Software engineer mock interview
Free Mock Interview for Software Engineers
Practice SDE and software engineer interviews with AI voice questions, optional DSA coding rounds, and scored feedback. Built for campus placements and off-campus SDE-1 / intern roles in India.
Hiring notes
- Most SDE screens test communication + one deep project + DSA fundamentals.
- Speak complexity (time/space) before diving into code.
- Pair Easy/Medium PYQs at /pyqs before enabling Hard coding in the mock.
- Keep answers structured: approach → edge cases → complexity → trade-offs.
Sample interview questions
Practice these aloud in Apply's mock interview room — speaking beats reading. Pair with PYQs before enabling coding rounds.
Intro
Walk me through a project you are proud of as a software engineer.
Tip: Problem, your ownership, stack, one hard bug, and measurable outcome if true.
DSA
Given an array of integers, find two numbers that add up to a target.
Tip: Hash map O(n); mention sorting two-pointer alternative.
CS fundamentals
Explain REST vs GraphQL and when you would choose each.
Tip: Caching, over-fetching, and team familiarity.
Behavioral
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate on a design.
Tip: Stay respectful; show data or prototypes; end with the decision and learning.
System design lite
Design a URL shortener for a college fest with 10k users.
Tip: API, hash IDs, storage, and basic scaling — keep it fresher-level.
Coding
Write a function to detect a cycle in a linked list.
Tip: Floyd’s tortoise and hare; discuss false positives if needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free mock interview for software engineers on Apply?
Yes. Open /mock-interview/software-engineer or /dashboard/mock-interview, set role to Software Engineer or SDE, and practice free after Google sign-in.
Should software engineer mocks include coding?
Yes for SDE tracks. Start with Easy coding after solving a few company PYQs, then raise difficulty. HR-only mocks help early if speaking is the weak link.
How many mock interviews should an SDE fresher do?
Aim for at least 8–12 focused sessions across two weeks before major drives — mix technical, HR, and one coding-enabled session every other day.