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System design

Phrases for clarifying, thinking out loud and talking through trade-offs.

  1. 1The first five minutes: clarifying the problemAsk a few smart questions and say your assumptions out loud before you draw anything.
  2. 2Thinking out loud and signpostingGive the interviewer a map, so they can follow your thinking without guessing.
  3. 3Back-of-the-envelope numbers, said naturallyEstimate out loud, round freely, and say what the numbers mean for your design.
  4. 4When the interviewer pushes backTreat tough follow-ups as teamwork: admit the weak spot, then fix it.
  5. 5Wrapping up and what you'd do nextFinish with a short summary, the main trade-offs and what you'd do with more time.