Software Engineer Interview Guide
This guide covers preparation for software engineering interviews. The handbook focuses on domain-specific questions and system design rather than data structures and algorithms fundamentals.
For data structures and algorithms practice, use LeetCode and NeetCode, progressing from easy to medium difficulty problems.
Interview Process Overview
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Resume screening | Initial review by recruiters or HR |
| Phone screen | 1-2 coding problems via collaborative editor |
| System design | Architecture questions (mid/senior roles) |
| Behavioral interview | Assessment of past experience and soft skills |
| Offer | Compensation negotiation |
Resume Screening
Resume quality directly affects interview opportunities. A well-structured resume increases the number of callbacks.
| Recommendation | Details |
|---|---|
| Quantify achievements | Include percentages, scale metrics, and measurable impact |
| Use action verbs | Lead sentences with specific accomplishments |
| Length | 1-2 pages maximum (exceptions for academic CVs) |
| Tailoring | Customize resume content for each application |
Interview Formats
Technical Quiz
Some companies include brief technical questions during recruiter phone screens.
Example questions:
- Describe the complexity characteristics of systems you have built
- Explain the requests per second (RPS) of systems you have worked on
- Describe the architecture of a recent project
Online Coding Assessment
Online assessments are typically administered through HackerRank or similar platforms.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes to 2 hours |
| Format | Progressive difficulty problems |
| Focus areas | Data structures, algorithms, object-oriented programming |
Take-Home Assignment
Some companies, particularly startups, assign take-home projects.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2-5 hours |
| Follow-up | Code review with hiring manager or team engineer |
| Example projects | Flights listing app, kanban board, snake game |
Phone Screen
Phone screens involve solving 1-2 coding problems in a collaborative editor (CoderPad, CodePen, or Google Docs).
| Guideline | Description |
|---|---|
| Clarify requirements | Confirm problem understanding before coding |
| Add debugging statements | Include print statements for verification |
| Draft approach first | Outline solution and confirm with interviewer before implementation |
| Think aloud | Verbalize reasoning throughout the process |
Onsite Interview
Onsite interviews span multiple hours or days and include coding, system design, and behavioral rounds. Senior candidates may also have a deep-dive discussion on past projects.
Interviews may be conducted virtually or in person depending on company policy.
Coding Interview Preparation
Language Selection
Select the programming language with which you have the most proficiency. Python offers concise syntax and reduced likelihood of syntax errors.
Practice Strategy
Curated problem sets provide efficient coverage of common patterns.
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| NeetCode 150 | Curated list of 150 problems organized by pattern |
| Grind 75 | 75 problems selected for interview preparation |
| LeetCode 100 | Top 100 problems by frequency |
Core patterns to study:
- Two pointers
- Sliding window
- BFS/DFS
- Dynamic programming
Core data structures:
- Arrays and strings
- Trees and graphs
- Heaps
- Tries
Practice Resources
| Resource | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| LeetCode | Free/Paid | Problem database with company tags |
| HelloInterview | Free/Paid | Structured practice platform |
| 1Point3Acres | Paid | Interview question reports |
| HackTheRounds | Paid | Recent interview questions |
| InterviewDB | Paid | Company-specific question database |
Mock Interviews
| Platform | Description |
|---|---|
| interviewing.io | Anonymous mock interviews with engineers from major companies |
System Design Interviews
System design interviews are standard for mid-level and senior roles. These assess ability to design large-scale distributed systems.
Preparation Resources
| Resource | Format | Author/Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| ByteByteGo | Video course | Alex Xu (System Design Interview author) |
| Grokking the System Design Interview | Text-based course | Design Gurus |
Behavioral Interviews
All major technology companies include at least one behavioral interview round.
Assessment areas:
- Past experience and achievements
- Conflict resolution
- Teamwork
- Career goals
Prepare specific examples in advance, but avoid over-rehearsing responses.
STAR Format
Structure responses using the STAR framework:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Situation | Context and background |
| Task | Objective or challenge |
| Action | Specific steps taken |
| Result | Outcomes and lessons learned |
Common Questions
| Question Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Conflict | Describe a workplace conflict and its resolution |
| Challenge | Describe a difficult project and how you approached it |
| Collaboration | Describe how you handle disagreements with teammates |
| Failure | Describe a failure and the lessons learned |