Tesco - SDE 3 - Bangalore - Offer (From 5 LPA to 66LPA in 6 years)
Summary
I successfully navigated a challenging interview process for an SDE 3 role at Tesco in Bangalore, ultimately receiving an offer. The rounds included problem-solving (DSA), system design (HLD + LLD), and a behavioral assessment.
Full Experience
After facing initial challenges in my career, I've learned that consistent motivation and smart work are key, not just past academic achievements or FAANG status. Tesco had previously rejected me, but when they reached out again, I decided to explore the opportunity, seeing it as a chance to gain more valuable interview experience. My past interview experiences with Google, Microsoft, and Amazon certainly helped streamline my preparation.
The interview process began with a standard Recruiter Screen, which involved clarifying my resume and technical skills.
The second round was a Problem Solving / DSA round. It involved a LeetCode medium problem—a variation of the merge intervals problem. The interviewer pushed for an optimal solution, alternative approaches, and demanded 'production quality' code complete with all necessary test cases.
Next was a challenging System Design round, which combined both High-Level Design (HLD) and Low-Level Design (LLD), and was led by the hiring manager. This round focused on a variation of the 'top k hitter' problem, but it went significantly deeper than solutions typically found online. There were also scenario-based questions and discussions about my existing projects. I wasn't entirely sure how I performed in this round.
After a three-week wait, I was invited for a fourth round with the head of engineering, which was purely a Behavioral round. This round focused on my projects, team management skills, and how my career experiences aligned with Tesco's values. I admit I underestimated this round and fumbled on a few questions, despite knowing the STAR method. Fortunately, I managed to recover.
Two weeks passed without any updates after the final round, leading me to believe I might not have been shortlisted, especially after the challenging system design round. However, I eventually received an email requesting government ID and other documents. This led to a salary negotiation call with the recruiter, and I received the offer within three working days.
Interview Questions (3)
A variation of the standard Merge Intervals problem, requiring an optimal solution along with other potential approaches. The interviewer emphasized writing 'production quality' code, which meant not only solving the problem but also identifying and writing all necessary test cases.
Design a system for a variation of the 'top k hitter' problem. This round required going significantly deeper than typical solutions found on the internet and covered both High-Level Design (HLD) and Low-Level Design (LLD). It also included scenario-based questions and discussions about existing projects.
Questions focused on past projects, team management experiences, and other behavioral aspects. The primary goal was to assess if my career experiences demonstrated Tesco's values. It's crucial to prepare answers using the STAR method, as underestimating this round can lead to difficulties.
Preparation Tips
My prior interview experiences with companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon provided a solid foundation for my preparation. Specifically for behavioral rounds, I learned the critical importance of preparing answers using the STAR method, as underestimating this round can lead to difficulties, as it did for me during the interview.