The Yelp Software Engineer IC2 interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, including HR screening, technical interviews focusing on data structures and algorithms, system design, and behavioral aspects, culminating in a hiring manager interview.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·2 - 5 yrs
Comp band·US$110000 - US$150000
Interview time·180 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms Fundamentals. Practice implementations and basic problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures and algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, heaps), hash tables, sorting algorithms (quicksort, mergesort), searching algorithms (binary search), and basic graph traversal (BFS, DFS). Practice implementing these and solving problems related to them.
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms & Problem Solving. Focus on DP, recursion, and medium problems.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into more advanced algorithms and problem-solving techniques. Explore dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, recursion, and backtracking. Work on medium-difficulty problems that require combining multiple concepts. Begin practicing coding on a whiteboard or a shared editor.
Phase 03 of 05
Weeks 5-6: System Design Principles. Study scalability, databases, caching, and APIs.
Weeks 5-6: Concentrate on system design. Study concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching strategies, load balancing, message queues, and API design. Work through common system design case studies and practice designing systems like Twitter feed, URL shortener, or a distributed cache.
Phase 04 of 05
Week 7: Behavioral Interview Prep. Use STAR method and prepare questions.
Week 7: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on past experiences and prepare stories using the STAR method for common behavioral questions related to teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, and handling failure. Also, prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 8: Mock Interviews & Review. Practice and refine answers.
Week 8: Mock interviews and review. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors to simulate the actual interview environment. Review all topics covered, focusing on areas where you feel less confident. Ensure you can clearly articulate your thought process for both coding and system design problems.
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.
HR Screen · 30 min · Recruiter/HR
This initial round is conducted by an HR representative or recruiter to assess your overall fit with Yelp's culture and values. They will ask about your background, career goals, and motivation for applying. It's also an opportunity for you to learn more about the company and the role. Be prepared to discuss your resume and why you're interested in Yelp.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about yourself.
Why are you interested in Yelp?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your salary expectations?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview (Data Structures & Algorithms) · 45 min · Software Engineer
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 whiteboard or a shared online editor. The interviewer will assess your ability to choose appropriate data structures, design efficient algorithms, write clean code, and analyze the time and space complexity of your solution. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and edge cases.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.
Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.
Given two strings, find the longest common subsequence.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round focuses on your ability to design scalable and robust software systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific feature or a large-scale system (e.g., a URL shortener, a social media feed). The interviewer will assess your understanding of distributed systems, databases, caching, load balancing, and your ability to make reasoned trade-offs. Be prepared to draw diagrams and explain your design choices.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
Design the Twitter feed system.
How would you design a system to handle real-time notifications?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral And Managerial Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager
The hiring manager interview focuses on your past experiences, how you approach work, and your potential to contribute to the team. You'll be asked behavioral questions to understand your problem-solving skills, teamwork, leadership potential, and how you handle challenges. This is also your chance to ask in-depth questions about the team's projects, challenges, and the role's responsibilities.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample 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 do you prioritize your work when faced with multiple tasks?
What are you looking for in your next role?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Yelp loops
Other guides
