To join Toptal, you must pass through their rigorous screening process, which includes a live interview. Here are some tips for preparing for a Toptal freelance interview.
The freelance world is expanding at an astonishing rate. With more and more people pouring in, the talent pool is brimming. Most beginners research before jumping into the freelance world.
In parallel, many freelancing websites are emerging to treat the world with new freelancers’ talent. Some renowned ones are Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, among others.
However, when the talk is about the creme of the freelancing community, you need to head over to Toptal. This Toptal review will discuss Toptal, its screening process, and how you can prepare for your Toptal freelance interview.
Like all freelancing websites, Toptal is a platform and a marketplace where clients can find and work with freelancers. The platform provides a network of software developers, designers, finance experts, product managers, and project managers from around the globe.
However, what sets Toptal apart from the significant rest is its claim to hire the top 3% freelancing talent. Toptal has placed a pretty tough screening process to make it a reality.
Interestingly, other top platforms, such as CrossOver and BairesDev, also claim to have the best of the best freelancers from around the globe.
But, people who’ve applied to them, and in Toptal, often say that Toptal pushes you over the edge like none other. Once you are a newbie and know other platforms such as Upwork, you will ask which is better: Toptal or Upwork? It boils down to what the person offers and learning to upgrade skills to be marketable to clients.
There are also other freelancing platforms, such as Fiverr and Freelancer. You can not determine which is better not unless you have tried it yourself. So, what exactly is part of the Toptal freelance interview? Let’s have a look.
Toptal’s screening process is designed to thoroughly measure and test your communication, personality, professionalism, expertise, and skills, which clients seek in developers.
The entire process takes anywhere from about two to five weeks. It is divided into four steps, which are as follows:
It is the first of four phases of the Toptal freelance talent interview, a way to screen and hire freelancers at the correct rate. It is a semi-formal Skype interview where you chat with the interviewer.
Your language and communication skills, particularly your English skills, are analyzed. The judges judge your passion for being part of Toptal and the motivation behind this application.
They will tell you about the company and answer any questions. You’ll then be asked about your hourly rates and past experiences. While this one’s easy, Toptal claims that only 26.4% of applicants clear this stage.
In this second phase, you are given a link where you need to fill in three algorithmic challenges. The time limit for this is an hour and a half.
They assess your technical skills and problem-solving ability in the cordiality test. Time is a crucial factor, and questions range in difficulty level.
It is why many candidates consider this phase to be the most challenging of all. According to Toptal, only 7.4% of applicants with exceptional skills go past this stage, achieving success in Toptal.
It is the third step, where you and the screener share a screen, and you’re asked to solve two coding problems, each with a time limit of around 15-20 minutes.
The screener asks you to describe your solutions to the second phase test. In this stage, they assess your problem-solving abilities, niche-related skills, communication skills, and the depth of your experience.
Your onscreen confidence while solving the questions live is observed. About 3.6% of the total applicants go clear this stage.
When you’ve crossed the first three steps, and the interviewers gain confidence in your skills, they test your real-life application skills by assigning you a test project.
For the test projects, you get around two to three weeks, for which you set the deadline yourself as a freelancer. You must work on the test project like you would perform every day at work.
The applicant’s pass percentage goes from 3.6 to 3.2 here. After completing the test project, you have your final discussion with the team to finalize your hourly rate and availability. It is where Toptal announced the much-awaited ‘Welcome to Toptal’ message.
Toptal maintains integrity and professionalism. The work of all clients and freelancers is tracked for excellence.
This way, only 3% of the total applicants, in fact, stay on board with Toptal.
Through this rigorous screening and checking procedure, Toptal has maintained its status as a top-quality freelance marketplace. The company takes responsibility for vetting freelancers.
So, when you decide to take the stab and prepare for the Toptal system freelance first interview, you need some valuable tips and tricks to cut the score.
And, even if you don’t, it’s always worth a try. After all, there’s no such thing as leaving without learning. Nevertheless, you will certainly succeed if you adhere to the following Toptal freelance interview tips.
Make no mistake; these tips come straight from the horse’s mouth. Let’s delve in!
It is the first baseline required to qualify for the next round. Your English communication skills will be tested.
You don’t need to be a native or sound like one to qualify for this one. You should be able to present your ideas and thoughts clearly and effectively – such that it gets across the board effortlessly.
If you leave your interviewers guessing about what you meant, that’s a straight loss. Furthermore, it would help to talk at a balanced pace. Too rushed, and you appear nervous. It’s too slow, and you sound underconfident.
Remember, they are assessing your personality, too. Watching interviews online is one way to improve your English communication skills.
You could also practice your communication skills on your own. Sit in front of a mirror and talk, and talk, and talk. Or read aloud, if that helps you. It applies more to those lacking fluency in English.
Of course, when you’re applying at a top freelance marketplace like Toptal, you walk in with an estimation of your per-hour charges. But without realizing it, you may be charging too low or too high.
The former leaves you exploited, while the latter leaves you client-less. None of us want either, do we? For this purpose, we recommend using an Hourly Rate Calculator. We created this calculator because most freelancers have difficulty deciding the optimum rate they should charge.
This calculator works by entering your desired annual income, software or license expenses, platform fees, and various necessary inputs.
The calculator then suggests an optimum hourly rate you should charge as a freelancer. Every freelancer should remember to know their worth in bidding, ensuring that the agreed-upon rate can pay the internet and electricity bills, which are the primary requirements for working from home.
Gaining know-how on the entire screening process and data structures is crucial. It will make you aware of the areas you need to work on and places where you’re doing great.
A good place to research is to watch and read stories of people who made it to Toptal. For the success stories, see how they achieved it. For those who didn’t make it, capitalize on what they learned.
We’d recommend that you go through the following:
By learning about Toptal interview questions, you will learn the essentials of applying confidently. The more you prepare, the more confident you’ll be when you walk in.
Furthermore, researching the application process of other top companies will also help.
As you prepare for your Toptal freelance interview, remember that your technical skills must be up-to-date and well-practiced.
If you’re applying as a software developer, you must be good with algorithms. You might think it’s not something you practice on the job.
That’s true, but to get into any big company, especially tech-related, you need this skill. Plan your practice. Set aside a couple of hours every day just for practice.
Believe it, you’ll be proud of yourself later. A recommended resource is AlgoExpert. It offers a complete package to prepare for such interviews, including practice algorithm problems.
You can also practice a lot of Codility tests. These will help you be more prepared for what’s coming, especially in the second and fourth stages of the interview process. HackerRank and Interview Cake are other great resources where you can practice coding.
Apart from this, you can and should get the study book Cracking the Coding Interview. It will help you get a good hang of the entire thing.
The thing about interviews with top-notch institutions is the pressure. When you’ve got limited time and a lot to deliver, it is natural to feel your nerves on edge. However, always try not to let the time constraint get the best of you.
Use time as a motivation and a check rather than as a quality dictator. Repeat your mantras, such as: ‘I can do this,’ ‘I’ve got this,’ and you will see that you will indeed get it. Practicing timed problems beforehand will also help you flex your time management muscle.
It is another obvious one. But let’s get across its brevity. There have been instances where people have been banned from the Toptal freelance interview for not following instructions properly. It’s crucial to read all the instructions carefully and not rush through. Be as ethical as you possibly can.
In the second stage, using Google is prohibited. Remain mindful of that. Of course, there’s always the chance you might not get caught, as with some. But, if the odds fall against you, your months’ worth of effort can go down the hill.
Hence, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you aren’t already part of CrossOver, apply for it while you apply for Toptal. CrossOver is comparable to Toptal regarding quality, integrity, and admission difficulty.
Your confidence will increase as you undergo a similar interview process and screening and receive the ‘Welcome to CrossOver’ message. That’s how the human psyche works. Understand it and use it to your advantage.
The entire experience will also reduce the fear and intimidation you feel trying to reach the top 3 percent. While CrossOver doesn’t claim the top few percent, it does possess top-notch talent. You and I both know it.
Believing in yourself and your abilities can make you reach heights you didn’t know existed.
After all, remember that famous quotation by Lao Tzu?
Watch your thoughts; they become your words;
watch your words; they become your actions;
watch your actions; they become your habits;
watch your habits; they become your character;
watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
Thus, if you want success, give yourself positive encouragement and mental reinforcement throughout.
Do not underestimate your skills. Be aware of your failings and work on them. As for your strengths and abilities, own them, be proud of them, and show them off confidently throughout the screening process and beyond.
See Related: Best Freelancing Tips for Beginners
You’ve gone over the application process. You’ve read how to best prepare for your Toptal freelance interview. At this point, you might wonder, “Is Toptal worth all the hassle?” For some freelancers, Toptal is the dream; they believe it’s the best thing that can happen to a freelancer, while others think differently.
However, one thing that Toptal guarantees more than anything is learning—Intense learning. All those months of practice, research, and preparation will enable you to reach new personal heights.
You might land among the acclaimed ‘top 3% of global freelancing talent,’ but even if you don’t, you’d definitely have landed at the top version of yourself. So, take the shot and test the waters. We wish you good luck!
Toptal talent is identified by their screening procedure, which assesses subject matter competence, professionalism, and communication abilities. The entire screening procedure usually takes a few weeks.
Clients want to know that the freelancers they hire are skilled and dependable. Their screening procedure ensures that their freelance community consists of experienced specialists in their fields who we would happily place in front of paying clients. Once you’ve passed the screening procedure and become a member, you’ll have access to intriguing opportunities with top clients at the rate you choose.
The screening procedure is divided into stages and usually takes a few weeks. After you’ve submitted your application, they’ll walk you through the rest of the screening process and onboard you to the Toptal network.
Yes! When you’re ready, you can start the screening process. After passing the screening process and being admitted into the network, you’ll have access to active opportunities that match your skill set. You can begin working with Toptal network clients whenever you have time.
Toptal Technical Interview is a platform that assists technical interviewers in finding the finest candidates for available positions. It provides several services, including a job board, a candidate database, and a technical assessment tool. The portal assists interviewers in finding the top technical candidates or project managers by providing multiple services and resources.
There is no one-size-fits-all response to this query because the best technique to pass a TopTal network technical interview varies depending on the interviewer and technical question. However, some pointers to help you master a TopTal technical interview are provided above.
Toptal freelancers with at least 2-3 years of expertise, strong communication skills, and the ability to ramp up on projects are often successful. Members of the Toptal network who thrive demonstrate they are adaptive, proactive, reliable, and capable of working well in teams and alone. They are constantly seeking ways to improve their talents. If you’re a developer, you can use their fast Talent Assessment to see if you have enough experience to start your application.
Applicants who did not pass on their first attempt are urged to retake the screening procedure. Toptal requires a waiting period between attempts. Remember that the Toptal network expects applicants to conduct themselves professionally to achieve high-quality client engagement. They want you to treat the screening process equally seriously as any other interview.
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Last updated: November 28, 2024
