Cracking the Backend Interview: Key Areas to Focus on in 2024

Your Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backend Fundamentals, Frameworks, System Design, and Emerging Technologies for Senior Dev Backend Success

This guide is applicable for candidates what meets below criteria -

• Backend Language - Java ( current working or thinking of transition into it)

Alright, guys if you meet above criteria, you are good to go ahead with this guide to nail at your java backend dev interview for senior roles.

Before doing a deep dive into what we will have to prepare lets understand the market in terms of what organisations are expecting ?

All Topics Mind Map

PDF Version available here, if you wish to download - Google Drive Link

This is a mind map, that clearly indicates that on what all topics you need to cover to crack your interview, but please be mindful of the fact that it is based on your experience level as well.

So for example, if candidate only holds 3.5 years of experience, he might not have to cover advance topics in depth for example - System Design, advance database topics like replication, Partitioning, indexing in depths etc.

It is time taking to write different topics based on experience level, but I will try to map the colour line and main topic to a specific experience level holder below, so you will get idea if you should be preparing those topics if there is a time constraint.

Knowledge Levels

Lets have three level of knowledge on a topic

• Not in depth

  • You should not deep dive into this and understand all concepts

  • Only prefer doing touch base or go ahead and learn if you have enough time.

• In depth

  • You should try covering as much as possible.

• Not required

  • As per my opinion, No - go ahead if you have a choice

Topics as per Experience and Knowledge Level

• 2 - 3.5 Years Experience Level

  • Fundamentals - In depth

  • Frameworks - In depth

  • Microservices - Not in depth

  • System Design Fundamentals - Not required

  • Advanced System Design and Distributed Systems - Not required

  • Project in depth in current organisation - Not in depth

  • Problem solving - In depth

  • Database - Not in depth

• 3.5 - 5 Years Experience Level

  • Fundamentals - In depth

  • Frameworks - In depth

  • Microservices - In depth

  • System Design Fundamentals - Not required

  • Advanced System Design and Distributed Systems - Not required

  • Project in depth in current organisation - Not in depth

  • Problem solving - In depth

  • Database - Not in depth

• 5 - 8 Years Experience Level

  • Fundamentals - In depth

  • Frameworks - In depth

  • Microservices - In depth

  • System Design Fundamentals - In depth

  • Advanced System Design and Distributed Systems - Not required

  • Project in depth in current organisation - In depth

  • Problem solving - Not in depth

  • Database - In depth

• 8 - 10 Years Experience Level

  • Fundamentals - In depth

  • Frameworks - In depth

  • Microservices - In depth

  • System Design Fundamentals - In depth

  • Advanced System Design and Distributed Systems - Not In depth

  • Project in depth in current organisation - In depth

  • Problem solving - Not in depth

  • Database - In depth

• 10 + Years Experience Level

  • Fundamentals - In depth

  • Frameworks - In depth

  • Microservices - In depth

  • System Design Fundamentals - In depth

  • Advanced System Design and Distributed Systems - In depth

  • Project in depth in current organisation - In depth

  • Problem solving - Not in depth

  • Database - In depth

I will be explaining this more in depth in my upcoming youtube video here - Youtube channel - Backend Engineering School.

On a high level by this time you might have got an idea what should be the high level roadmap to prepare for your 2024 Java backend Interview based on your experience.

I am building a free course on the same mind map I have attached here, you will get an idea how to prepare these topics, this course you can find in sometime here

Backend Engineering School - Official Website

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