PayPal | SWE Intern 2024 | Virtual | Selected
Summary
I successfully secured a Software Engineer Intern position at PayPal for Summer 2024 after completing three virtual interview rounds, including an online test, a technical live coding interview, and an HR discussion.
Full Experience
My journey to securing a Software Engineer Intern position at PayPal for Summer 2024 began with an online test, followed by two virtual interview rounds. I am a pre-final year B.E. CSE student at Anna University, MIT.
Round 1: Online Test (30-10-2023)
This round, conducted on Hackerrank, lasted 40 minutes and comprised 5 MCQ questions and 1 coding question. The MCQs were based on Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) and Object-Oriented Programming (OOPS). The coding challenge was 'Break Sort', a unique problem that required determining the minimum operations to sort an array by splitting elements. I heard back from PayPal University Hiring after 15 days, advancing to the next stage.
Round 2: Technical Interview - Live Coding (Virtual) (22-11-2023, 9 am)
This 60-minute virtual interview started with introductions. We then covered some basic technical questions before moving into a live coding session on Hackerrank, after I specified my preferred language. The main coding question was 'Kth Permutation Sequence', explicitly mentioned as a LeetCode Hard problem. The interviewer provided test cases and allowed me 5 minutes to develop an approach. I explained my solution, addressed cross-questions, and covered edge cases, satisfying the interviewer. I then coded my solution with detailed comments, explaining each line. Finally, I performed a dry run for two cases, explaining every step, which was well-received.
Round 3: HR Interview (Virtual) (22-11-2023, 2 pm)
This 45-minute HR round also began with introductions. We discussed my projects in detail, covering team roles, work distribution, contributions, and leadership. Following this, I was presented with tricky situational questions designed to assess my prioritizing and analytical skills. I answered to the best of my ability, receiving some minor corrections. I concluded by asking questions about the company. The interviewers across all rounds were very friendly and kind, making the process enjoyable and a great learning opportunity.
Result:
I received my selection notification after 20 days and was offered the SWE Summer Internship for 2024. The internship is for 12 weeks, with a stipend of 100,000/- per month, and is located in Chennai/Bangalore.
Interview Questions (2)
Given an array arr of n positive integers, the following operations can be performed 0 or more times:
- Choose an index
iwhere0 <= i < n - Choose 2 integers,
xandy, such thatx + y = arr[i] - Replace
arr[i]with two elements, the two valuesxandy
Example
n = 3arr = [3, 4, 3]The array can be sorted in 2 operations:
Choose
i = 0 arr[0] = 3. Choose x = 1 and y = 2. Replace arr[0] with x and y arr = [1, 2, 4, 3].Choose
i = 2 arr[2] = 4. Choose x = 2 and y = 2. Replace arr[2] and arr = [1, 2, 2, 2, 3].Return 2.
The interviewer presented a problem related to finding the Kth permutation sequence, specifically requesting an approach using arrays. After a brief explanation of the problem and test cases, I was given 5 minutes to formulate and articulate my approach.
Preparation Tips
My preparation for the online test involved studying Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) and Object-Oriented Programming (OOPS) concepts. For the live coding round, practicing problems on platforms like LeetCode, particularly those categorized as 'Hard' such as 'Kth Permutation Sequence', proved beneficial for developing problem-solving and coding skills.