SAP·Software Engineer·Technical Phone Screen·Intermediate

Intermediate

Jul 2026

Summary

Got a coding question at SAP for a software engineer role, pretty straightforward array filtering and string formatting task. Nothing too crazy but the output format tripped me up a bit.

Questions Asked (1)

Given an array of author objects (each with a full name and nationality), write a function that returns a sentence listing only the American authors, formatted like 'X, Y, and Z are American authors.'

Algorithms & Data Structures

Author's notes

Filtering was easy, the join logic with 'and' before the last name is where I fumbled a bit.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

First, clarify the input format and edge cases (e.g., empty array, no American authors). Then, iterate through the array, filter authors by nationality, and construct a grammatically correct sentence using proper comma and 'and' placement. Finally, discuss time and space complexity and potential optimizations.

Pro tip: Demonstrate attention to detail by handling edge cases like zero or one American author, and mention that you'd confirm the expected output format with the interviewer before coding.

1. Clarify requirements and edge cases

Ask about input format, expected output for zero/one American author, and whether nationality is a string like 'American' or a code. Confirm if the sentence should end with a period.

2. Filter American authors

Iterate through the array and collect full names of authors whose nationality is 'American'. Use a simple loop or array filter method.

3. Format the sentence

Join the names with commas and 'and' appropriately: for 0 names, return an empty string or a message; for 1 name, just the name; for 2 names, 'X and Y'; for 3+, 'X, Y, and Z'.

4. Analyze complexity and test

State that the solution is O(n) time and O(k) space where k is the number of American authors. Walk through test cases including empty array, no Americans, one American, and multiple Americans.

Key Points to Mention

Edge cases: empty array, no American authors, one American author, multiple American authors
String formatting: correct comma and 'and' placement (Oxford comma)
Time complexity: O(n) where n is the number of authors
Space complexity: O(k) where k is the number of American authors
Language-specific methods: e.g., filter, map, join in JavaScript or list comprehensions in Python
Readability and maintainability: clear variable names and modular code

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