Status: B.Tech - CSE, Tier 1 College, 6 YOE
Current Role: SDE 2 at a mid-stage startup
Location: Bangalore
Date: Aug 2025
I recently interviewed with a number companies and received offers from three of them. Here's my detailed interview experience:
Kotak Mahindra Bank (SDE 2) - Hyderabad [Aug 2025]
Verdict: OFFER ✅
Total Rounds: 3
Round 1 - Bar Raiser Round (1 hour 30 minutes):
This was a comprehensive round split into three sections:
-
Algo/DS (40 minutes): Classic Two Sum problem - given an array of numbers and a target, find if a pair exists whose sum equals the target.
-
Low-Level Design (30 minutes): Design an Uber-like ride-hailing system. Requirements weren't provided upfront, so I had to ask clarifying questions.
- Tip: Focus on the most obvious and necessary requirements to manage time effectively. Design classes and DB schemas for core functionality and incorporate design patterns wherever possible.
-
HLD Concepts (20 minutes): Not a traditional system design round, but concept-focused questions covering:
- Strong consistency in distributed systems
- Quorum-based systems
- Message brokers and event-driven architecture
- Around 5 questions total on distributed systems concepts
Round 2 - Algo/DS (1 hour):
Two coding problems:
-
Decode Ways: Given a string of digits, find how many ways it can be decoded into characters using mapping {1→A, 2→B, ..., 26→Z}. For example, "25" can be decoded as "BE" or "Y" (2 ways).
-
Number of Islands: Given a 2D matrix of 0s and 1s, count the number of islands (connected regions of 1s). Classic DFS/BFS problem.
Round 3 - System Design + Behavioral (1 hour):
-
System Design: Design a Transaction Enrichment Service that:
- Consumes multiple raw event streams (payment events, user metadata, merchant info)
- Enriches those events based on type (adds risk scores, merchant categories, geo-location)
- Produces a unified enriched stream
- Stores data in scalable, queryable format for analytics
-
Behavioral: STAR method questions focusing on:
- Past disagreements and resolution strategies
- Key problems solved in previous experience
Omniful (SDE 2) - Gurgaon [Jul 2025]
Verdict: OFFER ✅
Total Rounds: 2
Round 1 - Golang + DB Concepts + Project Experience:
-
Coding Challenge: Implement a function to calculate sum of squares of natural numbers up to N (1² + 2² + 3² + ... + N²).
- Twist: Must implement concurrently using goroutines to distribute computational load across multiple workers.
-
Technical Discussion: Database concepts and deep dive into past projects with counter-questions.
Round 2 - Golang LLD + Project Deep Dive + Behavioral:
-
Low-Level Design: Design and implement a multi-level cache system in Golang.
- Focus on extensibility and loose coupling
- Solution involved multiple interfaces for flexibility
-
Experience Discussion: Extensive drilling on past projects and behavioral questions.
Salesforce (SMTS) - Bangalore [Aug 2025]
Verdict: OFFER ✅
Total Rounds: 4 (1 Online Assessment + 3 Interview Rounds)
Round 1 - HackerRank Online Assessment (90 minutes):
- Given 7 days to complete
- 2 medium LeetCode-style problems
- Successfully solved both
Round 2 - Algo/DS Interview (Google Meet):
-
Sequence Building Problem: LeetCode medium based on backtracking with focus on edge cases handling.
-
Knapsack Variant: LeetCode medium/hard DP problem. Key was identifying it as a knapsack variation and formulating the DP solution.
Round 3 - Low-Level Design:
Not precisely remember but it was about designing a system to handle various heterogeneous events. (on similar lines of Kotak one, but different use case)
- Discussed class diagrams and database schemas
- Emphasized extensible and loosely coupled design
- Initially uncertain about performance, but received positive feedback
Round 4 - Hiring Manager Round (Onsite):
- Extensive discussion on past projects and experience
- Behavioral questions expecting STAR method responses
- Pro Tip: Prepare authentic stories about accomplishments, learnings, disagreements, etc. in STAR format. This preparation was invaluable during the interview.
Key Takeaways:
- Preparation Pays Off: Having stories ready in STAR format for behavioral rounds is crucial
- Design Patterns Matter: Knowledge of design patterns significantly helps in LLD rounds
- Language-Specific Skills: For Golang roles, understanding concurrency patterns (goroutines, channels) is critical
Timeline: All interviews conducted between July-August 2025. Received offers from these three companies.
offer: https://leetcode.com/discuss/post/7127666/salesforce-vs-kotak-vs-omniful-offers-by-6unp/
Good luck to everyone preparing for similar roles!
