okay so i'm a 2025 grad applying to an entry-level SWE role at Okta. i've seen a few posts mention system design as part of the loop and i honestly do not know what that looks like for someone at my level.
do they actually expect new grads to design token revocation systems? or is there like a scaled-down version of the design round? i've read the system design primer and watched Grokking videos but i'm scared i'm going to get something that's 100% identity-specific and just blank.
also, how realistic is it for new grads to get through the loop? i'm not seeing a ton of new grad okta data anywhere.
3 replies
careerveteran
at the new grad level, most companies either skip the system design round entirely or give you something much simpler. the prompts sec_sasha described are for senior candidates. for entry-level you're more likely to get a design question about, say, how you'd build a simple URL shortener or a notification service. focus on covering the basics: API contracts, storage choice, what happens when things fail. they want to see structured thinking, not encyclopedic knowledge of identity infrastructure.
newgrad_neil
this is so much more reassuring than the silence i was getting on other forums. thank you.
bootcamp_bri
i interviewed at a mid-size identity company (not okta but similar space) last year as a junior. no system design round at all. two coding problems and a behavioral. don't spiral until you actually get the loop structure from your recruiter. just ask them what rounds to expect.