Software engineer mock interview

Practice a software engineering interview out loud, 1:1 with a working engineer. You talk through a real problem, they play the interviewer, and you leave with specific feedback on what to fix. Sessions with ADPList mentors are free.

Find an engineer

What a mock interview session covers

  1. Agree the format in advance. Tell your mentor which round you want to practice and the level you're targeting, so they can pick a problem and run the session like the real thing.

  2. Live coding in a shared editor. You write working code in a shared editor or doc while your mentor watches, the way most remote coding rounds run.

  3. Talking through your approach. You explain how you read the problem, the options you considered and the trade-offs, before and while you code. Interviewers grade your reasoning, not just the final answer.

  4. Feedback at the end. Your mentor tells you what went well, where you got stuck and what an interviewer would likely have noted, so you know what to practice next.

Coding rounds vs system design rounds

Coding rounds

What it tests. Whether you can turn a problem into correct, readable code: choosing data structures, handling edge cases, testing your own solution and reasoning about time and space complexity.

How to practice. Solve problems out loud with a timer running, and have someone interrupt with follow-up questions. Writing code silently at home is a different skill from explaining it to an interviewer.

System design rounds

What it tests. Whether you can design a system from a vague prompt: clarifying requirements, sketching components and data flow, and explaining trade-offs around scale, storage, consistency and failure.

How to practice. Work through open-ended prompts on a whiteboard or diagram tool with someone who pushes back on your choices. Practice driving the conversation, not waiting to be asked.

As general guidance, system design tends to matter more the more senior the role. Entry-level loops often focus on coding, while senior and staff loops usually lean harder on design and on how you make technical decisions. For a deeper walkthrough, read our system design interview guide.

The behavioral round

Most loops include questions about how you work with other people. Prepare a few stories from real projects and tell them with a STAR-style structure: the situation, your task, the actions you took and the result. Have stories ready on ownership (something you drove end to end), conflict (a disagreement you resolved) and a mistake you learned from. A mentor can tell you when a story is too long or when your own role gets lost.

How to pick a mentor

  • Seniority: pick someone at or above the level you're targeting, so they know what that level is expected to show.
  • Stack and domain: a backend, frontend, mobile or infrastructure engineer will run a more realistic session for a role in their area.
  • Mock interviews on offer: check whether their sessions explicitly offer mock interviews or interview prep.
  • Recent interviewing experience: engineers who interview candidates, or have recently interviewed themselves, know what current loops look like.
  • Reviews: read what other mentees say about their sessions.
  • A second opinion: book a second mentor for a different perspective. A different interviewer will often notice different things.

What to bring

  • The role and level you're targeting.
  • The round you're most worried about: coding, system design or behavioral.
  • A problem you've already practiced, so your mentor can see how you work through it.

Engineers offering mock interviews

These software engineers offer mock or coding interview sessions on ADPList and have open times to book.

Browse more software engineering mentors.

Company-specific prep

FAQ

Is a mock interview with an ADPList mentor free?

Yes. Sessions with ADPList mentors are free to book.

What should I prepare before the session?

Share the role and level you're targeting, the round you want to practice and a problem you've already worked on. Have a shared editor or diagram tool ready.

Should I practice coding or system design?

Practice the round your target loop weighs most. Coding is part of most software engineering loops, and system design usually matters more for senior roles. If you're unsure, ask your mentor to run one of each.

Can I practice with AI too?

Yes. You can also run AI practice interviews and get a scorecard on your answers, then use a mentor session for the round you want human feedback on.