This interview process is for a Software Engineer position at Huawei, specifically for Level 14 candidates. It aims to assess technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·5 - 8 yrs
Comp band·US$120000 - US$150000
Interview time·180 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice (5-10 problems/topic).
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables, sorting, searching, dynamic programming, and greedy algorithms. Practice implementing these and analyzing their time and space complexity. Aim for at least 5-10 problems per topic.
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and case studies.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design. Study concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), microservices, and API design. Work through common system design case studies (e.g., designing Twitter, YouTube).
Phase 03 of 05
Week 5: Behavioral questions preparation (STAR method).
Week 5: Focus on Behavioral and Situational Questions. Prepare examples using the STAR method for common questions related to teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and handling failure. Reflect on your past experiences and identify strong examples.
Phase 04 of 05
Week 6: Huawei research and role alignment. Prepare questions.
Week 6: Research Huawei and the specific role. Understand Huawei's business, products, and recent news. Identify how your skills and experience align with the company's needs and the job description. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 7: Mock interviews and final review.
Week 7: Mock Interviews and Review. Conduct mock interviews covering technical, system design, and behavioral aspects. Get feedback and identify areas for improvement. Review all topics covered and solidify your understanding.
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.
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Senior Software Engineer or Technical Lead
This round focuses on your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write correct, efficient, and readable code, as well as your problem-solving approach and communication during the coding process.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.
Write a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Staff Engineer or Architect
This round evaluates your ability to design complex, scalable, and reliable software systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed) and expected to discuss various aspects of the design, including data storage, APIs, scalability, and fault tolerance.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system like Twitter's news feed.
How would you design a rate limiter?
Design a distributed key-value store.
How would you design a system to handle real-time analytics for a large website?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager or HR Representative
This round focuses on your past experiences and how you've handled various situations. Expect questions about teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, dealing with failure, and your motivations. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide clear and concise answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague.
How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple competing deadlines?
What are your long-term career goals?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager or Team Lead
This final round is typically with the hiring manager or team lead. It's an opportunity for them to assess your overall fit with the team and the specific projects you'll be working on. They will also gauge your motivation, career aspirations, and whether you align with the team's culture and technical direction. This is also your chance to ask in-depth questions about the team and the role.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What are your thoughts on our current technology stack?
How do you handle constructive criticism from your manager?
What kind of projects are you most excited about working on?
Do you have any questions for me about the team or the role?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Huawei loops
Other guides
