JPMorgan Chase

Role: SDE-2 (Software Engineer)

College: Tier 3/4 college (Graduated 2021)

Interview Date: Not Specified (Published Sep 25, 2024)

Interview Type: Full-Time

Result: Offer

Difficulty: Medium to Hard

Rounds: 5 rounds

Topics Asked: String manipulation, Sliding Window, System Design (scalable parking lot system), Java Backend (current project, complex problem solving), Behavioral.

Experience:

The candidate had 2.9 years of experience in Java Backend.

Round 1: Online Assessment (1 Hour)
This round included two medium-level coding problems.

• Problem 1: Related to String manipulation.
• Problem 2: A medium-hard problem involving the sliding window technique.

The candidate successfully solved both problems on HackerRank.

Round 2: Data Structures & Algorithms
This was a HackerRank test in the presence of the interviewer, featuring medium to hard level DSA questions. The interviewer was helpful, providing hints. One recalled question was: "Given an m x n binary matrix filled with 0's and 1's, find the largest square containing only 1's and return its area." The candidate solved both questions in this round.

Round 3: System Design Round 1 (1 Hour)
The task was to design a scalable parking lot system, including high-level design (HLD) on HackerRank with diagrams. Discussion focused on scalability, system components, and architecture, with Q&A on design choices. The interviewer was satisfied with the approach.

Round 4: Technical Project Discussion + Situational/HR Questions
The interviewer asked about the candidate's current project, focusing on how complex problems were tackled. This round also included situational and HR-type questions. The key takeaway was to ask thoughtful questions to show interest and engage the interviewer.

Round 5: HR Discussion
This final round covered past work experience, salary expectations, and general discussions. The outcome was a job offer, with details discussed during this round.

Key Takeaways for Preparation: Be genuine, focus on structured preparation for coding and design, and ask thoughtful questions.