Top 22 GEICO Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2024
Introduction
As a leading insurance provider in the United States, GEICO serves millions of policyholders, providing them with comprehensive insurance coverage and cutting-edge insurance solutions. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction, GEICO strives to provide continuous support to all of its customers 24 hours, 365 days a year.
To maintain this customer support, they need a reliable software system and design. Therefore, GEICO seeks skilled software engineers who can design and develop robust and efficient software systems to meet the company’s evolving needs and further technological advancements.
If you’re preparing for an interview for a software engineer position at GEICO, you’ve come to the right place. This guide provides commonly asked GEICO software engineer interview questions, complete with an example of how to answer each of them. Let’s delve into it!
GEICO Software Engineer Interview Process
The interview process for a software engineer position at GEICO may vary in duration and format but typically consists of multiple stages, each led by different teams with distinct objectives.
Application Screening and Recruiter Calls
Your interview process at GEICO begins with the recruitment team evaluating your application, which usually includes your cover letter and resume. During this phase, the hiring team assesses whether your qualifications and skills align with the job requirements.
If you meet their criteria, you’ll be invited to a call with one of the recruiters. The recruiter will discuss the details of your resume or cover letter and your career motivations and goals.
Technical Round
Next is the first technical round, which involves coding questions. You’ll need to demonstrate proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or C++. The questions are similar to those on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Interview Query.
In this stage, the interviewer wants to assess your algorithmic programming skills and ability to translate technical concepts into code.
System Design Round
In this round, you will be presented with a system design or architecture problem to evaluate your knowledge of software design principles and problem-solving abilities. Therefore, you need to not only provide a solution but also explain your thought process for addressing a specific use case.
You may be tasked with designing a software system for problems commonly encountered in the insurance domain. You’ll have some time to work on it independently before presenting your solutions to the interviewers.
Behavioral Round
The third technical round is the final interview for a software engineer position at GEICO. In this stage, you’ll encounter behavioral questions to evaluate your interpersonal and communication skills. You’ll also discuss your career aspirations and what you anticipate from your potential role at GEICO.
Commonly Asked GEICO Software Engineer Interview Questions
You will face questions in your software engineer interview covering topics from technical questions about data structures, algorithms, and system design to behavioral questions that delve deeper into your personality and work ethic. In this section, we’ll dive into typical technical and behavioral questions you’ll encounter in a GEICO software engineer interview.
1. How have you handled criticism of your work?
The ability to receive and respond positively to feedback is an important trait for a software engineer since you will collaborate with other colleagues daily. GEICO values employees open to learning and growth, receptive to feedback, and committed to continuous improvement and excellence in their work.
How to Answer
Begin by acknowledging the importance of receiving feedback and constructive criticism as an opportunity for learning, growth, and improvement in your work and performance. Then, highlight your approach to handling criticism by remaining calm, open-minded, and receptive. Also, express your willingness to understand the feedback well and collaborate with team members to implement the necessary changes and improvements.
Example
“Handling criticism of my work is an essential aspect of my professional growth and development as a software engineer. When receiving feedback, I remain calm, open-minded, and receptive. These traits are important for me to learn how I can improve and enhance the quality and efficiency of my work. I believe that constructive criticism is an opportunity for learning and growth, and I’m committed to continuous improvement and excellence in my work to contribute to the success and growth of the company.”
2. Why do you want to work with us?
This is a common behavioral question that most companies will ask in an interview. By asking this question, GEICO wants to assess your motivation, interest, and alignment with the company’s values, culture, and mission. They’re looking for candidates genuinely interested in the company, its products, services, and the opportunity to contribute to its success and growth.
How to Answer
Start by expressing your enthusiasm and passion for the role and the opportunity to contribute to the company’s success and growth. Research beforehand and mention the aspects of GEICO that appeal to you, such as its commitment to innovation, customer-centric approach, industry leadership, and supportive and collaborative work environment. Make sure that you highlight your alignment with GEICO’s values, mission, and goals.
Example
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with GEICO because of its reputation as an industry leader in car insurance, commitment to innovation, and customer-centric approach. I believe that my skills, knowledge, and experience align well with the role and the company’s goals, and I am eager to use them to make a positive impact and add value to the company and its customers.
I am looking for a challenging and rewarding role where I can contribute to the company’s success while learning and growing professionally. Working with GEICO is a perfect fit for my long-term career goals and aspirations, and I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of the team.”
3. What would you hope to achieve in the first six months after being hired?
This question evaluates your short-term goals, expectations, and aspirations for the role and your proactive approach to professional development and contribution to the organization. GEICO, like other companies, likes to hire candidates who are motivated, ambitious, and have a clear vision of their roles and responsibilities, enabling them to make a positive and impactful contribution to the company’s success.
How to Answer
Begin by outlining your objectives for the first six months, highlighting your commitment to understanding the company’s products, technologies, and processes and integrating into the team and culture. Also, express your desire to contribute to ongoing projects, deliver high-quality code, and collaborate effectively with team members.
Example
“In the first six months after being hired, my primary objectives would be to immerse myself in the company’s products, technologies, and development processes, and establish strong relationships with my team members and colleagues. I would seek to contribute to ongoing projects by delivering high-quality, efficient, and reliable code, and collaborating effectively with team members.
Also, I am eager to learn and adapt to new technologies, tools, and methodologies by participating in training, workshops, or any professional development opportunities to improve my skills, knowledge, and capabilities and stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in software engineering.”
4. Tell me about a time when your colleagues did not agree with your approach. What did you do to bring them into the conversation and address their concerns?
This question checks your ability to collaborate, communicate, and resolve conflicts in a professional and constructive manner. Working in a team environment is an essential aspect of a software engineer role at a big company like GEICO, and they’re looking for candidates who can work well with others, listen to different perspectives, and consider alternative solutions to achieve goals.
How to Answer
Start by briefly describing a past experience where your colleagues did not like your approach to a particular problem or project. Then, explain how you actively listened and encouraged open and honest communication to understand and address their concerns. Share how you considered their feedback and suggestions to find an alternative solution.
Example
“In a previous project, my colleagues and I disagreed on the approach to implementing a new feature. I proposed a solution that I believed would be more efficient and effective, but some team members had concerns about its feasibility and potential impact on the existing system. To address their concerns and bring them into the conversation, I organized a team meeting to discuss and evaluate the different perspectives and possible solutions. I actively listened to their concerns and collaborated with them to explore alternative approaches.
Through constructive discussion and collaboration, we reached a consensus and implemented a solution that met the project’s goals. This experience strengthened our sense of teamwork.”
5. What is the most constructive feedback you have received in your career?
As an aspiring software engineer, you need to be able to reflect on your professional growth, be self-aware, and be receptive to feedback. GEICO values continuous learning, adaptability, and a growth mindset in its employees, so understanding how you respond to and utilize constructive feedback is essential to assessing your adaptability and commitment to professional development.
How to Answer
Base your answer on time when you received constructive feedback from a colleague, manager, or mentor that significantly impacted your professional growth and development. Then, explain how you responded to the feedback, highlighting the actions you took to address the areas for improvement, enhance your skills, and incorporate the feedback into your work.
Example
“One of the most constructive pieces of feedback I received in my career was regarding my approach to problem-solving during a complex project. A colleague pointed out that while I was technically proficient, I often overlooked collaborating with team members and seeking their input, missing out on more comprehensive and innovative solutions.
I took this feedback seriously and began to engage with my teammates more, try to build a collaborative environment, and include their perspectives and ideas into my problem-solving approach. This change improved the quality of our project outcomes and enhanced teamwork, communication, and trust within the team.”
6. Given a table of bank transactions with columns id, transaction_value, and created_at representing the date and time for each transaction, how can you write a query to get the last transaction for each day?
If you’d like to become a software engineer at GEICO, make sure you understand databases and SQL to help build the pipeline for huge volumes of data.
How to Answer
Describe the SQL query to retrieve the required information from the table. In this case, the query should use the MAX() and GROUP BY functions to group the transactions by the date part of the created_at column and retrieve the last transaction for each day based on the datetime of the transaction.
Example
“To solve this problem, we group the transactions by the date part of the created_at column using the DATE() function and select the maximum datetime of the transaction for each day using the MAX() function. We also select the id and transaction_value columns in the output and order the transactions by datetime in ascending order to get the last transaction for each day. Below is the SQL query to solve this problem”
SELECT id, MAX(created_at) as created_at, transaction_value
FROM bank_transactions
GROUP BY DATE(created_at), id
ORDER BY created_at;
7. What do you know about superclass and subclass?
If you’d like to become a software engineer at any company, including GEICO, you need to be proficient in software engineering concepts, particularly object-oriented programming (OOP). Understanding the concepts of superclass and subclass is fundamental in OOP and can be crucial when dealing with codebases that use inheritance and polymorphism.
How to Answer
Start by explaining the terms “superclass” and “subclass” in object-oriented programming. A superclass, also known as a parent class or base class, is a class from which other classes, called subclasses or derived classes, inherit attributes and behaviors. Then, elaborate on the importance of these concepts in building modular and scalable code, especially in scenarios where code reuse and maintaining a clean codebase are essential.
Example
“In object-oriented programming (OOP), a superclass, also known as a parent class or base class, provides shared attributes and methods to other classes known as subclasses or derived classes. These subclasses inherit the properties and behaviors of the superclass and can extend or modify them to suit specific requirements.
This concept is fundamental in OOP as it promotes code reusability, scalability, and maintainability.“
8. You are given two lists: a full list and a missing list. The full list contains a list of integers, while the missing list contains all the integers from the full list except for one. How can you write a function that finds the missing element?
As an aspiring software engineer, demonstrate that you possess algorithmic programming skills. This question is asked to assess exactly that. The interviewer at GEICO wants to evaluate your ability to write clean, readable, and efficient code to solve common algorithmic problems that you’ll encounter daily.
How to Answer
Explain the concept of the problem and the task at hand, which is to find the missing element in the missing list. Then, describe the steps to create the function. The function should compute the sum of all elements in both lists and subtract the sum of the missing list from the sum of the full list to find the missing element.
Example
“To solve this problem, we need to compute the sum of all elements in the full list and subtract the sum of the missing list from it to find the missing element. The function then returns the missing element as the result.”
def one_element_removed(full, missing):
return sum(full) - sum(missing)
# Example usage:
full = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
missing = [1, 2, 3, 5]
print(one_element_removed(full, missing)) # Output: 4
full = [4, -6, 3, 10, 11, 150, 120]
missing = [4, -6, 3, 10, 11, 150]
print(one_element_removed(full, missing)) # Output: 120
full = [17, 11, 15, 19, 21, 11]
missing = [17, 15, 19, 21, 11]
print(one_element_removed(full, missing)) # Output: 11
9. What is the difference between a do-while and a while loop in a programming language?
This question evaluates your understanding of fundamental programming concepts. Loops and do-while loops are essential control flow mechanisms in programming, and a software engineer who has a solid understanding of control flow can help with efficient data pipeline and algorithm design.
How to Answer
Explain the basic functionality of a while loop, which tests the condition before the loop body is executed. Then, mention the functionality of a do-while loop, which checks the condition after the loop body is executed, ensuring that the loop body is executed at least once. Then, talk about the scenarios where one might be preferred over the other.
Example
“In programming, a while loop is a control flow statement that executes a block of code as long as the specified condition is true. The condition is tested before the loop body is executed, which means that if the condition is false initially, the loop will not execute at all. On the other hand, a do-while loop also iteratively executes a block of code based on a specified condition.
The primary difference between the two lies in the execution order: in a do-while loop, the condition is tested after the loop body is executed, ensuring that the loop body is executed at least once, regardless of the initial condition’s truth value.”
10. Given a list of integers, how can you write a function that returns the maximum number in the list?
This question is asked in a software engineer interview to assess your fundamental understanding of algorithmic programming and your ability to write efficient and clean code. Also, list is one of the most commonly used data structures out there, which means that you need to master the theory and application of it.
How to Answer
Begin by understanding the objective of the function, which is to find the maximum number in a given list of integers. Then, describe the steps to create the find_max function: The function should initialize a variable to store the maximum value, iterate through the list to update this variable whenever a larger number is found, and return the maximum value at the end of the iteration. Also, remember to handle the case where the list is empty by returning None.
Example
“To solve this problem, we initialize max_num with the first element of the list. We then iterate through the list, updating max_num whenever a larger number is encountered. Finally, we return max_num as the maximum number in the list. If the list is empty, the function returns None.”
def find_max(nums):
if not nums:
return None
max_num = nums[0]
for num in nums:
if num > max_num:
max_num = num
return max_num
nums1 = [1, 7, 3, 5, 6]
print(find_max(nums1)) # Output: 7
nums2 = []
print(find_max(nums2)) # Output: None
11. How do you test if the software that you develop works correctly?
A fundamental knowledge of software testing and methodologies is essential for aspiring software engineers. This is because software testing is a critical aspect of the software development lifecycle, ensuring that the developed software meets the required specifications and performs as expected. A big company like GEICO has complex software systems, and you need to be able to implement effective testing strategies.
How to Answer
Start by discussing the importance of testing in the software development process and the different levels of testing (unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing). Explain the specific testing methodologies and tools you use, such as unit testing frameworks (e.g. JUnit for Java) and integration testing tools. Also, emphasize using manual and automated testing to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Example
“Testing is a critical phase in the software development lifecycle to ensure the reliability and functionality of the developed software. To test the software that I develop, I employ a combination of manual and automated testing approaches. I start with unit testing using frameworks like JUnit for Java to validate the correctness of individual units or components of the software. Following this, I perform integration testing to ensure that the combined parts of the software work together as expected.
Also, I conduct system testing to validate the entire system’s behavior against the specified requirements and acceptance criteria.”
12. How can you write a Python function that takes a list of strings as input and returns a list of lists, where each inner list contains a group of anagrams present in the input list?
Data structures and algorithms are essential topics that you need to master if you want to become a software engineer at GEICO. This question tests your skills in one particular data structure, a list. They also want to see your algorithmic programming skills and ability to write code with efficient time and space complexity.
How to Answer
Begin by introducing the objective of the function, which is to group the given list of strings into lists of anagrams. Next, describe the steps to create the function. The function should initialize a dictionary to hold the groups of anagrams, where the keys are the sorted versions of the words and the values are the lists of anagrams. Iterate through the input list of words, sort each word to find its key in the dictionary, and append the word to the corresponding list in the dictionary. Finally, return the values of the dictionary as the list of lists containing the grouped anagrams.
Example
“To solve the problem, we first need to initialize an empty dictionary. We then iterate through the input list of words, sorting each word to find its corresponding key in the dictionary. If the key exists, we append the word to the corresponding list in the dictionary; otherwise, we create a new list with the word as its first element. Finally, we return the values of the dictionary as the list of lists containing the grouped anagrams, with each inner list sorted alphabetically.”
def group_anagrams(words):
anagram_dict = {}
for word in words:
sorted_word = ''.join(sorted(word))
if sorted_word in anagram_dict:
anagram_dict[sorted_word].append(word)
else:
anagram_dict[sorted_word] = [word]
return [sorted(anagram_list) for anagram_list in anagram_dict.values()]
words = ["eat", "tea", "tan", "ate", "nat", "bat"]
print(group_anagrams(words))
13. Can you explain the Single Responsibility Principle and its significance in software design?
Design pattern is also a critical topic to master before applying for a software engineer position at GEICO. This is because, as a leading insurance company, GEICO focuses on building robust and maintainable software systems, and expertise in design principles is crucial to ensure the scalability, maintainability, and reliability of its software applications.
How to Answer
Explain the Single Responsibility Principle (SRP), which dictates that a class or module should have only one responsibility or reason to change. Next, discuss the significance of SRP in software design, such as improving code maintainability, enhancing code reusability, and reducing the risk of introducing defects when making changes.
Example
“The Single Responsibility Principle (SRP) is a fundamental principle in object-oriented design, suggesting that a class or module should have only one responsibility or reason to change. This principle is significant in software design as it improves code maintainability, enhances code reusability, and reduces the risk of introducing defects when making changes.
For example, by separating the data access and business logic into distinct classes, it becomes easier to modify the data access layer without impacting the business logic and vice versa. This separation of concerns simplifies testing, debugging, and maintaining the codebase, leading to more maintainable and scalable software systems.”
14. How can you write a function that returns a boolean indicating if the target value is in the linked list or not?
A linked list is a data structure commonly used in real-world applications. This question evaluates your ability to navigate and search within it.
How to Answer
Start by clarifying the objective of the function, which is to determine whether the target value exists in the given linked list. Then, discuss how you would solve the problem. The function should iterate through the linked list, comparing each node’s value to the target value. If the target value is discovered, the function should return True; otherwise, if the end of the list is reached without finding the target, it should return False. Make sure to also handle the scenario where the linked list is empty by checking if the head node is None.
Example
“To solve this problem, we initiate current_node with the head of the linked_list. We then traverse the linked list by advancing current_node to its next node in each iteration, examining whether the value of the current_node matches the target value. If a match is identified, the function returns True. If the end of the list is reached without finding the target, the function returns False. Below is the Python function:”
def search_list(target, linked_list):
current_node = linked_list
while current_node is not None:
if current_node['value'] == target:
return True
current_node = current_node['next']
return False
target = 2
linked_list = {'value': 3, 'next': {'value': 2, 'next': {'value': 5, 'next': {'value': 6, 'next': {'value': 8, 'next': None}}}}}
print(search_list(target, linked_list)) # Output: True
15. How can design patterns help with refactoring the current codebase?
This question also checks your understanding and application of design patterns in software development. Design patterns are proven solutions to common software design problems that facilitate code reuse, maintainability, and scalability. Relevant since GEICO prioritizes the development of robust and maintainable software systems.
How to Answer
Start by explaining design patterns and their role in software development. Next, discuss how design patterns can help with refactoring the current codebase by identifying and encapsulating common functionalities and structures into reusable patterns. Provide examples of specific design patterns and explain how they can be applied to refactor and improve the existing codebase.
Example
“Design patterns can significantly help in refactoring the current codebase by providing proven solutions to common design problems. For example, the singleton pattern can be used to ensure a single instance of a class, eliminating unnecessary object creation and reducing memory consumption. Another example is the observer pattern, which can be applied to implement event handling and notification mechanisms, facilitating decoupling between components and improving the flexibility and extensibility of the codebase.
By identifying and encapsulating common functionalities and structures into reusable patterns, design patterns simplify the code, reduce code duplication, and enhance the overall quality and maintainability of the software.”
16. Let’s say you have a list of integers. Assume that the list can contain both positive and negative numbers, and the order of the list does not matter. A number is considered a duplicate if it appears more than once in the list. How can you identify all the duplicate values in the list?
At GEICO, software engineers frequently work with customers’ data; therefore, the ability to efficiently identify and manipulate duplicate values is crucial. This question helps to gauge your proficiency in working with lists and using logic to identify duplicate values.
How to Answer
Outlinine the steps you would take to solve the problem, such as by creating an empty set to store unique numbers and another set to store duplicate numbers. Then, iterate through the list, and for each number encountered, check if it is already present in the unique set. If it is, add it to the duplicate set; otherwise, add it to the unique set. Finally, return the list of numbers from the duplicate set.
Example
“To solve the problem, we utilize two sets: unique_nums to store unique numbers encountered in the list and duplicate_nums to store duplicate numbers. We iterate through the list, checking to see if each number is present in the unique_nums set. If it is, the number is added to the duplicate_nums set; otherwise, it is added to the unique_nums set. Finally, we return the list of numbers from the duplicate_nums set as the result.”
def find_duplicates(nums):
unique_nums = set()
duplicate_nums = set()
for num in nums:
if num in unique_nums:
duplicate_nums.add(num)
else:
unique_nums.add(num)
return list(duplicate_nums)
nums1 = [1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3]
print(find_duplicates(nums1)) # Output: [1, 2, 3]
nums2 = [1, -1, 2, 3, 3, -1]
print(find_duplicates(nums2)) # Output: [-1, 3]
nums3 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
17. What do you know about load balancing and its importance in system design?
System design is something you also need to know when applying for a software engineer position at GEICO. Load balancing is critical to system design, especially for a big company like GEICO that relies on large-scale applications and services to ensure optimal resource utilization, high availability, and efficient request processing.
How to Answer
Begin by explaining the concept of load balancing, highlighting its role in distributing incoming network traffic or workload across multiple servers or resources to prevent any single resource from becoming overwhelmed and to ensure optimal resource utilization and high availability. Then, discuss the significance of load balancing in system design, and emphasize its ability to enhance system performance, reliability, and scalability by efficiently handling user requests and traffic spikes, minimizing response time, and preventing system failures or downtime.
Example
“Load balancing is a critical concept in system design that involves distributing incoming network traffic or workload across multiple servers or resources to prevent any single resource from becoming overwhelmed and to ensure optimal resource usage, high availability, and efficient request processing. In system design, load balancing plays a crucial role in enhancing system performance, reliability, and scalability by efficiently handling user requests and traffic spikes, minimizing response time, and preventing system failures or downtime.
For example, popular load balancing algorithms and techniques, such as round-robin, least-connection, and weighted distribution, work to evenly distribute incoming requests and optimize resource usage by directing requests to the most available or least busy server.”
18. Given a list of strings, write a Python program to check whether each string has all the same characters or not. What is the complexity of this program?
This question is presented in a GEICO software engineer interview to evaluate your ability to design efficient algorithms to solve problems.
How to Answer
Begin by describing the steps to construct the solution, such as iterating through each string in the list and then comparing each character in the string with the first character to determine if they are all identical. If a character is found and it does not match the first character, return False, indicating that the string does not consist of all the same characters. If the end of the string is reached without finding a mismatch, return True. Also, don’t forget to mention the time complexity of the solution.
Example
“To solve this problem, we iterate through each string in the string_list. We compare each character in the string with the first character using a generator expression and the all() function. If a character is found and it does not match the first character, the function returns False. If the end of the string is reached without finding a mismatch, the function returns True. The time complexity of this solution is O(n*m), where n is the number of strings in the list and m is the average length of the strings.”
def check_same_characters(string_list):
for string in string_list:
if not all(char == string[0] for char in string):
return False
return True
string_list = ['bbbbb', 'abc', 'aaaaaaaab']
print(check_same_characters(string_list)) # Output: False
19. How is sharding different from partitioning?
This question is asked to check your understanding of database management and scalability concepts. Both sharding and partitioning are techniques used to distribute and manage large datasets across multiple servers or nodes to improve performance, availability, and scalability. As GEICO deals with a vast amount of data, understanding the differences between sharding and partitioning is crucial for optimizing database performance and designing scalable data storage solutions.
How to Answer
Define and explain partitioning by highlighting its role in dividing a database or table into smaller, more manageable segments based on specific criteria. Then, discuss the concept of sharding by emphasizing its role in horizontally distributing a database across multiple servers, nodes, or clusters to improve data distribution, enhance data access, and increase system scalability and availability.
Example
“Partitioning involves dividing a database or table into smaller, more manageable segments or partitions based on specific criteria, such as range, hash, or list. Partitioning is important to improve query performance, optimize data retrieval, and enhance data management and maintenance within a single database or system.
On the other hand, sharding is a technique used to horizontally distribute or partition a database or dataset across multiple servers, nodes, or clusters. This technique is particularly useful for improving data distribution, enhancing data access, and increasing system scalability and availability. Sharding can improve all those things by reducing the load on individual servers and distributing data processing across multiple servers.”
20. You’re given a string that may contain a curly bracket, a square bracket, or a parenthesis. A balanced string is one where every opening character has a corresponding closing character. How can you write a function to verify that the string is balanced?
This question is asked in a GEICO software engineer interview to assess your understanding of string manipulation and your ability to design and implement algorithms to solve string-related problems. A software engineer at GEICO will often be dealing with scenarios that validate string patterns or structures, such as parsing data or validating user inputs.
How to Answer
Explain the steps to solve the problem, such as initializing an empty stack, iterating through each character in the string, and pushing opening characters onto the stack. When encountering a closing character, pop the top character from the stack and check if it matches the corresponding opening character. If the stack is empty at the end of the iteration, return True to indicate that the string is balanced. Otherwise, return False. Also, mention the time complexity of the solution.
Example
“To solve this problem, we initialize an empty stack to keep track of the opening characters. We also define a dictionary mapping to map closing characters to their corresponding opening characters. Next, we iterate through each character in the string and, for opening characters, push them onto the stack.
For closing characters, we pop the top character from the stack and compare it with the corresponding opening character using the mapping dictionary. If they do not match or if the stack is empty, the function returns False. At the end of the iteration, if the stack is empty, the function returns True. The time complexity of this program is O(n), where n is the length of the input string.”
def is_balanced(string: str) -> bool:
stack = []
mapping = {")": "(", "}": "{", "]": "["}
for char in string:
if char in mapping.values():
stack.append(char)
elif char in mapping.keys():
if not stack or stack.pop() != mapping[char]:
return False
return len(stack) == 0
# Example usage:
print(is_balanced('(())[]{}')) # Output: True
print(is_balanced('{([(){}])()}')) # Output: True
print(is_balanced('{}[]())')) # Output: False
21. Suppose you are given a matrix of integers. Your task is to write a function that returns the sum of the elements in the matrix.
This question is likely asked in a GEICO Software Engineer interview to assess your ability to handle basic data structures and manipulate them using algorithms.
How to Answer
We can solve this problem by simply iterating over all the elements in the matrix and adding them up.
In Python, we can use the built-in sum function along with list comprehension to achieve this in a single line of code. In R, we can use the sum() function to add all the elements of the matrix.
Example
“To solve this problem, I would iterate through each element in the matrix, summing them as I go. In Python, I could leverage list comprehension with the built-in sum function to accomplish this efficiently in one line of code. In R, I would use the sum function directly on the matrix. The approach should have a time complexity of O(nm) because I need to visit each element once, and the space complexity remains O(1) since I’m only using minimal extra space to store the running total.”*
22. Write a Python function called max_profit that takes a list of integers, where the i-th integer represents the price of a given stock on day i, and returns the maximum profit you can achieve by buying and selling the stock.
The problem is a classic example of a dynamic programming challenge, where you must determine the optimal time to buy and sell a stock to maximize profit. It tests your ability to efficiently analyze data, implement an optimal solution, and understand edge cases.
How to Answer
When answering, focus on explaining the core logic: buy1 tracks the lowest price for the first transaction, and profit1 captures the maximum profit after it. Then, buy2 adjusts for the second transaction by considering the first profit, and profit2 tracks the overall maximum profit. Highlight how the code efficiently updates these variables in a single pass through the prices list, ensuring the best possible profit with up to two transactions.
Example
“In this solution, I would approach the problem by keeping track of the lowest price I could buy the stock at and the maximum profit I could make after one transaction. Then, I would extend this logic to allow for a second transaction, adjusting the purchase price by factoring in the profit from the first sale. This way, I could efficiently calculate the maximum profit achievable with up to two transactions by iterating through the prices just once.”
How to Prepare for a Software Engineer Interview at GEICO
As illustrated by the list of questions in the previous section, the interview process for a software engineer position at GEICO demands a strong foundational knowledge of both technical and behavioral skills. To enhance your chances of getting hired, convincingly demonstrate you possess these skills. In this section, we provide several tips to give you a competitive advantage over other candidates.
Research GEICO’s Core Business
Before submitting your application, research GEICO’s mission, values, and the specific nuances of the insurance industry. Familiarize yourself with GEICO’s insurance solutions and how they use technology to optimize their business.
You can visit GEICO’s website to learn about all the insurance solutions they offer. Each type of insurance has its own page where you can learn more.
Brush-Up Technical Skills
If you’re applying as a software engineer, expect to encounter a diverse set of questions during each round. As mentioned, technical questions take up a significant portion of the interviews. So, refreshing your knowledge of fundamental software engineering is essential before the interview process.
At Interview Query, we offer multiple learning paths to assist you in refining your software engineering expertise, including programming languages and data structures learning paths.
In the first technical interview round, you’ll need to tackle coding questions that test your proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or SQL. To help you prepare, we offer programming language-specific learning paths for programs such as Python and SQL. To improve your ability to solve algorithmic questions, check out the question banks available on our platform.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the breadth of subjects you need to cover, one strategy is to carefully read the job description. This will help you choose your learning paths so you learn the relevant topics for the interview.
Build Personal Portfolio
A desirable trait of a software engineer is a commitment to continuous learning, particularly in the domain of the company to which you’re applying. A well-developed portfolio grabs a recruiter’s attention from the get-go. To further distinguish yourself from other candidates, demonstrate enthusiasm for GEICO by undertaking a personal project—if possible, one relevant to their core business.
A personal project showcases your eagerness to contribute value to GEICO. It can also serve as an engaging discussion point during your interview and improve your problem-solving abilities as you need to implement various software engineering concepts throughout the project.
To hone your problem-solving skills and for ideas on conducting an independent project, explore our take-home challenges.
Practice Your Communication Skills
In addition to technical skills, practicing your communication abilities is vital. You’ll encounter a system design or architecture problem in one of the interview rounds, and you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to dissect a problem and articulate your thought process succinctly.
To practice your communication skills, consider participating in a mock interview with your peers. In a mock interview, you’ll have the opportunity to explain concepts and walk people through your thought process in solving a problem. We know that finding a peer for a mock interview can be challenging since few have the same passion for software engineering, making it difficult to receive constructive feedback.
To overcome this challenge, we made a mock interview service available on our platform. There, you’ll be connected with like-minded software engineering enthusiasts with whom you can exchange feedback, improving your interview performance.
Also, if you’d prefer to have a personal mentor to help you prepare for your software engineer interview, feel free to check out our coaching service.
FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions by individuals interested in working as a software engineer at GEICO.
How much do software engineers at GEICO make in a year?
Average Base Salary
Average Total Compensation
The base pay for a software engineer position at GEICO ranges from $77,000 to $155,000, depending on your work experience. In comparison, the average base pay for a software engineer position in the industry is around $62,000 to $197,000.
Where can I read more about people’s interview experiences for a software engineer position at GEICO here on Interview Query?
Currently, we do not have a dedicated section for interview experiences specific to a software engineer position at GEICO. However, you can engage with fellow software engineering enthusiasts or people who pursue software-related roles in the IQ Slack community to gain insights and tips.
Does Interview Query have job postings for GEICO’s software engineer position?
We do not directly list job postings for software engineer positions at GEICO. If you want to explore the most recent openings for software engineers or other software-related roles at GEICO, we recommend visiting their official career page.
Conclusion
In this guide, you’ve seen common interview questions in software engineer interviews at GEICO. As mentioned, you’ll need to demonstrate you possess the essential skills for the position, both technical and behavioral. Beyond the interview questions and tips presented in this guide, you can further refine your technical and interpersonal skills through the plethora of resources available on our platform.
If you’re keen on understanding the interview processes for other tech-related roles at GEICO, we’ve got you covered. Check out our GEICO guides for data analyst and data scientist interviews.
We hope this article helps you prepare for the software engineer interview at GEICO. If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact us on our platform!