Round 1: Coding
Questions:
- Merge 2 arrays
- Find local minimum
- Nested list depth
- Merge interval
Candidate's Approach
The candidate mentioned that one of the interviewers was difficult and required a manual walkthrough of the code, despite it being a Leetcode metamorization solution. The candidate felt that the interviewers were not Leetcode experts and that the questions were easier than expected.
Interviewer's Feedback
No feedback provided.
Round 2: Behavioral
Questions:
- Describe a time when you had to get clarity on requirements.
- Discuss a project you are proud of.
- How do you get up to speed on a project?
Candidate's Approach
No approach provided.
Interviewer's Feedback
No feedback provided.
Round 3: System Design
Questions:
- Design a system similar to a news feed.
Candidate's Approach
The candidate noted that there was a follow-up on system design that was conversational and focused on approach rather than diagrams. It was heavily based on internal APIs.
Interviewer's Feedback
No feedback provided.
Practice Tips:
- Focus on the top 100 Meta questions on Leetcode.
- Use the STAR method for behavioral questions, especially for conflict resolution and learning.
- Spend more time on system design than on Leetcode; understand granular details like Redis caching strategies and infinite pagination.
- Don't stress about specific product architecture interviews; instead, learn the details of common system design questions.
Overall Experience:
The candidate described the overall experience as slow but low-stress. They learned that they needed to focus more on system design, which ultimately led to their rejection.