Failed Meta Design Interview
Had the system design interview at Meta. Was asked the classic question to design Uber. Even though I practiced these type of questions for weeks before, my answer wasn’t enough. I think that I kept it too high-level around overall architecture, API, and DB schema - while the interviewer wanted me to deep dive into the geo-proximity cache data structure and the matching algorithm. It was for an L6 role. I’m pissed off from failing it, say something to cheer me up.
On the bright side you now know how important it is to ask the interviewer upfront which aspect of the design should be deep dived on and which should be surface level l
Yep. What confused and slightly mislead me is that he said at the beginning: “think as if you’re explaining the design to a Junior engineer”. So I spent too much time on covering many surface level aspects. Then I wasn’t left with enough time to actually dive into components.
He wanted you to actually dive into the matching algorithm? You mentioned Geohash but he wanted you to explain it/write it out? That sounds like a lot. Also was this product architecture or system design?
It was system design, not product architecture. I mentioned caching geo data of drivers in high level, but should have dived deeper there I think.
Yeah, that would likely have been the issue. Was this an E6 IC or manager role. Former would likely have an even higher bar.
geohash and going deep into that section is the meat of the interview. especially for l6 one should identify the most critical part of the design
good luck for your next interviews though
These mofos been writing crud apis and expecting everyone else to design the fkg linux kernel. They all fluked out in interviews and now acting like they are some fkg bigshots.
Did you have an engineer interview you or manager? I feel like the bar is likely higher for when an Eng interviews you.
Was this on-site or phone interview?
Virtual screening interview over zoom.
So, virtual screening for on-site or phone (initial ) round? If phone, did they tell you it will be system design or coding?