Freshworks India Tech Java Developer Interview: Rounds, Questions and Preparation

What the job involves

A Java Developer in Indian IT services builds and maintains server-side applications, REST APIs, and database-backed features for client projects or internal products. Day to day you write Java code, fix bugs, participate in code reviews, and coordinate with testers and senior developers to deliver modules on schedule. Freshers usually start on maintenance, enhancement, or small feature work under a tech lead.

Role and Technical Knowledge

1. 1

   Explain the difference between an interface and an abstract class in Java, with a real use case.

   Cover when to use each, multiple inheritance of type via interfaces, and a practical example like a payment gateway interface with multiple implementations.

2. 2

   How does HashMap work internally in Java?

   Mention hashing, buckets, equals and hashCode contract, collision handling with linked list or tree, and default load factor and resizing.

3. 3

   What is the difference between checked and unchecked exceptions? When would you create a custom exception?

   Define both, give examples like IOException versus NullPointerException, and explain creating a custom exception for business rule violations.

4. 4

   What is the difference between JDBC and an ORM like Hibernate? Which would you use in a client project and why?

   Compare control, boilerplate, caching, and mapping effort, and justify choice based on project size, performance needs, and team familiarity.

Practical Scenarios

1. 5

   You are asked to add a new REST endpoint to an existing Spring Boot service. Walk through your steps.

   Cover reading existing controllers, defining request and response DTOs, adding service and repository layers, writing unit tests, and updating API documentation.

2. 6

   A production API is returning 500 errors after a deployment. How do you debug it?

   Mention checking logs, reproducing in staging, reviewing recent commits, verifying configuration and database connectivity, and rolling back if needed.

3. 7

   Your SQL query is slow on a table with millions of rows. What do you check first?

   Discuss execution plans, missing indexes, SELECT star, N+1 queries, and whether pagination or caching can help.

4. 8

   You need to process a list of 10,000 records and call an external API for each. How do you design this safely?

   Talk about batching, thread pools or async calls, rate limiting, retries with backoff, and handling partial failures without losing data.

Project and Coding Discussion

1. 9

   Pick one project on your resume and explain your exact contribution and the tech stack.

   Be specific about modules you coded, the problem solved, and why you chose Java, Spring, or the database you used.

2. 10

   How did you test your code in your academic or internship project?

   Mention JUnit, manual test cases, edge cases, and any bug you found and fixed through testing.

3. 11

   What was the hardest bug you faced in your project and how did you solve it?

   Describe the symptom, your debugging approach, the root cause, and what you learned to prevent similar issues.

4. 12

   If you had to add authentication to your project now, how would you do it?

   Talk about session versus token based auth, Spring Security basics, password hashing, and role based access.

Behavioural and HR

1. 13

   Why do you want to work as a Java Developer in an IT services company rather than a product startup?

   Show awareness of client projects, learning breadth, structured training, and long-term growth without criticising other paths.

2. 14

   Tell me about a time you had to learn a new technology quickly for a deadline.

   Use a clear situation-action-result structure, mention resources used, and quantify the outcome if possible.

3. 15

   Are you comfortable with relocation, client locations, or occasional shift overlap with other time zones?

   Answer honestly and positively, linking flexibility to career growth and project exposure.

4. 16

   Where do you see yourself in three years as a Java Developer?

   Focus on deepening technical skills, taking ownership of modules, and growing into a reliable team contributor.