Funny Anecdote: Software design for an elevator system

During my undergrad years, I had never travelled to US/UK/Europe. During my final years, while interviewing for FAANG, I was asked to design an elevator system. Of course, I did not know about the type of elevators where you need to enter floor number first and you are assigned elevator number separately. I went ahead and started designing for elevators I had seen with up and down buttons.

Later, I received feedback that I did not ask for clarification. I am sharing this today so that interviewers out there are also mindful of the culture and background of candidates before judging them.

I am in one of the FAANG companies now where I have the most amazing manager and frequently discuss drawbacks in the current interview system and this has helped us build an amazing team.