Opens this plan in Hirezen, where one click makes it a position.
Software Engineer interview questionsPair Programming round
A 60 min interview plan with a time-boxed script, what each question is for, and the signals to score against. Key skills: Collaboration, Coding, Problem Solving, Code Review, Pair Programming.
Coding Challenge
What this section is for
Purpose
Evaluate technical knowledge and problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios.
Implement a function to merge two sorted arrays into a single sorted array. Given two sorted arrays, write a function that merges them into a single sorted array. The function should maintain the order of elements and handle arrays of different lengths. Examples: Input: arr1 = [1, 3, 5], arr2 = [2, 4, 6] Output: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Input: arr1 = [1, 2, 3], arr2 = [] Output: [1, 2, 3] Follow-Up Questions: - What is the time complexity of your solution? - How would you handle large input sizes?
What this question is for, and what to listen for
Purpose
Assess problem-solving, algorithm design, coding proficiency, and communication skills.
Signals to score
- Clear understanding of the problem
- Logical and structured approach
- Explains thought process
- Considers edge cases
- Efficient, clean, well-formatted code
- Tests and debugs the code effectively
- Open to feedback and adjusts accordingly
Follow-up questions
- Can you explain your thought process on how to approach the problem?
- How do you plan to handle edge cases in your solution?
- Can you walk me through your code and explain each step?
If you had more time, what would you change in your solution?
What this question is for, and what to listen for
Purpose
Assess the candidate's ability to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Signals to score
- Recognizes limits in their original answer.
- Points out clear areas to improve.
- Suggests specific changes.
- Talks about how changes could help performance.
- Shares ideas clearly and logically.
- Shows a desire to learn and improve.
Follow-up questions
- What optimizations could be made to your solution?
- How would you handle unexpected input?
Great job on the coding exercise!
What this section is for
Purpose
Provides positive reinforcement to the candidate, helping to build confidence and create a supportive atmosphere before moving into the final part of the interview.
Closing
What this section is for
Purpose
Thanks the candidate for their time, provides next steps, and leaves a positive final impression.
Do you have any questions for me about the team or the company?
What this question is for, and what to listen for
Purpose
Gauge the candidate’s curiosity and interest in the role.
Signals to score
- Thoughtful questions asked
- Interest in company culture
- Curiosity about growth expressed
- Questions about role raised
- Inquiries about team challenges
- Engagement with responses shown
- Desire to learn next steps
- Focus on company values expressed
Follow-up questions
- What interests you most about this team?
- Are there any areas of the role you’d like to explore further?
Software Engineer interviews — common questions
- Who is this Software Engineer interview plan for?
- It is written for the interviewer, not the candidate: the hiring manager, engineer or panel member running the Pair Programming round for a 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 Pair Programming round assess?
- This round is focused on: Collaboration, Coding, Problem Solving, Code Review, Pair Programming. It works through Coding Challenge and Closing, scoring against 21 observable signals, with follow-up prompts on all 3 questions for going deeper where an answer is thin.
- How is the 60 min split up?
- Coding Challenge (50 min), Closing (5 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 Software Engineer?
A single round does not cover a whole role. The other rounds in this library for a Software Engineer: