Senior Software Engineer - ReactJS | coursefinder ai | Interview Experience
Summary
Interview process included multiple rounds covering DSA, frontend systems, system design, and behavioral aspects. Rejected at the final stage due to shifting engineering priorities.
Full Experience
Interview Process:
- Recruiter Call – Discussed experience, compensation expectations, and role details.
- R1 – Bar Raiser Round – External interviewer, 1-hour interview and I was constantly being hurried throughout. Questions asked:
- DSA: Longest substring with at most K distinct characters
- Frontend: to-do app with CRUD functionality ( if i recall correctly )
- Concepts: Redux and Context API
- CSS: Two-column layout with fixed width for one and with independent scrolling
- R2 – React / System Design (LLD) – I was asked to design a cart and inventory system where inventory updates dynamically based on cart actions. This was LLD round.
- R3 – Culture Fit (Technical) – It was framed as culture fit but was actually a code review exercise. Was given a buggy solution to the previous round's problem and asked to review it as a senior developer.
- R4 – Culture Fit (Behavioral) – Past experience, role expectations, team fit.
- R5 – HR Round – Compensation, benefits, leave policy, joining date.
Work Policy:
- Fully WFO
- 3 WFH days/month (non-transferable)
- Sandwich leave policy applies
- 30 mins lunch break (no idea how that works)
- Some relocation is provided, 7 days accomodation is provided
Other things worth knowing:
- I was asked if I was planning to get married in the next 1 year
- No cab/commute provided
- No equity
- No lunch provided
After everything was finalized, compensation, joining date, I received a rejection email citing a last-minute shift in engineering priorities. Mind you, I was in touch with the recruiter even the day before I received the mail.
This whole process took 3 weeks. One of the worst experiences I've had.
Interview Questions (5)
Longest Substring with At Most K Distinct Characters
Given a string s and an integer k, return the length of the longest substring of s that contains at most k distinct characters.
To-Do App with CRUD Functionality
Build a simple to-do application supporting Create, Read, Update, Delete operations using ReactJS.
Two Column Layout with Independent Scrolling
Create a two-column layout where one column has a fixed width and both columns scroll independently.
Cart and Inventory System Design
Design a cart and inventory system where inventory updates dynamically based on cart actions. This is a Low-Level Design (LLD) focused task.
Code Review Exercise
Review a provided buggy implementation of the previously discussed cart/inventory system as a senior developer would do.