# Software Engineer **Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** Software Engineer I **Company:** [Nordstrom](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/nordstrom) **Difficulty:** Medium **Salary:** US$75000 - US$95000 **Experience:** 0 - 2 **Timeline:** ~14 days The Software Engineer I interview at Nordstrom is designed to assess a candidate's foundational programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves a mix of technical and behavioral questions to evaluate a candidate's potential to contribute to Nordstrom's technology initiatives. Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/nordstrom/software-engineer-i-software-engineer --- ## Overall evaluation - Technical Skills - Behavioral and Cultural Fit ## Questions asked - Write a function to reverse a linked list. - Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target. - Explain the difference between a process and a thread. - Describe a time you disagreed with a teammate and how you resolved it. - How would you design a URL shortening service? - What are the principles of RESTful API design? - Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled it. ## Preparation tips ### lists - Review fundamental computer science concepts, including data structures and algorithms. - Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank, focusing on medium-difficulty problems. - Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, highlighting your role and contributions. - Research Nordstrom's mission, values, and recent news. - Prepare answers to common behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). - Understand basic software development principles like version control (Git) and testing. - Be ready to articulate why you are interested in Nordstrom and this specific role. ### studyPlan - {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, recursion). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity. Solve 10-15 medium-level problems per week.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 20-30 medium problems."} - {"title":"Object-Oriented Programming and Design","longDescription":"Week 3: Deep dive into object-oriented programming (OOP) principles (encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction) and design patterns. Review common software design principles like SOLID. Practice designing simple systems or components.","shortDescription":"Week 3: OOP and Design Patterns. Review SOLID principles."} - {"title":"Behavioral and Cultural Fit","longDescription":"Week 4: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on your past experiences and prepare STAR method answers for common questions related to teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and handling failure. Research Nordstrom's company culture and values.","shortDescription":"Week 4: Behavioral Interview Prep. STAR method and company research."} ## Location differences - {"location":"Seattle","differences":{"tips":["Research Nordstrom's recent tech projects.","Be prepared to discuss your contributions to team projects.","Highlight any experience with e-commerce platforms."],"interviewFocus":["Adaptability to new technologies","Teamwork and collaboration","Understanding of core software development principles"],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a challenging project you worked on.","How do you handle conflicting priorities?","Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly."]}} - {"location":"Remote","differences":{"tips":["Emphasize your problem-solving process.","Showcase any experience with CI/CD pipelines.","Be ready to discuss your understanding of scalability."],"interviewFocus":["Problem-solving and debugging skills","Familiarity with cloud technologies","Understanding of software development lifecycle"],"commonQuestions":["How do you approach debugging a complex issue?","Describe your experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure).","What are your thoughts on agile development methodologies?"]}} ## Round 1: HR Screening Call **Type:** HR Screening · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 45 min Initial screening to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit. This initial round is conducted by an HR representative or recruiter to assess your overall fit for the role and the company. They will ask about your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying to Nordstrom. They will also cover salary expectations and logistical details. **Interviewers look for:** A candidate who can translate a problem into code.; A candidate who can explain their thought process.; A candidate with a foundational understanding of CS concepts. **Evaluation criteria:** Basic coding proficiency.; Understanding of fundamental data structures.; Problem-solving approach.; Communication clarity. **Common rejection reasons:** Inability to solve basic coding problems.; Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.; Lack of clear communication during problem-solving.; Negative attitude or poor cultural fit. ## Questions - Tell me about yourself. - Why are you interested in Nordstrom? - What are your salary expectations? ## Preparation tips - Be prepared to talk about your resume. - Research Nordstrom's mission and values. - Have questions ready for the interviewer about the role and company culture. ## Round 2: Technical Coding Interview **Type:** Technical Interview (Coding) · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 60 min Assess coding skills and problem-solving abilities with data structures and algorithms. This is a technical interview focused on data structures and algorithms. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically on a shared online editor. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, and your understanding of fundamental computer science concepts. **Interviewers look for:** A candidate who can write functional code.; A candidate who can optimize their solutions.; A candidate who can articulate their thought process clearly.; A candidate who can debug their own code. **Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of code.; Efficiency of algorithms (time and space complexity).; Code readability and structure.; Ability to handle edge cases.; Problem-solving approach. **Common rejection reasons:** Failure to solve coding challenges within the given time.; Incorrect or inefficient algorithms.; Inability to explain code logic.; Poor handling of edge cases. ## 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 binary tree is a Binary Search Tree (BST). - Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix. ## Preparation tips - Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode. - Focus on common data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming). - Be prepared to explain your approach and analyze the time/space complexity of your solution. - Practice writing code on a whiteboard or in a simple text editor to simulate the interview environment. ## Round 3: Hiring Manager Interview **Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min Assess behavioral competencies and cultural fit through past experiences. This round focuses on your past experiences and how they align with the requirements of the role and Nordstrom's culture. The hiring manager will ask behavioral questions, often using the STAR method, to understand your work style, problem-solving approach, and how you handle various workplace situations. **Interviewers look for:** A candidate who can articulate their past experiences effectively.; A candidate who demonstrates key behavioral traits.; A candidate who shows genuine interest in Nordstrom.; A candidate who can handle hypothetical situations. **Evaluation criteria:** Behavioral competencies (teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability).; Communication skills.; Cultural alignment with Nordstrom.; Motivation and enthusiasm for the role. **Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear communication about past experiences.; Inability to provide specific examples.; Not demonstrating alignment with company values.; Appearing unenthusiastic or disengaged. ## Questions - Tell me about a time you faced a significant technical challenge and how you overcame it. - Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it? - How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple competing deadlines? ## Preparation tips - Prepare specific examples from your past projects using the STAR method. - Think about situations where you demonstrated leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. - Research Nordstrom's company values and be ready to discuss how you embody them. - Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the hiring manager.