Paypal | SDE 2 | Bangalore | 16-Feb-2022 (Offer)
Summary
I received an offer for the SDE 2 role at Paypal in Bangalore after a series of technical and managerial interviews that spanned across data structures, algorithms, system design, object-oriented design, and behavioral aspects.
Full Experience
My interview process for the SDE 2 position at Paypal in Bangalore consisted of several rounds, each lasting approximately 60 minutes and typically broken into two parts. With 4.3 years of experience, I was evaluated on a broad range of technical skills. The initial rounds focused heavily on problem-solving. One of the technical rounds included discussions on core Java concepts like collections and threading, Spring Boot essentials such as IoC and scopes, and various design patterns like Singleton and Builder. A significant portion of another technical round was dedicated to system design, where I was asked to design a database for a Quora-like application, considering features like user following, question/answer/comment posting, and media integration. The final round was with the Hiring Manager, which involved behavioral questions and an object-oriented design problem.
Interview Questions (4)
Given a string or an array, sort its elements based on their frequency of occurrence.
Design a database schema for a platform similar to Quora. Key functionalities include:
- Users can follow or be followed by others.
- Users can post questions, answer existing questions, and comment on answers.
- Questions and answers can include media content like images or videos.
Design a class diagram for validating different currencies, where each currency has its own distinct validation rules.
Preparation Tips
To prepare for this role, I focused on solidifying my understanding of data structures and algorithms, anticipating coding challenges. I also spent considerable time revising core Java concepts, including the Collections Framework and multithreading, and familiarizing myself with Spring Boot principles like Inversion of Control (IoC) and dependency scopes. Additionally, I reviewed common design patterns such as Singleton and Builder, and practiced system design problems to prepare for architectural discussions. For the object-oriented design questions, I ensured I could conceptualize and diagram solutions for complex scenarios.