Are freshers asked system design questions?

For most tech companies, freshers (recent graduates or entry-level candidates) are typically not asked system design questions in interviews. Here’s why and what you can expect:

1. Focus on Coding and Problem-Solving for Freshers

Interviews for freshers primarily focus on coding skills, data structures, and algorithms. Companies want to assess problem-solving abilities, coding efficiency, and understanding of core concepts rather than large-scale system architecture.

2. System Design Questions are for Senior or Experienced Roles

System design questions are more common in interviews for mid-level and senior engineering roles, where candidates are expected to have experience in building and scaling systems. Freshers usually haven’t gained the experience necessary to design complex, scalable systems.

3. Exceptions: Basic Design Questions in Some Cases

In rare cases, a company might ask freshers a very high-level design question, typically as a bonus or exploratory question to see how they think. This might involve designing a simple feature or discussing how they would approach a problem in a simplified, conceptual way.

4. Building a Basic Understanding Can Still Be Helpful

While system design is not typically required, having a foundational understanding of core system concepts—such as client-server architecture, databases, and basic scalability principles—can be beneficial for growth in the tech industry. It might also set you apart from other freshers by showing your interest in learning.

In Summary: For freshers, it’s highly unlikely to encounter system design questions, as these are reserved for more experienced roles. Instead, focus on coding proficiency, problem-solving, and foundational technical skills.