# Software Engineer I
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** L1
**Company:** [Indeed](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/indeed)
**Difficulty:** Medium
**Salary:** US$75000 - US$95000
**Experience:** 0 - 2
**Timeline:** ~7 days
The Software Engineer I interview at Indeed is designed to assess foundational technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit for entry-level engineers. It typically involves a mix of technical rounds focusing on data structures, algorithms, and basic system design, along with behavioral questions to gauge teamwork and communication.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/indeed/l1-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- Communication and Attitude

## Questions asked

- Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
- Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
- Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
- Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult teammate.
- How would you design a URL shortener (high-level)?
- What are the advantages of using a hash map?
- Write a function to check if a binary tree is a Binary Search Tree (BST).
- Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, graph traversal).
- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on easy and medium difficulty.
- Understand basic object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts.
- Prepare for behavioral questions by thinking about your past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Research Indeed's products, mission, and values.
- Be ready to discuss your resume and projects in detail.
- Practice explaining your thought process out loud.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures Fundamentals","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, and hash maps. Practice implementing them and solving problems related to their usage. Understand time and space complexity (Big O notation).","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Maps) & Big O."}
- {"title":"Algorithm Essentials","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into algorithms, including sorting (bubble, merge, quick), searching (binary search), recursion, and basic graph traversal (BFS, DFS). Practice applying these algorithms to solve problems.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Recursion, BFS, DFS)."}
- {"title":"Object-Oriented Programming","longDescription":"Week 5: Cover basic object-oriented programming principles (encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism) and practice writing clean, modular code. Familiarize yourself with a language commonly used at Indeed (e.g., Java, Python, C++).","shortDescription":"Week 5: OOP Concepts & Language Proficiency."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Week 6: Prepare for behavioral questions. Think of examples from your academic projects, internships, or personal experiences that demonstrate teamwork, problem-solving, learning agility, and handling challenges. Use the STAR method.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Behavioral Questions (STAR Method)."}
- {"title":"Final Review and Practice","longDescription":"Week 7: Mock interviews, review company information, and practice explaining your thought process. Ensure you have questions prepared for the interviewer.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Mock Interviews & Company Research."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"North America","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to explain your thought process clearly.","Showcase your ability to break down problems.","Highlight any personal projects or contributions to open source."],"interviewFocus":["Emphasis on core computer science fundamentals.","Assessment of problem-solving approach and clarity of thought.","Evaluation of eagerness to learn and adapt."],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a challenging project you worked on.","How do you approach debugging a complex issue?","Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly."]}}
- {"location":"Europe","differences":{"tips":["Familiarize yourself with common software development practices.","Practice explaining technical concepts in simple terms.","Be ready to discuss your experiences working in teams."],"interviewFocus":["Understanding of software development lifecycle.","Collaboration and communication skills.","Fundamental programming concepts."],"commonQuestions":["What are your thoughts on agile development methodologies?","How do you handle disagreements within a team?","Can you explain the concept of recursion with an example?"]}}

## Round 1: Coding Round 1
**Type:** Technical Interview - Data Structures and Algorithms · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Coding challenge focused on data structures and algorithms.
This round focuses on your ability to solve coding problems using data structures and algorithms. You will be given one or two problems and asked to write code to solve them, typically in a shared online editor. The interviewer will assess your approach, coding style, and understanding of efficiency.
**Interviewers look for:** Clean, working code.; Logical problem-solving approach.; Understanding of time/space complexity.; Ability to communicate trade-offs.
**Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of the solution; Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity); Code clarity and readability; Ability to handle edge cases; Communication of approach
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to solve coding problems within the given time.; Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.; Difficulty explaining thought process.; Lack of attention to edge cases.
## Questions

- Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
- Implement a function to reverse a linked list.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode.
- Focus on explaining your thought process clearly.
- Write clean, well-commented code.
- Consider edge cases and test your solution.

## Round 2: System Design Round
**Type:** Technical Interview - System Design · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
High-level system design problem.
This round assesses your ability to think about system design at a high level. You might be asked to design a simple system or feature, focusing on components, data flow, and potential challenges. The focus is on your thought process and ability to make reasonable design choices.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to break down a problem into smaller components.; Understanding of basic design patterns.; Awareness of potential bottlenecks.; Logical approach to system design.
**Evaluation criteria:** Understanding of system components; Ability to design a basic system; Consideration of trade-offs; Scalability and reliability considerations; Clarity of explanation
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to translate requirements into a functional design.; Lack of understanding of basic system components.; Poor consideration of scalability or reliability.; Inability to articulate design choices.
## Questions

- How would you design a URL shortener (high-level)?
- Design a basic rate limiter.

## Preparation tips

- Study common system design concepts (e.g., load balancing, caching, databases).
- Practice designing simple systems like a URL shortener or a Twitter feed.
- Think about trade-offs in your design choices.
- Be prepared to discuss different approaches.

## Round 3: Behavioral and Manager Round
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 30 min
Assesses behavioral competencies and cultural fit.
This round focuses on your behavioral and cultural fit. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle teamwork, challenges, and learning. The goal is to understand how you work and if you'd be a good addition to the team.
**Interviewers look for:** Positive attitude.; Good communication and interpersonal skills.; Examples of collaboration and learning.; Alignment with Indeed's values.
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication clarity; Teamwork and collaboration skills; Problem-solving approach; Learning agility; Cultural alignment
**Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication skills.; Lack of enthusiasm or interest.; Inability to provide specific examples for behavioral questions.; Poor cultural fit with the team or company values.
## Questions

- Tell me about a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.
- Describe a time you had to work with a difficult teammate.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare answers using the STAR method.
- Be honest and authentic.
- Show enthusiasm for the role and company.
- Have questions ready to ask the interviewer.