The Software Engineer I (IC1) interview at Compass is designed to assess foundational software engineering skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. It typically involves multiple rounds focusing on data structures, algorithms, system design basics, and behavioral aspects.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~7d
Experience·0 - 2 yrs
Comp band·US$75000 - US$95000
Interview time·180 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Maps) & Big O.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, and hash maps. Practice problems involving these structures. Understand time and space complexity analysis (Big O notation).
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Recursion, DP) & Problem Solving.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into algorithms such as sorting (bubble, merge, quick), searching (binary search), recursion, and basic dynamic programming. Solve problems related to these algorithms.
Phase 03 of 05
Week 5: OOP Concepts & Basic System Design.
Week 5: Study Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts (encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction) and practice designing simple classes. Review basic system design principles and common architectural patterns.
Phase 04 of 05
Week 6: Behavioral Questions (STAR Method) & Company Research.
Week 6: Prepare for behavioral questions. Reflect on past projects, challenges, and teamwork experiences. Practice articulating your thoughts and actions using the STAR method. Research Compass's culture and values.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 7: Mock Interviews & Final Review.
Week 7: Mock interviews, review weak areas, and ensure you are comfortable discussing your resume and projects. Finalize preparation for all interview rounds.
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 Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on assessing your foundational programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving arrays, strings, or linked lists. The interviewer will evaluate your approach to problem-solving, your ability to write clean and efficient code, and your understanding of basic data structures and algorithms. Expect to explain your thought process throughout the coding exercise.
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.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview (Coding) · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer
This round delves deeper into your problem-solving abilities. You'll tackle more challenging coding problems that might involve trees, graphs, or dynamic programming. The interviewer will assess your ability to optimize solutions for time and space complexity and your skills in debugging code effectively. Expect to discuss trade-offs between different approaches.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Implement a binary search tree and its common operations (insertion, deletion, search).
Given a binary tree, find its maximum depth.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 45 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round assesses your foundational understanding of system design. You'll be asked to design a simple system or a component of a larger system (e.g., a URL shortener, a basic social media feed). The focus is on your ability to identify requirements, break down the problem, propose a high-level design, and discuss trade-offs. For IC1, the expectations are for basic understanding rather than deep expertise.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
How would you design a simple API for a blog?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager / Team Lead
This is a behavioral and cultural fit interview. The hiring manager will ask questions about your past experiences, how you handle challenges, your teamwork abilities, and your career aspirations. They want to understand how you approach work, collaborate with others, and whether you align with Compass's values and culture. Be prepared to share specific examples using the STAR method.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you faced a conflict within a team. How did you resolve it?
Why are you interested in this role at Compass?
Describe a challenging project you worked on and what you learned from it.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Compass loops
Other guides
