This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineer III (IC3) role at Reddit. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, system design capabilities, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~14d
Experience·4 - 7 yrs
Comp band·US$140000 - US$180000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 06 phases
01 / 06Phase 01 of 06
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms Fundamentals. Practice medium LeetCode.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming). Practice medium-difficulty problems on LeetCode.
Phase 02 of 06
Weeks 3-4: Advanced DS&A (Trees, Graphs). Practice complex LeetCode.
Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into trees (binary trees, BSTs, tries) and graphs (traversals, shortest path). Explore more complex algorithm patterns like greedy algorithms and backtracking. Continue practicing coding problems.
Phase 03 of 06
Weeks 5-6: System Design Fundamentals. Study scalability, databases, caching.
Weeks 5-6: Begin system design preparation. Study concepts like scalability, availability, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching strategies, load balancing, and message queues. Read system design case studies.
Phase 04 of 06
Weeks 7-8: Advanced System Design. Practice designing complex systems.
Weeks 7-8: Focus on advanced system design topics such as microservices architecture, API design, distributed systems, and consensus algorithms. Practice designing systems for common tech company problems.
Phase 05 of 06
Week 9: Behavioral Questions. Prepare STAR method answers.
Week 9: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Review your resume and identify key projects and experiences. Practice answering questions using the STAR method, focusing on leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Phase 06 of 06
Week 10: Mock Interviews. Simulate interview conditions.
Week 10: Mock interviews. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors to simulate the actual interview environment. Get feedback on your technical explanations, problem-solving approach, and communication.
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.
Data Structures And Algorithms Interview · 45 min · Software Engineer (Peer)
This round focuses on your fundamental 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 an efficient solution, write clean and correct code, and explain your thought process.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round assesses your ability to design and scale complex systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., designing a social media feed, a URL shortener, or a notification system) and expected to propose a robust and scalable solution. The interviewer will probe your design choices, trade-offs, and understanding of various system components.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system like Reddit's front page.
Design a URL shortening service.
How would you design a real-time notification system?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Senior Team Member
This round focuses on your past experiences and how you handle various workplace situations. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to understand your work style, problem-solving approach in non-technical scenarios, teamwork, and leadership potential. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a colleague and how you resolved it.
Describe a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.
How do you handle constructive criticism?
Why are you interested in working at Reddit?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Reddit loops
Other guides
