Recruitment Stories - Sahariar's Experience at Grab

Sahariar Alam Khandoker is a Software Engineer with over seven years of industry experience. In his day-to-day work, he focuses on designing system and feature architectures and implementing them through production-ready code. While his primary professional expertise lies in the Java ecosystem, he has also developed a strong interest in distributed systems, databases, and microservices.

Unlike many engineers who come from a competitive programming background, Sahariar chose a different path. During his university years at BRAC University, he prioritized building real-world systems over solving algorithmic problems. As a result, his system design skills were solid from the very beginning of his career, even though he openly acknowledges that his data structures and algorithms (DSA) skills were not as refined early on.

Currently, Sahariar works at Grab as a Senior Software Engineer. He initially applied through Grab’s official career portal. Although that particular role didn’t move forward immediately, the company reached out to him months later for another opportunity, which eventually led to his current position. The recruitment process consisted of the following phases:

Phase 1: Recruiter Screening Interview

The interview process began with a recruiter screening. This round focused on his background, professional experience, and expectations, and didn’t require any specific technical preparation.

Phase 2: Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) Interview

The second round was centered on Data Structures and Algorithms. At the start of his preparation, DSA felt challenging. However, he soon realized that interview success doesn’t require solving every possible problem—what matters most is mastering common problem-solving patterns. Curated resources such as LeetCode 150, LeetCode 75, and the NeetCode list cover these patterns effectively. Sahariar primarily prepared using NeetCode 150 and strongly recommends it for its structured, step-by-step approach. His key takeaway from this phase was clear: understanding patterns is far more valuable than grinding through hundreds of random problems.

He also explored AlgoMonster, a paid platform, and found its pattern-based explanations helpful in simplifying complex concepts. While he appreciated the learning style, he believes it’s not essential and suggests evaluating the platform carefully before purchasing.

Phase 3: System Design Interview

Following the DSA round was the System Design interview. For preparation, Sahariar revisited System Design Interview by Alex Xu, which he had already read earlier in his career. Since system design is a core part of his professional work, most concepts were familiar. Based on his experience, system design interviews are highly practical. Interviewers expect candidates to design realistic systems rather than rely on scalability buzzwords. His approach was to start small, introduce complexity gradually, and clearly communicate design decisions throughout the discussion.

Phase 4: Behavioral Interview

The next stage was a behavioral interview with the hiring manager. Sahariar found this to be the most challenging round, as there was no fixed syllabus or preparation strategy. The discussion focused largely on team fit and working style. His advice for this stage is simple: be authentic. Genuine responses matter more than overly rehearsed answers.

Phase 5: Offer Discussion & Final Decision

In the final stage, the recruiter followed up to discuss compensation and formally extended the offer.

Based on his overall experience, Sahariar shares a few key suggestions for candidates preparing for similar roles:

• Practice DSA consistently and focus on core patterns
• Approach system design interviews with practicality and clarity
• Participate in mock interviews to build confidence
• Communicate openly and clearly during interviews—it makes a significant difference

Special thanks to Sahariar Alam Khandoker for taking out the time to share his recruitment experience with me. If you have any queries, feel free to contact him at rifatsahariar@gmail.com