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Software Engineer interview questionsPair Programming round

A 60 min interview plan with a time-boxed script, what each question is for, and the signals to score against. Key skills: Collaboration, Coding, Problem Solving, Code Review, Pair Programming.

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Introduction

5 min
•

Hi, I’m [YOUR_NAME], and I’m a [YOUR_TITLE] at [COMPANY_NAME]. I’m excited to work with you on a coding challenge today.

•

Could you briefly share your experience with pair programming and what you enjoy about it?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess communication skills, experience with pair programming, and initial confidence.

Signals to score

  • Clear explanation of experience
  • Positive attitude towards collaboration
  • Specific examples provided
  • Understanding of pair programming benefits
  • Concise and organized response
  • Enthusiasm for teamwork

Follow-up questions

  • What do you find most beneficial about pair programming?
  • How do you handle disagreements during pair programming?
•

Great, thank you for sharing! Let's dive into the coding challenge.

Coding Challenge

50 min
•

Implement a function to merge two sorted arrays into a single sorted array. Given two sorted arrays, write a function that merges them into a single sorted array. The function should maintain the order of elements and handle arrays of different lengths. Examples: Input: arr1 = [1, 3, 5], arr2 = [2, 4, 6] Output: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Input: arr1 = [1, 2, 3], arr2 = [] Output: [1, 2, 3] Follow-Up Questions: - What is the time complexity of your solution? - How would you handle large input sizes?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess problem-solving, algorithm design, coding proficiency, and communication skills.

Signals to score

  • Clear understanding of the problem
  • Logical and structured approach
  • Explains thought process
  • Considers edge cases
  • Efficient, clean, well-formatted code
  • Tests and debugs the code effectively
  • Open to feedback and adjusts accordingly

Follow-up questions

  • Can you explain your thought process on how to approach the problem?
  • How do you plan to handle edge cases in your solution?
  • Can you walk me through your code and explain each step?
•

If you had more time, what would you change in your solution?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess the candidate's ability to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Signals to score

  • Recognizes limits in their original answer.
  • Points out clear areas to improve.
  • Suggests specific changes.
  • Talks about how changes could help performance.
  • Shares ideas clearly and logically.
  • Shows a desire to learn and improve.

Follow-up questions

  • What optimizations could be made to your solution?
  • How would you handle unexpected input?
•

Great job on the coding exercise!

Closing

5 min
•

Do you have any questions for me about the team or the company?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Gauge the candidate’s curiosity and interest in the role.

Signals to score

  • Thoughtful questions asked
  • Interest in company culture
  • Curiosity about growth expressed
  • Questions about role raised
  • Inquiries about team challenges
  • Engagement with responses shown
  • Desire to learn next steps
  • Focus on company values expressed

Follow-up questions

  • What interests you most about this team?
  • Are there any areas of the role you’d like to explore further?
•

Thank you for your time today. We’ll be in touch soon regarding the next steps.

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Interview Template
Position
Software Engineer
Round
Pair Programming for 60 min
Key skills
Collaboration, Coding, Problem Solving, Code Review, Pair Programming

Software Engineer interviews — common questions

Who is this Software Engineer interview plan for?
It is written for the interviewer, not the candidate: the hiring manager, engineer or panel member running the Pair Programming round for a Software Engineer role. It gives you a 60 min script to follow in the conversation — 4 questions with what each one is for and the signals to score against — so you are not writing the round from scratch the night before.
What does the Pair Programming round assess?
This round is focused on: Collaboration, Coding, Problem Solving, Code Review, Pair Programming. It works through Introduction, Coding Challenge and Closing, scoring against 27 observable signals, with follow-up prompts on all 4 questions for going deeper where an answer is thin.
How is the 60 min split up?
Introduction (5 min), Coding Challenge (50 min), Closing (5 min). The timings are there so the round stays on schedule and every candidate gets the same shape of interview — which is what makes two candidates comparable afterwards.
What other rounds should I run for a Software Engineer?

A single round does not cover a whole role. The other rounds in this library for a Software Engineer: