Do freshers need system design?

In most cases, freshers (recent graduates or those with limited experience) are not typically expected to have deep system design knowledge during job interviews, especially for entry-level positions. However, as they gain more experience or aspire to work at larger tech companies, having a basic understanding of system design can be advantageous.

Why Freshers May Not Need System Design:

1. Focus on Fundamentals:

   • For entry-level roles, companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon typically emphasize data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving during interviews. The expectation is that freshers have a solid foundation in these areas rather than advanced system design knowledge.

2. Limited Real-World Exposure:

   • Freshers often lack exposure to designing large-scale systems because their academic projects usually involve small-scale applications. System design tends to be more relevant for engineers with 2-3 years of experience, as they start working on larger, more complex systems.

Why Basic Knowledge Can Help:

1. Large Tech Companies:

   • Some big companies, such as Google, Amazon, and Meta, may ask freshers basic system design questions, especially if they are applying for a backend or infrastructure engineering role. These questions are often simpler and focus on understanding key concepts like scalability and database choices.

2. Career Growth:

   • Understanding system design concepts early on can give freshers an edge in career progression. As they move to mid-level roles, system design becomes more critical in day-to-day responsibilities, and companies will expect them to contribute to or lead architectural discussions.

Conclusion:

While freshers are generally not required to have in-depth system design knowledge, gaining a basic understanding of key concepts can be helpful, especially for larger tech companies. Focusing primarily on data structures, algorithms, and coding proficiency should remain the priority for most entry-level candidates.