Stage 06
Interview & close
LeetCode patterns, system design rounds, take-homes, behavioral, and offer negotiation.
DSA / LeetCode rounds: the patterns that show up
What actually shows up in 2026 remote DSA rounds — the 14 high-frequency patterns, the explain-while-coding standard, hint-handling, and language choice (Python vs Java) for Indian devs.
System design rounds and the 30-design list
How to pass remote system design rounds — the 30-design list, the 45-minute structure (clarify → estimate → API → data → deep-dive → trade-offs), and the senior-signal moves.
Take-homes and live coding: what they're really testing
How to ace remote take-home assignments and live coding rounds — scope-cut discipline, test discipline, the README that beats the code, and the live-pairing setup that doesn't fall apart.
Behavioral interviews and STAR stories
How to prep behavioral rounds for remote roles — the 8 STAR stories that cover 90% of questions, the FDE-flavored framing, and the conflict story Indian devs systematically under-tell.
AI-native interview screens (MCP token, AI voice interview)
How to pass the new wave of AI-native screens — MCP-token tasks, AI voice interviewers, Karat-style async assessments — and the calibration tricks Indian devs need for non-human grading.
Offer negotiation for remote roles
How to negotiate a remote offer as an Indian-resident contractor or employee — the USD band research, the counter-offer script, equity vs cash, and the moves that protect the relationship.