I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at Rakuten (San Mateo, CA) in May 2017
Interview
First, they will give you a call to briefly talk about yourself and your resume. If that goes well, you will be asked to do a HackerRank test online (for me it was timed for 1hr). There was both coding and multiple choice on this test. If that goes well, there will be an onsite interview with multiple team members. They ask you technical questions which is not necessarily too hard if you have been prepping.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What is the difference between "==" and .equals in Java?
I applied through college or university. I interviewed at Rakuten (Bengaluru) in Nov 2025
Interview
The first round was primarily resume-based, discussing projects, skills, and experience. The second round involved a detailed evaluation of core computer science fundamentals, data structures, algorithms, and analytical problem-solving abilities.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
System design of project
Sorting algos and a basic recursion question
I applied online. I interviewed at Rakuten (Tampa, FL)
Interview
The Rakuten Software Engineer Intern interview process includes an initial HR screening, followed by online coding challenges and technical interviews focusing on algorithms, data structures, and system design. It concludes with a final HR interview to assess cultural fit.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Can you explain how lazy loading is implemented in your current tech stack, and how it impacts the performance and scalability of your applications?
There were two interviewers asking about some tech stuffs used in their team. There were no coding interview problem. It was pretty simple and easy. It was around 30 - 40 mins interview.