I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Toptal (Sydney) in Sep 2019
Interview
So just want to share my experience with you guys with my screening process with big-named international freelance platform(I won't name it here), they claims they on hire top 3% talent. The interview process is extremely complicated which consists 4 screening round:
-initial interview
-Timed algorithm questions
-Lived timed algorithm questions under supervision
-Test project (commerical scale)
Due to confidential policy I cannot give more detail here, but I passed first 3 rounds without a sweat, at this stage they claim only 3.x % interviewee can pass. So whats get me frastrated is the last round, they require to build a deliver-ready application (I'm full-stsck so it means front and back-end), and expected people to spent more than 20 hours on the project. Which I did spent well over 20 hours setting ground work up and some features work. All this is unpaid and source code has to be shared with them. O got to a point I personally think it's a little absurd to ask your interviewee spent so much time through the process and you are not guaranteed for work. So I contacted them telling them the current work should be well over suffice to demonstrate my skills. However, they completely turned me down and told me it's unacceptable to not finishing the application.
I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at Toptal (Groningen) in Feb 2026
Interview
The first part is a test with 3 questions, fairly easy on common and basic issues. The live coding interview was a 30min task that is hard to complete in just 30 minutes, as you hardly have time to stop and think.
I applied through other source. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Toptal in Apr 2025
Interview
Send in pdf and they review it, and after 2 days I got into the waitlist, but it's generally a good experience. I would recommend anyone who is interested to apply.
Very reasonable selection process, consists of 4 steps and lasts for about a month if your availability is in line with their pace. Not like Google or Amazon algorithm-heavy and white board oppressif interviews.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
- Quick chat about your career and motivations - Codility test - Live coding session - Project