# Software Engineer **Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** E3 **Company:** [Avito](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/avito) **Difficulty:** Medium **Salary:** US$80000 - US$120000 **Experience:** 2 - 5 **Timeline:** ~14 days The Avito Software Engineer E3 interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an HR screening, followed by technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, system design, and coding skills, and concluding with a managerial or team lead interview to evaluate collaboration and communication. Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/avito/e3-software-engineer --- ## Overall evaluation - Technical Skills - Communication - Behavioral and Cultural Fit ## Questions asked - Write a function to reverse a linked list. - Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target. - Design a URL shortening service. - Explain the difference between a process and a thread. - Tell me about a time you disagreed with a technical decision and how you handled it. - How would you optimize a slow database query? - Describe a challenging bug you encountered and how you debugged it. - What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases? - How do you ensure the scalability of your code? - Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it. ## Preparation tips ### lists - Review fundamental data structures and algorithms (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps, sorting, searching). - Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Codewars, focusing on medium-difficulty problems. - Study system design principles, including scalability, reliability, and trade-offs. - Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions and the challenges you faced. - Understand Avito's products, services, and company culture. - Practice behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). - Be ready to explain your thought process clearly during coding and design challenges. ### studyPlan - {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs) and basic algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion). Practice implementing these from scratch and solving problems involving them. Aim for 5-7 medium LeetCode problems per week.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms. Practice 10-14 medium LeetCode problems."} - {"title":"Advanced Algorithms and System Design Introduction","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive deeper into advanced algorithms (dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, graph traversal) and more complex data structures (tries, heaps). Continue practicing problems, increasing the difficulty slightly. Explore system design concepts like load balancing, caching, databases, and APIs. Read relevant articles and case studies.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms & System Design Intro. Practice 10-14 medium/hard LeetCode problems. Study system design basics."} - {"title":"System Design and Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Focus on system design in more detail. Practice designing common systems (e.g., URL shortener, Twitter feed, chat system). Refine your understanding of trade-offs and scalability. Prepare behavioral questions by recalling specific examples from your experience using the STAR method. Research Avito's tech stack and culture.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: System Design Deep Dive & Behavioral Prep. Practice system design scenarios. Prepare STAR stories."} ## Location differences - {"location":"Moscow","differences":{"tips":["Research Avito's recent product launches and technical blog posts.","Prepare examples that align with Avito's company values.","Be ready to discuss your experience with technologies commonly used in the region."],"interviewFocus":["Understanding of Avito's tech stack and product.","Adaptability to Avito's engineering culture.","Familiarity with local market trends and talent pool."],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a challenging project you worked on at Avito.","How do you handle disagreements within a team at Avito?","What are your thoughts on Avito's approach to microservices?","Describe a time you had to adapt to a new technology stack at Avito."]}} - {"location":"Remote","differences":{"tips":["Highlight your experience with remote collaboration tools.","Showcase your ability to work independently and manage your time effectively.","Be prepared to discuss how you maintain team cohesion in a remote setup."],"interviewFocus":["Self-management and proactiveness in a remote setting.","Communication skills in a distributed environment.","Ability to collaborate effectively across different time zones."],"commonQuestions":["How would you contribute to Avito's remote work culture?","Describe your experience with distributed teams at Avito.","What are your expectations regarding work-life balance at Avito?","How do you stay motivated when working remotely for Avito?"]}} ## Round 0: HR Screening **Type:** HR Screening · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 30 min Initial screening to assess basic qualifications, motivation, and cultural fit. This initial screening is conducted by HR to understand your background, motivation for applying, and basic fit with the company culture and the role's requirements. They will also discuss salary expectations and the overall interview process. This is a good opportunity for you to learn more about Avito and the specific team. **Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for the role and company; Clear communication; Professionalism; Alignment with Avito's values **Evaluation criteria:** Candidate's motivation; Understanding of the role; Cultural alignment; Salary expectations **Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment on salary expectations.; Unclear career goals.; Poor understanding of the role's responsibilities.; Not asking relevant questions. ## Questions - Why are you interested in this role at Avito? - What are your salary expectations? - Can you tell me about your experience with [specific technology mentioned in job description]? - What do you know about Avito? ## Preparation tips - Review your resume and be prepared to discuss your experience. - Research Avito's mission, values, and recent news. - Have a clear understanding of why you want to work at Avito. - Be prepared to discuss your salary expectations. - Prepare questions to ask the recruiter about the role, team, and company culture. ## Round 1: Coding Challenge **Type:** Technical Interview - Coding · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min Solve coding problems involving data structures and algorithms. This round focuses on your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to understand the problem, devise a solution, write efficient and correct code, and explain your thought process. Expect questions on arrays, strings, linked lists, trees, and basic graph traversals. **Interviewers look for:** Logical thinking; Ability to translate requirements into code; Understanding of time and space complexity; Clean and readable code **Evaluation criteria:** Problem-solving approach; Algorithmic knowledge; Coding proficiency; Code clarity and efficiency **Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication of thought process.; Inability to solve basic algorithmic problems.; Lack of understanding of fundamental data structures.; Inability to write clean, working code. ## Questions - Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal. - Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array. - Write a function to check if a string is a palindrome. ## Preparation tips - Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode. - Focus on understanding the time and space complexity of your solutions. - Be prepared to explain your approach before you start coding. - Write clean, well-commented code. ## Round 2: System Design **Type:** Technical Interview - System Design · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 60 min Design a scalable software system based on a given problem. This round assesses your ability to design and scale software systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific service (e.g., a social media feed, a chat application, or a URL shortener). The interviewer will evaluate your approach to requirements gathering, high-level design, component breakdown, data modeling, and consideration of non-functional requirements like scalability, reliability, and performance. **Interviewers look for:** Ability to design complex systems; Understanding of distributed systems; Knowledge of caching, load balancing, and databases; Clear communication of design choices **Evaluation criteria:** System design principles; Scalability considerations; Trade-off analysis; Component interaction; Database design; API design **Common rejection reasons:** Inability to design scalable systems.; Lack of understanding of distributed systems concepts.; Poor trade-off analysis.; Not considering edge cases or failure scenarios. ## Questions - Design a system like Twitter's news feed. - Design a rate limiter. - Design an API for a ride-sharing service. ## Preparation tips - Study common system design patterns and architectures. - Practice designing various types of systems. - Understand concepts like load balancing, caching, message queues, and database choices. - Be prepared to discuss trade-offs for different design decisions. ## Round 3: Managerial/Behavioral Round **Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min Discuss past experiences, teamwork, and cultural fit. This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and how you fit into the team and Avito's culture. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle conflicts, your strengths and weaknesses, and your career aspirations. The interviewer aims to understand your work style, your ability to collaborate, and your potential to grow within the company. **Interviewers look for:** How you collaborate with others; Your approach to challenges and failures; Your motivation and passion for software engineering; Your alignment with Avito's culture and values **Evaluation criteria:** Teamwork and collaboration; Problem-solving approach in a team context; Adaptability and learning agility; Motivation and career goals; Alignment with Avito's values **Common rejection reasons:** Poor cultural fit.; Lack of enthusiasm or motivation.; Inability to articulate past experiences effectively.; Poor teamwork or collaboration skills. ## Questions - Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague. - Describe a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it. - How do you stay updated with new technologies? - What are your strengths and weaknesses? ## Preparation tips - Prepare examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions. - Research Avito's company culture and values. - Think about your career goals and how this role aligns with them. - Be ready to ask thoughtful questions about the team and the role.