LendingClub·Data Scientist·Technical Phone Screen·Intermediate

Intermediate

Jul 2026Remote

Summary

Live SQL coding session for a risk analytics role at LendingClub. Pretty straightforward setup, one task on a loans table, and they watched you type in real time which adds a weird pressure even when the problem itself isn't that hard.

Questions Asked (1)

Given a loans table with columns for borrower ID, amount, and status, write a SQL query that returns each borrower's total loan amount for active loans only, sorted by borrower ID ascending.

Product Analytics & MetricsData Modeling

Author's notes

Not a hard question at all.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the table schema and the definition of 'active' loans, then write a SQL query that filters for active status, groups by borrower ID, sums the loan amounts, and orders by borrower ID. Explain each clause to demonstrate your thought process and ensure alignment with business definitions.

Pro tip: Always confirm the exact status values that count as 'active' (e.g., 'current', 'active', 'open') and consider edge cases like NULL statuses or borrowers with no active loans. This shows attention to data quality and business context.

1. Clarify requirements and schema

Ask about the table name, column names, and what 'active' means in this context. Confirm if there are any other filters needed, such as date ranges.

2. Identify necessary SQL clauses

Determine that you need SELECT, FROM, WHERE, GROUP BY, and ORDER BY. The WHERE clause filters active loans, GROUP BY aggregates per borrower, and ORDER BY sorts the result.

3. Write the query

Construct the SQL query: SELECT borrower_id, SUM(amount) AS total_active_loan_amount FROM loans WHERE status = 'active' GROUP BY borrower_id ORDER BY borrower_id ASC;

4. Validate and discuss edge cases

Mention potential issues like NULL amounts, borrowers with no active loans (they won't appear), and whether to include them with a LEFT JOIN or COALESCE. Also discuss performance considerations if the table is large.

Key Points to Mention

Use of WHERE clause to filter only active loans
GROUP BY borrower_id to aggregate loan amounts per borrower
SUM(amount) to calculate total loan amount
ORDER BY borrower_id ASC for sorting
Handling of NULL values in amount or status
Consideration of borrowers with no active loans (e.g., using LEFT JOIN from a borrowers table)

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