Quora

Software Engineer

Software EngineerL3Medium

The Software Engineer (L3) interview at Quora is designed to assess a candidate's foundational knowledge in computer science, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves a mix of technical and behavioral assessments to ensure the candidate can contribute effectively to Quora's engineering teams.

Rounds

3

Timeline

~7 days

Experience

1 - 3 yrs

Salary Range

US$110000 - US$140000

Total Duration

150 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Problem-solving skills
Data structures and algorithms knowledge
Coding proficiency and best practices
System design thinking
Communication skills
Collaboration and teamwork
Adaptability and learning agility
Cultural alignment with Quora's values

Communication & Behavioral

Ability to articulate thought process
Clarity in explaining technical concepts
Active listening skills
Enthusiasm and curiosity

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal).
2Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
3Understand core computer science concepts such as time and space complexity (Big O notation).
4Study basic system design principles, including scalability, availability, and reliability.
5Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
6Research Quora's mission, values, and recent product developments.
7Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures & Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice implementations and complexity analysis.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, heaps), hash tables, and graphs. Practice implementing these and solving problems related to them. Understand time and space complexity for each.

2

Algorithms

Weeks 3-4: Algorithm techniques like sorting, DP, and graph traversal. Solve related problems.

Weeks 3-4: Dive into Algorithms. Focus on sorting algorithms (merge sort, quicksort), searching algorithms (binary search), recursion, dynamic programming, and graph algorithms (BFS, DFS, Dijkstra's). Solve problems that require applying these concepts.

3

System Design Fundamentals

Week 5: System Design basics: scalability, databases, caching.

Week 5: Introduction to System Design. Learn about basic concepts like load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), APIs, and microservices. Understand trade-offs in designing scalable systems.

4

Behavioral & Company Research

Week 6: Behavioral questions (STAR method) and Quora research.

Week 6: Behavioral Preparation. Reflect on your past projects and experiences. Prepare stories using the STAR method for common behavioral questions related to teamwork, problem-solving, failures, and successes. Also, research Quora.

5

Mock Interviews & Final Review

Week 7: Mock interviews, review weak areas, prepare questions.

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. Prepare questions for the interviewers.

Commonly Asked Questions

Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Design a system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform.
Tell me about a time you received constructive criticism and how you responded.
What are your favorite data structures and why?
How would you optimize a slow-loading web page?
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague.
Explain the concept of recursion with an example.

Location-Based Differences

Mountain View, CA

Interview Focus

Emphasis on core data structures and algorithms.Understanding of web fundamentals and basic system design.Behavioral questions focusing on collaboration and learning.

Common Questions

How would you design a URL shortener?

Explain the difference between a process and a thread.

Describe a challenging technical problem you solved.

How do you handle disagreements within a team?

Tips

Be prepared to whiteboard solutions for common coding problems.
Familiarize yourself with Quora's product and engineering blog.
Practice explaining your thought process clearly.

New York, NY

Interview Focus

Stronger emphasis on system design and scalability.Deeper dive into distributed systems concepts.Behavioral questions assessing adaptability and ownership.

Common Questions

Design a system to track user engagement on Quora.

What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?

Tell me about a time you had to adapt to a new technology.

How do you prioritize your work when faced with multiple deadlines?

Tips

Review common system design patterns.
Be ready to discuss trade-offs in your technical decisions.
Highlight instances where you took initiative and ownership.

Process Timeline

1
Technical Screen - Coding45m
2
Technical Screen - System Design60m
3
Behavioral & Hiring Manager Interview45m

Interview Rounds

3-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

Technical Screen - Coding

Coding challenge focused on data structures and algorithms.

Data Structures And Algorithms InterviewMedium
45 minSoftware Engineer

This round focuses on your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to understand the problem, devise a solution, write efficient and correct code, and explain your thought process.

What Interviewers Look For

A structured approach to problem-solving.Ability to translate a problem into code.Understanding of Big O notation.Clean and readable code.

Evaluation Criteria

Problem-solving approach
Correctness of code
Efficiency of solution (time and space complexity)
Coding style and clarity

Questions Asked

Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.

Data StructuresTreesRecursion

Find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.

AlgorithmsSortingQuickselect

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding problems on a whiteboard or a shared editor.
2Think out loud and explain your approach before coding.
3Consider edge cases and test your code mentally.
4Be prepared to discuss time and space complexity.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to articulate thought process.
Poor understanding of fundamental data structures.
Difficulty in writing clean, working code.
Lack of problem-solving approach.
2

Technical Screen - System Design

Design a scalable system and discuss trade-offs.

System Design InterviewMedium
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager

This round assesses your ability to design and think about larger systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific feature or a large-scale system (e.g., a news feed, a URL shortener). The focus is on your thought process, how you handle ambiguity, and your understanding of system design principles.

What Interviewers Look For

Ability to break down complex problems.Understanding of distributed systems concepts.Sound reasoning for design choices.Consideration of various system components (databases, caching, APIs).

Evaluation Criteria

System design approach
Scalability considerations
Trade-off analysis
Clarity of explanation
Handling of constraints and requirements

Questions Asked

Design a system like Twitter's timeline.

System DesignScalabilityDatabasesAPIs

How would you design a rate limiter?

System DesignAlgorithmsDistributed Systems

Preparation Tips

1Review common system design patterns and architectures.
2Practice designing systems for scale and reliability.
3Be prepared to discuss trade-offs between different approaches.
4Think about potential bottlenecks and failure points.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to design a scalable system.
Poor understanding of trade-offs.
Lack of clarity in explaining design choices.
Not considering failure scenarios or edge cases.
3

Behavioral & Hiring Manager Interview

Behavioral questions to assess past experiences and cultural fit.

Behavioral InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager / Senior Team Member

This round focuses on your past experiences, work style, and how you collaborate with others. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to understand your strengths, weaknesses, how you handle challenges, and your overall fit with Quora's culture. Using the STAR method is highly recommended.

What Interviewers Look For

Honesty and self-awareness.Ability to articulate past experiences effectively (using STAR).Enthusiasm for Quora and the role.Evidence of collaboration and positive impact.

Evaluation Criteria

Communication clarity
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving approach in past experiences
Learning and adaptability
Cultural fit and alignment with Quora's values

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.

BehavioralLearningResilience

Describe a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.

BehavioralAccomplishmentTeamwork

How do you handle conflicting priorities?

BehavioralTime ManagementPrioritization

Preparation Tips

1Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
2Reflect on your career goals and why you're interested in Quora.
3Be ready to discuss your strengths and weaknesses.
4Show genuine interest and enthusiasm.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Poor communication skills.
Lack of self-awareness.
Inability to provide specific examples.
Not demonstrating alignment with Quora's values.
Appearing unenthusiastic or disengaged.

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at Quora

View all
Insert Delete GetRandom O(1)MEDIUMSubarray Sum Equals KMEDIUM1-bit and 2-bit CharactersEASYNumber of Subarrays with Bounded MaximumMEDIUMExam RoomMEDIUM3Sum With MultiplicityMEDIUMBinary Tree CamerasHARDSubtract the Product and Sum of Digits of an IntegerEASYFind Numbers with Even Number of DigitsEASYSort the Matrix DiagonallyMEDIUM