Square interview chances (Senior SWE)

New
hacquiao

New

hacquiao
Oct 28, 2021 27 Comments

Just finished the onsite and feel pretty okay about it.
3 pair programming questions - Solved 3-4 parts for a couple of them but only one part on one of them. Interviewer did say I did it in a pretty efficient way, though

1 system design - this I feel the least confident in. Got a little flustered in the middle and we only covered some API/schema design and didn't get to more of the HLD components, though we did touch on them at the end. Feels like I whiffed this one

1 past tech Q/A - I feel really confident in this one: was able to describe a complex system for a project I was the lead on and felt really good about the answers I gave.

YOE: 5.5
Current TC: 105k

I know this Q is asked a lot, but I'm in my head about it and wanted to put my experience out there, lol.

Update (11/2):
Just got my feedback! Recruiter confirmed my feelings: pair programming sessions were my strongest, followed by past technical, followed by system design, which was mixed (the only not-positive session).
I've got two interested teams! Going to be meeting with them this week to match and then go to the hiring bar. Very excited!

Update (11/5):
Felt like both teams were pretty good fits but gave my preference for one, and recruiter said he's starting the process of getting my hiring bar review scheduled. Should hear back early next week.

Update (11/09):
I was offered L4 and accepted!

#square

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TOP 27 Comments
  • My two cents is that if you're shooting for L5 you probably won't get it with the weak system design round. If you get an offer it will probably be L4.
    Oct 28, 2021 1
    • New
      hacquiao

      New

      hacquiao
      OP
      That’s what I figure, too. Kicking myself since I know I can do better, but it is what it is
      Oct 28, 2021
  • Microsoft / Eng
    msemp1oyee

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    msemp1oyee
    What team?
    Oct 28, 2021 9
    • New
      hacquiao

      New

      hacquiao
      OP
      Looks like Restaurants and SaaS
      Nov 2, 2021
    • New
      hacquiao

      New

      hacquiao
      OP
      Alarm.com any tips for the team matching phase?
      Nov 2, 2021
  • What was the final offer from square ?
    Dec 6, 2021 3
  • Amazon
    Hssr57

    Go to company page Amazon

    Hssr57
    Did you get the final offer?
    Dec 6, 2021 1
    • New
      hacquiao

      New

      hacquiao
      OP
      Final offer:
      Base 128k
      RSU 240k / 4y
      Sign-on 10k
      TC 198k first year, 188k afterward

      Negotiated up slightly on base and equity from 125k and 230k respectively

      Overall pretty happy with it living in a LCOL area
      Dec 7, 2021
  • What kinda leetcode problems did you get ? Easy , medium , hard ?
    Oct 28, 2021 2
    • New
      hacquiao

      New

      hacquiao
      OP
      One was an LC medium, the other two felt like easy with one leaning toward medium

      Hard to compare them to LC since they do try to avoid those kinds of questions and in my experience succeeded at that. Positive experience there all around
      Oct 28, 2021
    • Thanks for your response. Good luck bud !
      Oct 28, 2021