The Software Engineer 1 interview process at CARS24 is designed to assess foundational technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit for early-career professionals. It typically involves multiple rounds focusing on data structures, algorithms, basic system design, and behavioral aspects.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~7d
Experience·0 - 2 yrs
Comp band·US$10000 - US$15000
Interview time·180 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Operations. Practice problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common operations and time complexities. Practice problems related to each data structure.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: Algorithms & Problem Solving. Practice problems.
Weeks 3-4: Focus on Algorithms (Sorting - Bubble, Insertion, Merge, Quick; Searching - Binary Search; Recursion; Dynamic Programming basics; Greedy Algorithms). Solve problems that require applying these algorithms.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Basic System Design Concepts. Simple system design.
Week 5: Introduction to System Design concepts. Understand scalability, availability, and basic design patterns. Focus on designing simple systems like URL shorteners or social media feeds.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Behavioral Prep & Company Research. STAR method.
Week 6: Prepare for Behavioral and Situational questions. Review your resume, projects, and past experiences. Practice answering questions using the STAR method. Research CARS24.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Screening · 45 min · Software Engineer / Technical Recruiter
This initial round is typically a technical screening conducted by a software engineer or a technical recruiter. It focuses on assessing your core programming skills, understanding of data structures, and ability to solve basic algorithmic problems. You'll likely be asked to write code on a shared editor or whiteboard and explain your approach.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, return indices of the two numbers such that they add up to a specific target.
Write a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Implement a function to find the maximum element in a binary tree.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Data Structures And Algorithms Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer
This round delves deeper into your problem-solving abilities and algorithmic knowledge. You will be presented with more complex problems that require a good understanding of various data structures and algorithms, including trees, graphs, dynamic programming, and recursion. The interviewer will assess not only if you can solve the problem but also how efficiently you can do it and how well you can explain your thought process and optimizations.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.
Find the kth smallest element in a Binary Search Tree.
Implement a function to find the longest common subsequence of two strings.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Fundamentals · 45 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
This round assesses your ability to think about software systems at a higher level. While not as in-depth as for senior roles, you'll be expected to discuss how to design basic features or systems, considering aspects like scalability, data storage, and user experience. The focus is on understanding your thought process and how you approach designing solutions for real-world problems.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
How would you design a basic rate limiter?
Design a system to count the number of unique visitors to a website.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral And Cultural Fit Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager / HR
This round focuses on your personality, motivation, and how well you'd fit into the CARS24 team culture. You'll be asked behavioral questions about your past experiences, how you handle challenges, and your career aspirations. The interviewer wants to understand your work style, your ability to collaborate, and your overall enthusiasm for joining the company.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about yourself.
Describe a time you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why do you want to work at CARS24?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on CARS24 loops
Other guides
