I interviewed for Amazon and process took almost over 1 and half month.

• OA (Online Assesment)

  • 1. Shipment imbalance:
       • The shipment imbalance of a shipment is defined as the difference between the max and min weight within a shipment. Give the arrangement of parcels, find the maxImbalance.
         Input:
         List arrangement = {1, 2, 3}
         output: 3
         diff1 = 1 - 1 = 0;
         diff2 = 2 - 2 = 0;
         diff3 = 3 - 3 = 0;
         diff4 = 2 - 1 = 1;
         diff5 = 3 - 2 = 1;
         diff6 = 3 - 2 = 1;
         • Got TLE for one test case, rest tests were passing.
         • https://leetcode.com/problems/sum-of-subarray-ranges/

  • Question 2:

    • Recently viewed items page (Simple LRU question, it was bit easy-medium as I have solved similar question on Leetcode)

• Phone screen:

  • https://leetcode.com/problems/k-closest-points-to-origin/

• Onsite:

  • round 1 : How would you desgin a system for displaying a weather information, lets suppose we have The barometer placed in area + LP questions
    • Was able to came up with the diagram and desing and diagram, struggled a bit on the Server Routing Protocol approach rest went well.
  • round 2 : Write a logic for implementing Cache system for browser (Similar to LRU and LFU cache) + LP questions.
    • Interviewer was cool gave me enought time to think and explain my logic of the problem, I was able to came up with Logic pretty quickly and code as well.
  • round 3: Find a matching pair for given array (I really dont remember the question as Interveiwer spent almost 35 min on LP and 15 min on this question plus he started meeting 8 min late) + LP questions.
  • round 4: https://leetcode.com/problems/analyze-user-website-visit-pattern/ (Something similar) + LP questions.
    • It was easy peasy, was able to write down code quickly and explained my code through diagram (as it was bit lenghty code to read).

• Preperation :

  • Leetcode only, I bought premimum so it turned out helpful. I dont have much of background on Design Pattern but I knew I will be asked regardless of experience and there wasnt enough time but I refered to this for Desing Pattern: https://www.hiredintech.com/classrooms/system-design/lesson/68
  • Outcome: Rejected
  • Reason: 'They had some concern with the leadership principles and they are not inclined for an offer ' recrutier reached out to me after a month later not to mentioned lots of follow up emails and lots of excuses from his side saying he was sick and he didnt want to inform me over the email, .

My thoughts of Interview:

• Eachround of onsite was highly focused on LP principle question, I didn't make up any fake stories as I decided I will only answer based on the true stories and situation I faced which way I can truely convince my approach and thought approach (Turns out they didnt buy it)

• One thing I noticed is there will be a one round where the interviewer wont behave nice to you for Ex. Third round of onsite

  • Interviewer came 8 min late, ask me to wait for another 3- 4 min till he settles down
  • Started asked question based on leadership principle and when I was answering his was not even making eye contanct he was looking into his own personal laptop most of the time
  • Sometimes he just cut me off in the middle before I finish my sentence, that happend 2-3 times
  • He asked me a perticular scenario like 'What would you do in this scenario?' TBH I haven't faced this scenario so I started answering my based on 'The approach I would took is...' 'No , No, Give me your real life example where you faced this scenario'. I haven't faced that scenario in my real life so how I am suppose to answer a scenario based question on my real life experience I haven't faced that question at all!
  • Anyways, we spent around 35 mins on LPs question and in last 15 min he gave me coding question and while I was reading the question he interupts me again saing 'Could you please speak your thought process as well? ' (I was like, DUDE! give me 5 min atleast), came up with one solution not sure if that was the correct one beacuse there was not time and while I was explaing the other possible approach (as he informed me to stop coding and tell me the approach you are thinking) he cut me off in middle saying 'We are out of the time here Thanks for your time it was nice meeting you.' and instantly left the the meeting before I even say 'Like wise'.

• I think this sort of round will be intentional as they want to test you how you can perform in 'this' sort of situations so atlest prepare for one round like this type of guy (Maybe I am wrong but better to be prepared)

• I knew Amazon is focusing highly on LP questions but didn't think it will be so 'Blindly' that they don't seem to care about the scenario like 'Hey! It could be possible that our candidate might not have faced all these scenarios we are asking as he/she has 2 year of experience and he/she might be making up fake stories to sell it to us?'

• End note: I couldn't sell my self properlly and I will be pushing more LP and Technical side so that one day I can reject the offer saying 'Sorry your leadership principles are not inclined with mine' (Just kidding)

• I was told I will be assigned SDE-I or II based on my interview perforemence (I have 2 years of total experience)

• All the best to you all, cheers!

(I will post the third round question if I can find it )