Engineering Intern at Apple

How it went

What they would tell you

How to prepare

Round by round

1. 1

   Technical Round60 min

   The interview started with the usual self-introduction, where I talked about my background, projects, and experience DSA Questions: Spiral Matrix Traversal- I explained how to traverse the matrix layer by layer using boundary pointers, moving top → right → bottom → left iteratively Kth Largest Element in an Array, discussed three approaches: sorting, using a min-heap, and Quickselect for optimal O(n) expected time Clone a Linked List with Random Pointers, explained two methods: using a hashmap to map old nodes to new nodes and the in-place weaving technique that avoids extra space Word Ladder- BFS-based approach to find the shortest transformation sequence from start to end word, highlighting how each level represents one transformation

   Other Technical Questions: Computer Networks- Focused on core concepts like routing, and protocols Operating Systems- Covered topics like processes, threads, synchronization, and scheduling

   • Spiral Matrix Traversal
   • K-th Largest element in an array
   • Clone a Linked List with Random Pointers
   • Word ladder I
2. 2

   HR Round60 min

   Behavioral and situational questions Some of the questions included Taking charge without guidance- shared a story where I had to lead a project with minimal direction, explaining how I organized tasks, set priorities, and ensured everyone was aligned Creative problem-solving- discussed a situation where I came up with new idea to solve a challenge, showing initiative and innovation Learning quickly- I described a scenario where I had to pick up a new technology or skill under a tight deadline to complete a project successfully

What came up