Webmd Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

WebMD Health stands as the premier provider of health information services. It serves consumers, physicians, healthcare professionals, employers, and health plans through various platforms including WebMD Health, Medscape, and MedicineNet. Renowned for offering credible and engaging health and wellness information, WebMD is a trusted source in the healthcare industry.

As a Software Engineer in WebMd, you will be a part of a dynamic team that develops and maintains sophisticated, large-scale web applications. In this role, you will utilize your expertise in technologies like C#, .NET, SQL, and JavaScript frameworks such as Vue.js or React. The position demands a strong understanding of software development, debugging, deployment tools, and agile processes.

In this guide, we will walk you through the process with insights, common WebMD software engineer questions, and expert tips to help you succeed in your interview.

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority; however, you can expect the following on a Webmd software engineer interview:

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

Once your CV is shortlisted, a recruiter from WebMD will contact you to verify key details about your experience and skill set. This initial screening may include behavioral questions as well as a brief discussion about your technical expertise.

In some instances, the hiring manager may participate in the screening call to address any queries you might have about the role and the company. The call typically lasts around 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will earn you an invitation to the technical screening round, which is conducted virtually through a video call. This 45-minute interview generally focuses on coding and some Java questions, as well as algorithms and data structures. Topics like bubble sort and basic questions about CSS may also be covered.

Depending on the nature of the role, there could also be questions about real-scenario problems, design patterns, and JavaScript.

Onsite Interview

If you pass the technical virtual interview, you will be invited for onsite interviews at WebMD’s office. The onsite interview process involves multiple rounds and usually lasts the better part of a day. At this stage, you may encounter both technical and behavioral questions.

Technical questions may revolve around specific tools and technologies like ASP.Net, Vb.Net, C#, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You may also be evaluated on your familiarity with CI/CD processes, SQL Server, and frameworks like React.js or Vue.js. HR discussions and interactions with team members will be woven throughout the day.

Typically, interviews at WebMD vary by role and team, but common software engineer interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. Write a program to determine the term frequency (TF) values for each term in a document.

Given a text document in the form of a string, write a program to determine the term frequency (TF) values for each term in the document. Round the term frequency to 2 decimal points.

2. Write a function get_ngrams to return a dictionary of n-grams and their frequency in a given string.

Write a function get_ngrams to take in a word (string) and return a dictionary of n-grams and their frequency in the given string.

3. Write a function to return the sum of the elements in a matrix.

Suppose you are given a matrix of integers. Write a function that returns the sum of the elements in the matrix. The function should handle both positive and negative integers and return the sum as an integer.

4. Write a function to find the nearest common ancestor of two nodes in a binary tree.

Given a binary tree of unique positive numbers and two nodes as input, write a function to return the value of the nearest node that is a parent to both nodes. If one of the nodes doesn’t exist in the tree, return -1.

5. Write a function to add together all combinations of adjacent integers in a string of integers.

Write a Python function that adds together all combinations of adjacent integers of a given string of integers named int_str.

6. How would you set up an A/B test for button color and position changes in a sign-up funnel?

A team wants to A/B test multiple changes in a sign-up funnel, such as changing a button from red to blue and/or moving it from the top to the bottom of the page. How would you set up this test?

7. How could you promote Instagram through Facebook?

You work on the growth team at Facebook and are tasked with promoting Instagram from within the Facebook app. Where and how could you promote Instagram through Facebook?

8. What metrics, graphs, or models would you use to analyze churn behavior for different pricing plans?

You work for a company like Netflix, which has two pricing plans: $15/month or $100/year. An executive wants you to analyze the churn behavior of users subscribed to either plan. What kinds of metrics, graphs, or models would you build to provide an overarching view of subscription performance?

9. What analysis would you run for an A/B test with non-normal distribution at Uber Fleet?

Uber Fleet has low data for experimentation, and you find that the distribution is not normal in an A/B test. What kind of analysis would you run, and how would you measure which variant won?

10. What retention rate is required to surpass revenue from a non-subscription price?

You sell an e-commerce product for $29 with a 50% per unit margin. You want to switch to a monthly subscription model offering a 20% discount on the retail price. What retention rate would be required to surpass the revenue from the non-subscription price?

11. How would you explain what a p-value is to someone who is not technical?

Explain the concept of a p-value in simple terms to a non-technical person, focusing on its role in determining the significance of results in experiments or studies.

12. What could be the cause of the decrease in overall capital approval rates?

Analyze why the overall capital approval rate dropped from 85% to 82% despite individual product approval rates staying flat or increasing. Consider factors like changes in the mix of products or external influences.

13. What is the probability that both flips result in the same side with one fair and one biased coin?

Calculate the probability that two flips of a randomly selected coin (one fair, one biased with ³⁄₄ heads) result in the same side.

14. What is the percentage chance a review is actually fake when the algorithm detects it as fake?

Given that 98% of reviews are legitimate and 2% are fake, and the algorithm’s accuracy rates, calculate the probability that a review is fake when identified as such by the algorithm.

15. What kind of analysis would you run for non-normal distribution in an AB test with low data at Uber Fleet?

Determine the appropriate analysis method for an AB test with non-normal distribution and low data volume at Uber Fleet, and explain how to measure which variant won.

16. What metrics would you use to track the accuracy and validity of a spam classifier for emails?

Assume you have built a V1 of the model. What metrics would you use to evaluate its accuracy and validity?

17. When would you use a bagging algorithm versus a boosting algorithm?

Compare two machine learning algorithms. Provide examples of the tradeoffs between using a bagging algorithm and a boosting algorithm.

18. What are the assumptions of linear regression?

List and explain the assumptions that must be met for linear regression to be valid.

19. How would you build a restaurant recommender on Facebook?

Describe how you would gather data and build a restaurant recommender system on Facebook. Discuss potential downfalls or concerns with adding this feature.

20. How would you design the YouTube video recommendation algorithm?

Explain how you would design a recommendation system for YouTube videos. What important factors should be considered when building this algorithm?

Here are some specific tips to help you ace your WebMD Software Engineer interview:

1. Understand WebMD’s Technology Stack: Brush up on technologies commonly used at WebMD, such as C#, .Net Core, JavaScript frameworks (Vue.js, React, or Angular), and SQL. Understanding the company’s tech stack will go a long way.

2. Familiarize Yourself with Healthcare Industry Software: Since WebMD operates in the healthcare sector, having knowledge about healthcare-specific software and compliance standards can give you an edge.

3. Prepare for Practical Coding Challenges: Be ready to solve coding problems related to algorithms, data structures, and optimizing existing methods. Practicing on Interview Query will prepare you well for these challenges.

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at WebMD?

According to Glassdoor, the salary of a software engineer at WebMD ranges from $106K to $150K/yr, with an average of $126k/yr

What technologies should I be familiar with for a Software Engineer role at WebMD?

Knowledge in .NET framework (.NET Core), frontend frameworks like Vue.js, React, or Angular, as well as backend systems, APIs, and databases like Postgres or MS SQL Server is essential. Being proficient in C#, JavaScript, and having experience in Agile processes are also crucial.

What is the company culture like at WebMD?

WebMD promotes a collaborative and inclusive work environment. The team is generally friendly, and the company is flexible about its tech stack. While the workload can include after-hours on-call duties, WebMD provides opportunities for learning and professional growth.

How can I prepare for an interview at WebMD?

To prepare, research the company, review your technical skills and practice common interview questions on platforms like Interview Query. Familiarize yourself with the job description and brush up on specific technologies mentioned in the job posting.

Interviewing for a Software Engineer position at WebMD offers a unique and enriching experience. The process is comprehensive, covering technical skills, behavioral questions, and relevant work experience while being executed smoothly and efficiently.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main WebMD Interview Guide, where we have covered many interview questions that could be asked. We’ve also created interview guides for other roles, such as software engineer, where you can learn more about WebMD’s interview process for different positions.

You can check out all our company interview guides for better preparation, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Good luck with your interview!