Quicksell

Role: Backend Engineer

College: Not Specified (On-Campus)

Interview Date: June 24, 2024

Interview Type: On-Campus, Full-Time

Result: Selected

Difficulty: Medium-Hard

Rounds: 3 rounds

Topics Asked: JavaScript (Data Structures, Algorithms, optimization), SQL (medium to hard, complex joins, pagination), APIs, database management, startup interest, Postman.

Experience:

The entire interview process for the Backend Engineer role at QuickSell took place over two days and consisted of three rounds.

Round 1 (90 minutes): This initial round included 12 questions, divided into two sections. There were 6 JavaScript questions, ranging from easy to medium difficulty in data structures and algorithms, and 6 SQL questions, spanning from medium to hard in complexity. Only candidates who solved all the questions were allowed to advance to the next round.

Round 2 (60 minutes): This was a technical interview conducted by a current backend engineer at QuickSell. The session began with a brief introduction, followed by technical questions focused on APIs and database management. It also included a live coding segment where the candidate was asked to solve 3 JavaScript problems and 3 SQL queries while sharing their screen and working on VSCode. The JavaScript questions required optimization. The interviewer was supportive, helping to understand the problems, and the candidate successfully solved all questions.

Round 3 (60 minutes): This round was a mix of managerial and technical interviews conducted by the company's Vice President. It started with an introduction and a discussion about the candidate's interest in working at a startup. The technical portion involved an advanced SQL coding challenge related to APIs, focusing on various types of APIs and utilizing Postman. The SQL query was particularly demanding, involving complex joins and pagination, necessitating an advanced level of knowledge. Despite a few mistakes, the VP provided valuable hints and guidance. The interview concluded with a discussion about QuickSell's culture, office environment, and products. The VP was very approachable, and the overall experience was positive. The candidate was the only one from their college to be selected for any role.