Byte Dance

Role: Backend Software Engineer

College: BS Computer Engineer

Interview Date: November 2020

Interview Type: Full-Time

Result: Offer

Difficulty: Hard

Rounds: 3 Technical, 1 HR

Topics Asked: Data Structures (Tree, Graph), Algorithms, Distributed Systems, System Design, Behavioral

Experience:

This candidate had approximately 2 years of experience and interviewed for a Backend Software Engineer role in Singapore. The interview process was described as fast, and both interviewers and recruiters were very nice.

• Technical Interview 1: Included a LeetCode hard problem about Trees. The candidate solved it optimally. A second problem, a LeetCode medium, was initially solved in O(N^2) but with interviewer guidance, an O(N) solution was achieved and coded.
• Technical Interview 2: Involved a discussion on Distributed Systems, with many challenges from this topic. Behavioral questions about passion, motivation, and "why TikTok" were also asked.
• Technical Interview 3: Focused on a System Design question. The candidate discussed their solution design.
• HR Interview: Not detailed, but typically covers compensation, benefits, and cultural fit.

The overall experience was positive, leading to an offer.