I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at IBM (New York, NY) in May 2017
Interview
This was in the middle of 2017.
They rescheduled THREE times for the initial technical phone screen. Interviewer was late for technical in-person interview at a coffeeshop. Long wait times all around, and they seemed to be more learning about what I was doing rather than testing me. They asked a lot of questions about design choices and specifics about the tech stacks I worked with like they hadn't really heard of them. Finally, the recruiter asked me to come to an onsite after that last in-person interview and later said that she forgot I had already met someone in person but that I should come in anyway. I'm sure some of these aspects have changed by now, but the process was very messy.
Applied through the company portal, completed an online coding assessment, followed by a technical interview covering data structures, algorithms, OOP concepts, and project experience. Concluded with an HR discussion about the role, career goals, availability, and compensation expectations.
## IBM Interview Process
The process began with initial resume shortlisting, followed by competitive **DSA and coding rounds** to test core technical concepts. After clearing those, I cleared two comprehensive interviews with the **Hiring Manager/Tech Expert** and **HR**.
Describe the interview process: The process consisted of three rounds: an initial online assessment focusing on data structures and algorithms, followed by two technical video interviews. The technical rounds were intensive, covering system design, live coding, and deep-dive questions into previous project experience and database optimization.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Design a scalable URL shortener system and explain how you would handle high read/write throughput.