The Software Engineer L1 interview at Jane Street is designed to assess foundational programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and a candidate's potential to grow within the company. It typically involves a mix of technical and behavioral assessments to evaluate a candidate's fit for the role and the company culture.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~7d
Experience·0 - 2 yrs
Comp band·US$90000 - US$120000
Interview time·135 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Maps) & Complexity Analysis.
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 04
Weeks 3-4: Trees (Binary Trees, BSTs) & Graphs (BFS, DFS).
Weeks 3-4: Dive into trees (binary trees, BSTs) and graphs. Learn about traversal algorithms (BFS, DFS) and common graph problems. Practice problems related to these topics.
Phase 03 of 04
Weeks 5-6: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Recursion, Dynamic Programming).
Weeks 5-6: Focus on algorithms such as sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), recursion, and dynamic programming. Work through a variety of problems that require applying these algorithms.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 7: Review, Mock Interviews, Behavioral Prep, Resume Refinement.
Week 7: Review all topics, practice mock interviews, and prepare behavioral questions. Refine your resume and prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.
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 · 45 min · Software Engineer
This initial technical round focuses on assessing your fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving arrays, strings, or basic data structures. The interviewer will evaluate how you approach the problem, your ability to write clean and efficient code, and how well you communicate your thought process.
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.
Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round evaluates your ability to design and think about larger systems. You might be asked to design a component of a larger application or a system from scratch. The focus is on your approach to design, identifying key components, considering scalability, reliability, and trade-offs. This is less about writing code and more about architectural thinking.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like TinyURL.
How would you design a system to count the number of unique visitors to a website?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager / Recruiter
This round focuses on your past experiences and how you handle various situations. You'll be asked behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). The interviewer wants to understand your work style, how you collaborate, handle challenges, and your overall fit with the company culture.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you faced a significant challenge at work and how you overcame it.
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?
Why are you interested in Jane Street?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Jane Street loops
Other guides
