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Early-stage Startup·Software Engineer·Technical Phone Screen·Intermediate

IntermediateRejected
Jun 2026Remote

Summary

Interviewed at a company migrating a legacy system to Next.js and AWS. The interviewer made a point of banning AI use mid-session, which was a bit ironic given how I actually work day to day. No offer, but I got through the coding task without getting kicked out in the first five minutes, so I'll take that.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Live coding task: write a solution by hand, no external tools or AI assistance.

Algorithms & Data StructuresTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

Got through it.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the problem requirements and constraints, then outline a brute-force solution before optimizing. Think aloud to demonstrate your problem-solving process, and test your solution with edge cases.

Pro tip: In a live coding setting, prioritize clean, readable code over clever tricks; startups value maintainability and collaboration. Also, proactively discuss trade-offs between time and space complexity, showing you consider real-world constraints.

1. Understand and Clarify

Ask clarifying questions to confirm input/output formats, constraints, and edge cases. Restate the problem in your own words to ensure alignment.

2. Plan and Outline

Discuss a brute-force approach first, then propose an optimized solution. Outline the algorithm steps before writing code.

3. Code Incrementally

Write code in small, testable chunks, explaining your reasoning as you go. Use meaningful variable names and keep the structure clean.

4. Test and Debug

Walk through your code with a simple example, then test edge cases (empty input, large input, duplicates). Fix any issues found.

5. Analyze and Discuss

State the time and space complexity of your solution. Discuss potential improvements or alternative approaches, and trade-offs.

Key Points to Mention

  • Time and space complexity analysis of your solution
  • Edge cases and how your code handles them
  • Trade-offs between different approaches (e.g., brute-force vs. optimized)
  • Readability and maintainability of code
  • Potential scalability concerns for large inputs
  • Assumptions made and how you validated them

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.