Previous Experience:
Education - B.Tech (ECE)
YOE - 4
Company - One of the top product based companies starting with A....
Position - SE2

Round 1: Online Assessment

1. Output a value which is calculated by a series of inputs (array). A simple problem based on multiple conditions
2. Given a list of items and their associated items, find the top 'x' number of connected items. A graph problem based on connected components.

Round 2: Deisgn
Design a Uber dashboard which shows real time data about the number of trips, amount collected in a given city. Explained about the generic components and the important services. The interviewer asked me to write the interface for the services (Data Ingestion APIs, Query APIs, etc...) and went in depth for some services. This round went well.

Round 3: Design
This was a HM round and a design round (I din't realize this was a design round and I lost SDE 2 because of this...Will explain about this later in the post)
Given a warehouse, how would you put the packages according to the locker size.
I wrote a program with Maps, DLL to handle this feature.
The interviewer was happy with the solution, and I thought it went well.

Round 4: DS Algo

1. Given an array, find the point at which the left sum is equal to right sum.
2. Given a tree, find the vertical sum.
   These were simple problems and solved both of them.

Round 5: DS Algo

1. Given a dictionary of words, write a program to add words, find whether a word exists or not, and also a handle a regex expression if a word exists or not (Eg: appl...). This is a Trie problem and a lot of follow up questions were asked.
2. Write a program for rate limiter service (Limit the number of calls for a specific user in given time window).
   Both questions were a bit complicated than the previous round.

All the rounds had behaivioral questions and 20-25 mins were spent on this in each round.

I get a call from the HR a few days later and got to know that Round 3 din't go well. Got a feedback that the design is weak. It is here that I came to know that Round 3 was a design and not a DS Algo round. Only if the interviewer had given me some pointers or directions, I would have nailed this round. The interview din't provide any directions and never expressed dissatisfaction at my approach. My mistake here was that I should have clarified the type of round at the start of interview. Due to shortage of time and online interview format, I missed this and rushed through the interview. So, it is always wise to ask the type of round and then go ahead.

I was offered a SDE 1 position because of 'weak design' (Base was same as previous company, but the bonus was +10L). Another option that was provided was to wait for 6-8 months and again interview for SDE 2. I was kind of desparate for a new experience (Learning curve was flat in the previous company, though the work that was there was good). I accepted SDE 1. It is a matter of 6-12 months/ 10-15L and I have immense confidence in my abilities and performance. Hoping I would be promoted to SDE 2 soon or get a better offer elsewhere!

Lastly, Leetcode helped me a lot in DS Algo preparation. Design primer and youtube videos helped in the design rounds. I took me around 2 months to prepare for the interview. I had a lot of freetime in the lockdown and used this time to prepare.