This interview process is for a Software Engineer (L7) position at LINE. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·7 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$140000 - US$180000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 3-5 problems/day.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity. Aim for 3-5 problems per day.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design concepts and case studies.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design. Study concepts like load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, microservices architecture, and CAP theorem. Work through common system design case studies (e.g., designing Twitter feed, URL shortener).
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral questions preparation using STAR method. Prepare 5-7 examples.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral questions. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Reflect on leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, and handling failure. Prepare 5-7 strong examples.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews and feedback. Review weak areas.
Week 6: Mock interviews. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects. Get feedback on your communication, problem-solving approach, and overall presentation. Review your weak areas based on feedback.
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.
HR Screening · 30 min · HR Recruiter or HR Manager
This initial or final round is conducted by HR to discuss logistical aspects, your career aspirations, and to ensure a mutual fit. They will provide an overview of the company culture, benefits, and the specific team. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions about the role, team, and company. Salary expectations will also be discussed.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Why are you interested in working at LINE?
What are your salary expectations?
What are you looking for in your next role?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Data Structures And Algorithms · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer or Tech Lead
This round focuses on your core computer science knowledge. You will be presented with 1-2 coding problems that require you to implement solutions using appropriate data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your understanding of time and space complexity. Expect to explain your approach and justify your choices.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find the lowest common ancestor of two given nodes.
Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
Design and implement a data structure that supports insertion, deletion, and getRandom O(1) operations.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design & Architecture · 75 min · Senior Staff Engineer or Principal Engineer
This round assesses your ability to design and architect complex systems. You will be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific feature or a large-scale system (e.g., a social media feed, a URL shortener, a notification service). The interviewer will evaluate your approach to breaking down the problem, identifying requirements, choosing appropriate technologies, and discussing trade-offs. Focus on scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system like Twitter's news feed.
How would you design a rate limiter for an API?
Design a distributed key-value store.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager or Senior Team Member
This round focuses on your behavioral and soft skills. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, focusing on how you handle teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, and challenging situations. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide specific and concise answers. The interviewer wants to understand how you work with others and if you're a good cultural fit for LINE.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a teammate. How did you resolve it?
Describe a project where you took a leadership role. What was the outcome?
Tell me about a time you failed or made a significant mistake. What did you learn?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on LINE loops
Other guides
