This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineer (SDE 2) role at Groupon. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, system design capabilities, and cultural fit.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~7d
Experience·3 - 7 yrs
Comp band·US$120000 - US$150000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms. Practice coding problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary, BST, AVL), heaps, hash tables, graphs. Practice problems related to searching, sorting, recursion, dynamic programming, and graph traversal. Aim for 2-3 hours of study and practice daily.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design. Study scalability and architecture.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design. Study concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, load balancing, caching strategies, database design (SQL vs. NoSQL, sharding, replication), message queues, and API design. Work through common system design case studies. Aim for 2-3 hours of study and practice daily.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral Prep. Use STAR method.
Week 5: Behavioral and Behavioral Questions. Prepare for questions about teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, and handling failure. Use the STAR method to structure your answers. Reflect on your past projects and identify key achievements and learnings. Aim for 1-2 hours of preparation daily.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock Interviews & Review. Practice weak areas.
Week 6: Mock Interviews and Review. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors to simulate the actual interview environment. Review weak areas identified during practice and mock interviews. Familiarize yourself with Groupon's specific technologies and business domain. Aim for 2-3 hours of practice daily.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Data Structures And Algorithms · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on your fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems that test your knowledge of data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to analyze the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean code, and explain your reasoning. Expect questions on arrays, strings, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps, and algorithmic techniques like recursion, dynamic programming, and greedy algorithms.
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.
Reverse a linked list.
Find the kth smallest element in a Binary Search Tree.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
This round assesses your ability to design and architect software systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed, or an e-commerce platform) and expected to design a scalable, reliable, and maintainable solution. The interviewer will probe into your design choices, discuss trade-offs, and explore potential bottlenecks and solutions. Expect to cover aspects like API design, data storage, caching, load balancing, and fault tolerance.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system like Twitter's news feed.
Design a distributed cache.
How would you design an API for a ride-sharing service?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager
This round focuses on your behavioral and situational responses. The interviewer will ask questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific work scenarios, and your motivations. The goal is to understand your work style, how you collaborate with others, how you approach challenges, and whether you align with Groupon's culture and values. Be prepared to share specific examples using the STAR method.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague.
Describe a project where you faced a significant technical challenge and how you overcame it.
Why are you interested in working at Groupon?
Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Groupon loops
Other guides
