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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.
Opening
· 5 minWho is interviewing, how the round will run, and a question to settle the candidate in. The standard openingCoding Challenge
What this part is for
Purpose
Evaluate technical knowledge and problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios.
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!
What this line is for
Purpose
Provides positive reinforcement to the candidate, helping to build confidence and create a supportive atmosphere before moving into the final part of the interview.
Closing
· 5 minTheir questions for you, and what happens next. The standard closingSoftware 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 — 2 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 Coding Challenge, scoring against 13 observable signals, with follow-up prompts on both questions for going deeper where an answer is thin.
- How is the 60 min split up?
- 5 min opening, 50 min on 2 questions and 5 min closing. The questions take in Coding Challenge (50 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:
Hiring for this role?
Open this plan in Hirezen and make it a position in one click.
- Every interviewer runs the same script and marks the same signals.
- AI drafts the write-ups, and the debrief puts every read side by side.
- No ATS to set up first, and no bot in the call.
Free for your first open role.