Epic Software Engineer, difficult assessment led to an offer

I started with a quick phone interview with an existing employee. It was mainly a fit check, and then I moved directly into scheduling an assessment. The assessment was genuinely hard, longer and more challenging than I expected, and it was the part that required the most effort.

After finishing it, I made it far enough to receive an offer. I ultimately declined because a better opportunity came through. Looking back, the process made it clear what mattered most to them: the assessment was the real gate, while everything before it was mainly preparation for that step.

Location: United States. Overall feedback: Neutral. Offer status: Got offer.