Paypal | Frontend | Rejected

I wanted to share my recent interview experience with PayPal for the Senior Software Engineer – Frontend role, as this community has been incredibly helpful to me. I have 5.9 years of experience and this was my first attempt at a product-based company.

Online Assessment (July)

The online assessment included questions based on React.js, CSS, and Data Structures & Algorithms.

Technical Rounds (August + September)

I went through three technical rounds:

• DSA Round: This round focused primarily on Heap and Hash-based problems.
• System Design Round: The questions here revolved around core JavaScript fundamentals, combined with aspects of Low-Level Design (LLD) and Data Structures & Algorithms.
• Role Specialization Round: This round was heavily focused on React.js. I was tasked with implementing cart functionality, covering both its Low-Level Design (LLD) and High-Level Design (HLD).

I received positive feedback after clearing all three of these technical rounds, which led to an invitation for the final Bar Raiser round.

Bar Raiser

I expected this round to be a mix of Behavioral and High-Level Design questions, but it turned out to be heavily focused on optimization and payment systems. Surprisingly, no behavioral questions were asked. While I managed to answer most of the questions, I struggled specifically with those related to payment systems.

Verdict

Eventually, I was informed that PayPal decided to move forward with another candidate, and no detailed feedback was provided. This outcome left me feeling quite low, especially after a process that stretched over two months and made me feel like I was almost selected. However, this experience has been a significant eye-opener for me, reinforcing that the outcome is never certain until the very end.

I hope my experience can help others in their preparation.