[ OK ] d121739f-1784-43b1-adb0-cee111b83bf7 — full writeup
[ INFO ] category: Behavioral · Multiple Types difficulty: 5 freq: first seen: 2026-03-03
[5][MULTIPLE TYPES]AlgorithmsData StructuresBehavioral QuestionsSystem Design
$ cat problem.md
OpenAI — Software Engineer ❌ Failed
Level: Senior-Level
Round: Onsite · Type: Multiple Types · Difficulty: 5/10 · Duration: 180 min · Interviewer: Neutral
Topics: Algorithms, Data Structures, Behavioral Questions, System Design
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Interview date: 2026-01-18
Got offer: False
Summary
Round 1: Phone Screen
Question: Graph traversal problem + puzzle board question.
Round 2: Onsite
Question: Count machine tree problem + payment system design. Also standard cross-functional, behavioral, and presentation questions.
Details
Preparation Tips & Key Takeaways
What I Learned
- Ensure I am comfortable with standard data structures and algorithms.
- System design interviews require understanding of real-world systems.
- Practice behavioral questions to clearly articulate my experiences.
Recommended Preparation
Coding Practice
- Practice graph traversal algorithms.
- Review tree-based algorithms and their applications.
System Design
- Study payment system design principles.
- Understand the trade-offs in designing scalable systems.
Behavioral Questions
- Prepare STAR stories for common behavioral questions.
- Practice discussing my experiences in cross-functional environments.
Resources I Recommend
- LeetCode for coding practice.
- System Design Primer for system design concepts.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Not thoroughly understanding the problem before coding.
- Not considering scalability and fault tolerance in system design.