Gojek | SDE I | Pune / Bangalore | May 2022 [Result (Selected))]
Summary
I applied directly to Gojek and underwent a comprehensive interview process, including machine coding, multiple system design rounds, and a hiring manager discussion. I was ultimately selected for the SDE2 role but decided to decline the offer.
Full Experience
I applied for the SDE2 position at Gojek via their jobs portal. After a short while, I received a call from HR to schedule my first technical assessment.
Machine Coding Round
This round lasted 1.5 hours, with 1 hour dedicated to development and 0.5 hours for discussion. I was given a problem statement to develop a game using any programming language of my choice. The focus was heavily on my design approach, familiarity with programming constructs, and application of design patterns. I managed to complete the task in a fairly decent manner, and during the discussion, I openly acknowledged any shortcomings and explained my thought process behind the chosen approach over others. It was a healthy discussion.
Technical Round 1
This was a 1-hour discussion covering my past projects and the technologies I had worked with. The interviewer asked several 'why this over that' type questions, which felt like a test of my design knowledge and my ability to justify my decisions or adapt to better approaches. Eventually, a discussion about caching from my previous work led into a system design problem centered around it. I was asked to write basic functions to implement small parts of the overall problem. Although I felt I answered everything and completed the design problem, the feedback from HR indicated a 'no' from the interviewer. Consequently, another technical round was scheduled with a different team.
Technical Round 2
This 1-hour round began similarly to the first, with discussions on my past projects, technology choices, and problem-solving strategies. I was asked to explain one of my projects in depth, leading to a detailed discussion around it. Following this, I was given another design problem and asked to work on the High-Level Design (HLD) basic components, demonstrating how I would approach understanding the problem. The feedback from this interviewer was positive. When I asked for specific feedback, he mentioned that things went well without revealing the outcome directly.
Technical Round 3 / Hiring Manager Round
This round started with a normal introduction and an overview of my current work. Later, some culture fit questions were asked. It felt more like a casual discussion covering technologies and stacks I was familiar with, along with my past experiences, implicitly testing my competency to work effectively within a team.
Result: I was selected for the SDE2 position at Gojek, but I ultimately declined the offer.
Interview Questions (4)
Develop a game using any programming language of your choice. The focus was on the design, familiarity with programming constructs, and application of design patterns.
Based on my prior work experience involving caching, I was given a system design problem related to caching. I also had to implement basic functions for specific parts of the overall problem.
I was presented with a design problem and asked to outline the High-Level Design (HLD) components, demonstrating my process for understanding and breaking down the problem.
I was asked culture fit questions and engaged in a casual discussion about my current work, technologies I'm familiar with, past experiences, and my ability to work in a team.
Preparation Tips
Gojek's interview process is notably knowledge-driven rather than purely practice-driven. They prioritize challenging candidates on their understanding of real-world development challenges and day-to-day work scenarios, rather than focusing solely on typical coding questions. This approach, which emphasizes practical application of knowledge, was something I particularly appreciated about their process.