Sunking || SDE 2 || Interview Experience || Feb 2026
Summary
I interviewed for an SDE 2, Java Backend Developer role at Sunking in February 2026. The process included an AI interview and a subsequent technical round. I was ultimately rejected because I could not provide a non-nested SQL query for a specific problem.
Full Experience
Role - Java Backend developer
Experience - 3 years 9 months
Location - Remote
Round 1 - AI Interview
- How is dependency injection achieved and what are its advantages?
- Difference between abstract class and interface. In what case will you use interface?
- How does Java achieve garbage collection and what will happen if it is not done?
- How do you manage exceptions in spring boot APIs?
- How will you make your system resilient and fault tolerant?
- Difference between component service and repository
- What is the advantage of spring boot over traditional spring framework?
- Discuss the database schema for an e-commerce system. How will you maintain data consistency and integrity in your design?
- Difference between left join and inner join with example
- How will you optimize a slow running MySQL query?
- How to deploy microservices on AWS and how will you make it secured?
- What is the advantage of microservices over monolith and when should monolith be preferred?
- How do you manage communication between microservices? How will you monitor and trace requests across multiple microservices?
- What is list comprehension in python?
- Discuss an instance where Python can be preferred over Java for backend development.
- How does Python handle garbage collection?
- Difference between .json() and .loads()
Round 2 -
- Project discussion and follow-up questions
- Explain inner and left join
- Write the output of a given SQL query based on joins
- Write a query to list the rows present in 1st table but not in 2nd table without using any nested query
- Discuss about the annotations - Component, Service, Repository
- Which design patterns have you used in my projects
- What is Executor Service?
- Explain the internal working of HashMap
- How will you debug and optimize a slow running query
- Why doesn't java have multiple inheritance.
Verdict - Negative (as I could write SQL query in a nested manner only)
Overall - Rejected as each round was eliminatory
Interview Questions (26)
Dependency Injection Mechanism and Advantages
How is dependency injection achieved and what are its advantages?
Abstract Class vs. Interface in Java
Difference between abstract class and interface. In what case will you use interface?
Java Garbage Collection
How does Java achieve garbage collection and what will happen if it is not done?
Exception Management in Spring Boot APIs
How do you manage exceptions in spring boot APIs?
System Resiliency and Fault Tolerance
How will you make your system resilient and fault tolerant?
Spring Component, Service, and Repository Difference
Difference between component service and repository
Spring Boot vs. Traditional Spring Framework Advantages
What is the advantage of spring boot over traditional spring framework?
E-commerce Database Schema Design and Consistency
Discuss the database schema for an e-commerce system. How will you maintain data consistency and integrity in your design?
Left Join vs. Inner Join with Example
Difference between left join and inner join with example
Optimizing Slow Running MySQL Query
How will you optimize a slow running MySQL query?
Microservices Deployment and Security on AWS
How to deploy microservices on AWS and how will you make it secured?
Microservices vs. Monolith Advantages and Preference
What is the advantage of microservices over monolith and when should monolith be preferred?
Microservices Communication, Monitoring, and Tracing
How do you manage communication between microservices? How will you monitor and trace requests across multiple microservices?
List Comprehension in Python
What is list comprehension in python?
Python vs. Java for Backend Development Preference
Discuss an instance where Python can be preferred over Java for backend development.
Python Garbage Collection
How does Python handle garbage collection?
Python .json() vs. .loads()
Difference between .json() and .loads()
Explain Inner and Left Join
Explain inner and left join
SQL Query Output Prediction
Write the output of a given SQL query based on joins
SQL Query for Rows in Table 1 but Not Table 2 (No Nested Query)
Write a query to list the rows present in 1st table but not in 2nd table without using any nested query
Spring Annotations: Component, Service, Repository
Discuss about the annotations - Component, Service, Repository
Design Patterns Used in Projects
Which design patterns have you used in my projects
Java Executor Service
What is Executor Service?
Internal Working of HashMap
Explain the internal working of HashMap
Debugging and Optimizing Slow Running Query
How will you debug and optimize a slow running query
Why Java Lacks Multiple Inheritance
Why doesn't java have multiple inheritance.