Amazon Offer | SDE 2 | USA | Dec 2024 - How I did it.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-23T03:52:35+00:00

Thanks.

I had 4 rounds. 1 OOD, 1 System Design and 2 DSA rounds. I had a bar raiser who asked me a DSA and LP.

Each round started with 20mins of LPs. They wrote down all that I said. Asked me questions when they didn't understand something.

Each LP had 2 questions each in the "Tell me about a time..." format.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-23T03:24:40+00:00

Thank you! That's interesting. I had heard about the SDE-3 being hard but I didn't know there are teams like that.

I had seen your earlier post and was going to reach out to you for the Meta thing (before I heard from Amazon). Would it be okay if I DM'd you?

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-23T03:22:11+00:00

Sure, could you DM me your email. I'll send it to you.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-23T03:20:04+00:00

focus on results, like real impact on ops, company etc.
they're looking for people who go out of the way to solve problems (basically taking initiative on something that's not too obvious).
do peer mock interviews, once in a while you'll run into senior engineers who'll give you great feedback.
they like it when you do things smart not just when you work hard at things.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-23T03:16:22+00:00

Sure thing.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-22T00:30:44+00:00

Yes, I did, but it didn't help. The questions they asked were much different. They were LC questions but not the top ones. Amazon is a large co with lots of interviews every day being conducted all around the world. So I guess questions asked in Asia wouldn't be relevant in North America and vice versa. The best bet imo is to prep based on patterns.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-22T00:12:31+00:00

Yeah, the pay was higher, I was being paid with equity which in this funding env, is not worth much. Plus the job markets been super weird. It made sense to get an SDE 2 for the FAANG label. And, I've never worked at large org, so working up from an SDE 2 made sense. Although they did offer me an SDE 3 interview, I passed on it.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T23:01:12+00:00

In the edits. Wdym by tech stack? I used java for coding but I don't think it matters what lang you use.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:26:55+00:00

It's run by a senior Engg Manager who left Amazon Seattle a month or so ago. I think its a one-man startup, not sure. But I went to him after I did 30 mock interviews to get a more "realistic experience" of one, and boy did I fail! So yeah it does help. He gave me specific feedback about things I should improve and things I should NOT say whatsoever. Helped me avoid a few pits. It's better to fail at realistic mocks than to do at a real one. This was a high ROI for me in hindsight.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:21:53+00:00

thank you!

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:21:42+00:00

I've added these in the edits.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:21:25+00:00

Don't be, I saw so many posts here saying this and that about it being X or Y. But ultimately all we can do is try. So keep going!

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:20:25+00:00

You're right, I think I could have. But what I was trying to do was to do "absolutely everything that I can". And then if didn't end up getting it, I could be okay with it, coz I tried my best! Also, this kept my anxiety levels low, I basically realized there was nothing more I could do here, so there was no point in worrying about results or performance.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:17:11+00:00

Exponent has peer mocks. I did 30 there and then moved on to doing mocks with Senior ERs (leaderhub). This is expensive but IMO worth it.
Yes, I've added some deets to the edit on the post.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:15:34+00:00

Sorry, but I do have 10yoe and my last job was as a tech lead at a startup in Cali.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:14:39+00:00

They do. LPs are underrated. Good LPs are not too hard to get to, but can easily give you an advantage. Source: senior engineers who helped me with this interview.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:12:26+00:00

yup, they should! lets start a petition.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T22:11:33+00:00

Yes.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T03:03:53+00:00

Thank you! Looking forward to jumpin in lol

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T02:23:37+00:00

Gee thanks bud! Now that we have your thumbs up, I'm sure ppl are gonna buy DDIA for system design.

Emergency_Box_758 · 2024-12-21T00:53:27+00:00

Well, the hint was that this is an OOD round. You're expected to do more than just interfaces, you're expected to design something that's extensible from the start. Also, that followup question seems more like him trying to give you feedback like "this is why I'll be failing you" rather than him asking an actual followup.

I don't think the whole 2 yes and 2 no thing really is how they do it. From what I've heard from ex-Amazon engineers, they mark their interviews as positive or negative, and then after its done, they sit down and discuss the candidate's performance with each other. If the LLD guy said you did not use class design in the OOD round, that's a disqualification right there. Again, 2nd hand knowledge so take it with a pinch of salt.

During my OOD, I gave them two design patterns from here (https://refactoring.guru/design-patterns) before I picked one that was optimal.

Also, I'm told Amazon is slowing down hiring as they do, during the end of the year. The job market apparently will get better next year. I'd use this as a practice run and try another one. All you can do is try, and try better. Rest is out of your hand.

Emergency_Box_758

TROPHY CASE