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Junior Software Engineer interview questionsCoding round
A 60 min interview plan with a time-boxed script, what each question is for, and the signals to score against. Key skills: Problem-solving, algorithmic thinking, and coding skills.
Coding Challenge
Given an array of integers nums, return all triplets [nums [i], nums [j], nums [k]] such that i != j, i != k, and j != k, and nums [i] + nums [j] + nums [k] == 0. Note: The solution set must not contain duplicate triplets. Examples: Input: nums = [-1, 0, 1, 2, -1, -4] Output: [ [-1, -1, 2], [-1, 0, 1]] Input: nums = [] Output: [] Input: nums = [0] Output: [] Follow-Up Questions: - What is the time complexity of your solution? - Can you optimize your solution further? - How would you test your solution?
What this question is for, and what to listen for
Purpose
Assess problem-solving, algorithm design, coding proficiency, and communication skills.
Signals to score
- Understands the problem clearly
- Considers edge cases
- Explains thought process
- Writes efficient and correct code
- Uses appropriate data structures
- Avoids duplicates in the result
- Tests and debugs the code effectively
- Correctly identifies time complexity
Follow-up questions
- How can you avoid duplicate triplets in your result?
- What data structures can help improve efficiency?
- Can sorting the array help in solving this problem?
- How can you reduce the time complexity from O(n³)?
If you had more time, what would you improve in your solution?
What this question is for, and what to listen for
Purpose
Assess the candidate's ability to reflect on their work and consider optimizations or improvements.
Signals to score
- Recognizes potential improvements
- Discusses edge cases
- Suggests code refactoring
- Mentions testing and validation
- Shows understanding of algorithm limitations
Great work on the coding problem!
What this section is for
Purpose
Provide positive reinforcement before moving to the closing.
Closing
What this section is for
Purpose
Thank the candidate, provide next steps, and end on a positive note.
Do you have any questions for me about the role or the company?
What this question is for, and what to listen for
Purpose
Gauge the candidate’s interest and curiosity about the role.
Signals to score
- Asks thoughtful questions
- Shows enthusiasm for the role
- Inquires about team culture
- Demonstrates interest in company's future
- Seeks information on growth opportunities
- Engages actively in the discussion
Junior Software Engineer interviews — common questions
- Who is this Junior Software Engineer interview plan for?
- It is written for the interviewer, not the candidate: the hiring manager, engineer or panel member running the Coding round for a Junior Software Engineer role. It gives you a 60 min script to follow in the conversation — 3 questions with what each one is for and the signals to score against — so you are not writing the round from scratch the night before.
- What does the Coding round assess?
- This round is focused on: Problem-solving, algorithmic thinking, and coding skills. It works through Coding Challenge and Closing, scoring against 19 observable signals, with follow-up prompts on 1 of the 3 questions for going deeper where an answer is thin.
- How is the 60 min split up?
- Coding Challenge (45 min), Closing (10 min). The timings are there so the round stays on schedule and every candidate gets the same shape of interview — which is what makes two candidates comparable afterwards.
- What other rounds should I run for a Junior Software Engineer?
A single round does not cover a whole role. The other rounds in this library for a Junior Software Engineer: