Sunking || SDE 2 || Interview Experience || Feb 2026
- Location
- Remote
- Experience
- 3.75 years
- Posted
- 16 Mar 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.
How it went
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
Questions asked (26)
- 01
Dependency Injection Mechanism and Advantages
Other
How is dependency injection achieved and what are its advantages?
- 02
Abstract Class vs. Interface in Java
Data Structures & Algorithms
Difference between abstract class and interface. In what case will you use interface?
- 03
Java Garbage Collection
Data Structures & Algorithms
How does Java achieve garbage collection and what will happen if it is not done?
- 04
Exception Management in Spring Boot APIs
Other
How do you manage exceptions in spring boot APIs?
- 05
System Resiliency and Fault Tolerance
System Design
How will you make your system resilient and fault tolerant?
- 06
Spring Component, Service, and Repository Difference
Other
Difference between component service and repository
- 07
Spring Boot vs. Traditional Spring Framework Advantages
Other
What is the advantage of spring boot over traditional spring framework?
- 08
E-commerce Database Schema Design and Consistency
System Design
Discuss the database schema for an e-commerce system. How will you maintain data consistency and integrity in your design?
- 09
Left Join vs. Inner Join with Example
Data Structures & Algorithms
Difference between left join and inner join with example
- 10
Optimizing Slow Running MySQL Query
System Design
How will you optimize a slow running MySQL query?
- 11
Microservices Deployment and Security on AWS
System Design
How to deploy microservices on AWS and how will you make it secured?
- 12
Microservices vs. Monolith Advantages and Preference
System Design
What is the advantage of microservices over monolith and when should monolith be preferred?
- 13
Microservices Communication, Monitoring, and Tracing
System Design
How do you manage communication between microservices? How will you monitor and trace requests across multiple microservices?
- 14
List Comprehension in Python
Data Structures & Algorithms
What is list comprehension in python?
- 15
Python vs. Java for Backend Development Preference
Other
Discuss an instance where Python can be preferred over Java for backend development.
- 16
Python Garbage Collection
Data Structures & Algorithms
How does Python handle garbage collection?
- 17
Python .json() vs. .loads()
Data Structures & Algorithms
Difference between .json() and .loads()
- 18
Explain Inner and Left Join
Data Structures & Algorithms
Explain inner and left join
- 19
SQL Query Output Prediction
Data Structures & Algorithms
Write the output of a given SQL query based on joins
- 20
SQL Query for Rows in Table 1 but Not Table 2 (No Nested Query)
Data Structures & Algorithms · Medium
Write a query to list the rows present in 1st table but not in 2nd table without using any nested query
- 21
Spring Annotations: Component, Service, Repository
Other
Discuss about the annotations - Component, Service, Repository
- 22
Design Patterns Used in Projects
Other
Which design patterns have you used in my projects
- 23
Java Executor Service
Data Structures & Algorithms
What is Executor Service?
- 24
Internal Working of HashMap
Data Structures & Algorithms
Explain the internal working of HashMap
- 25
Debugging and Optimizing Slow Running Query
System Design
How will you debug and optimize a slow running query
- 26
Why Java Lacks Multiple Inheritance
Data Structures & Algorithms
Why doesn't java have multiple inheritance.