Summary
I interviewed for an SDE1 backend role at LokalApp in Bangalore, undergoing three rounds covering DS/Algo, OOP, and system design, including specific coding problems and a Quora-like system design. Despite my efforts, I received a rejection after the final round.
Full Experience
I connected with a recruiter for LokalApp via LinkedIn and secured an interview for an SDE1 Backend role in Bangalore, requiring 5 days WFO.
Round 1: DS/Algo Assessment Test
This was a 1.5-hour proctored online test. It consisted of 4 coding questions: 2 hard and 2 medium. The requirement to clear the round was to solve at least 2 medium problems or 1 hard problem. I managed to solve 1 medium and 1 hard question.
Round 2: DS/Algo Interview
This 1-hour interview was conducted on Google Meet and involved 2 coding questions, both of medium difficulty. I wrote my code in Google Docs. The first question asked me to find the missing element in a given Arithmetic Progression. The second question was a classic problem: given a grid, find the number of ways to reach the end by only moving right or down. I successfully solved both coding questions. Following the coding part, the interviewer also asked me about some Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts.
Round 3: HLD + LLD Round
The final round was a High-Level Design (HLD) and Low-Level Design (LLD) interview, also on Google Meet. I was tasked with designing a system similar to Quora. The interviewer was very helpful and nice. We extensively discussed various requirements, explored different database options, designed the schema, and even wrote some example queries during the session.
After two working days, I received a rejection email.
Interview Questions (3)
Given an arithmetic progression (AP) with one element missing, find the missing element.
Given a grid, starting from the top-left corner, you can only move right or down. Find the total number of unique ways to reach the bottom-right corner of the grid.
Design a system similar to Quora, considering requirements, database schema, and potential queries. This involved discussions on high-level and low-level design aspects.