. our company loves using AI, so we're conducting the technical on pen and paper. I like your system design, but it just doesn't scale to 10 trillion users. if a bullet was coming at your mom and the CEO, who would you say? candidates with practical skills. now solve this LeetCode hard. the candidate had five internships and we still rejected him. thank you for completing round 13. we're now going to ghost you.