The Software Engineer (SDE I) interview at InMobi is designed to assess a candidate's foundational programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit for the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an HR screening, followed by technical rounds focusing on data structures, algorithms, and system design basics, and concluding with a managerial round to evaluate overall fit and career aspirations.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~7d
Experience·0 - 2 yrs
Comp band·US$100000 - US$150000
Interview time·165 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, HashMaps). Practice problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, AVL trees), heaps, and hash tables. Practice problems related to each. Understand time and space complexity analysis.
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, DP, Graphs). Practice problems.
Weeks 3-4: Focus on Algorithms. Cover sorting algorithms (bubble, insertion, merge, quick), searching algorithms (binary search), recursion, dynamic programming, graph traversal (BFS, DFS), and greedy algorithms. Solve problems applying these algorithms.
Phase 03 of 05
Week 5: System Design Basics (Load Balancing, Caching, Databases).
Week 5: Introduction to System Design. Understand concepts like load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs NoSQL), APIs, and microservices. Study common design patterns and how to scale applications. Focus on basic principles relevant to SDE I.
Phase 04 of 05
Week 6: Behavioral Questions (STAR method) & Project Discussion. Research InMobi.
Week 6: Behavioral and Project Deep Dive. Prepare to discuss your resume projects in detail. Practice behavioral questions using the STAR method. Research InMobi's culture and values.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 7: Mock Interviews & Final Review.
Week 7: Mock Interviews and Review. Conduct mock interviews focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects. Review weak areas identified during practice and mock interviews. Ensure you are comfortable explaining your thought process clearly.
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.
HR Screening · 15 min · HR Recruiter
This initial screening is conducted by the HR team to understand your background, motivation for applying, and basic fit with the company culture and role requirements. They will also discuss salary expectations and the overall interview process. This is a crucial step to ensure mutual alignment before proceeding to technical rounds.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about yourself.
Why are you looking for a new opportunity?
What are your salary expectations?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview - Data Structures & Algorithms · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on assessing your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your approach to problem-solving, your ability to write clean and efficient code, and your understanding of complexity analysis. Expect to write code either on a shared editor or a whiteboard.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, check if it is a valid Binary Search Tree.
Find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.
Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview - System Design · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round assesses your ability to think about system design at a high level. You'll be given a problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a Twitter feed) and asked to design a system to solve it. The focus is on understanding trade-offs, identifying core components, and discussing scalability and reliability, even at a foundational level for an SDE I role.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a basic rate limiter.
How would you design a system to count the number of unique visitors to a website?
Design a simple notification service.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial Round · 45 min · Hiring Manager
In this round, the hiring manager will focus on your overall fit within the team and the company culture. They will ask behavioral questions to understand how you handle various workplace situations, your motivations, and your career aspirations. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the team, role, and company.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it?
Why are you interested in working at InMobi?
Describe a situation where you took initiative to solve a problem.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on InMobi loops
Other guides
