How to ace your Java interview at Revolut

Stepping into the interview process for a Java Engineer position at Revolut is both exciting and challenging. It’s a journey where your skills, experiences, and unique perspectives come together to show why you’re the right fit for a team that’s shaping the future of the financial world.

This guide is designed to help you navigate the process with confidence, and prepare effectively at every stage.

Understanding what Revolut is looking for

Before diving into the technicalities, take a moment to consider Revolut’s vision and the role you could play in it. We’re looking for engineers who aren't just technically skilled, but are also passionate about solving real-world problems and thriving in a dynamic environment.

Our tech stack includes Java 21, PostgreSQL (via jOOQ), Redis, Kubernetes, Docker, and Google Cloud Platform. We apply methodologies like Clean Architecture, DDD, and TDD. We leverage patterns like CQRS, and use tools such as Flyway and SparkJava. If these resonate with you, you’re already on the right path.

Preparing yourself for success

Your experience and achievements over the past few years tell a story. Take time to think about the projects you’ve worked on, the problems you’ve solved, and the ways you’ve grown. Don’t just focus on what you did — consider the why and how.

For example, think about times when you introduced a new feature that addressed a customer pain point, optimised processes to save time or resources, or worked collaboratively across teams to tackle a challenging obstacle. Quantify your results wherever possible — metrics speak louder than buzzwords.

Approaching the interview process

Our interview process is designed to uncover your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. Each stage is an opportunity to showcase a different facet of your strengths.

1. Interview with recruiter

This is your first interaction with Revolut, and it’s all about getting to know you — your experiences, career goals, and why you’re interested in joining the team.

Focus on being authentic and concise while presenting your experience. Emphasise specific achievements that demonstrate your talent, and clearly connect them to the skills and qualities Revolut is looking for.

Practical advice for every step

• Use the STAR framework: structure your answers to behavioural questions using Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It keeps your responses clear and focused.
• Embrace feedback: interviews are a two-way street. If interviewers offer suggestions or ask questions, view it as a chance to refine and improve your answers.
• Ask thoughtful questions: show genuine curiosity about the role, team, and company. This demonstrates your interest and helps you decide if Revolut is the right fit for you.

2. Live coding in Java

This hands-on session evaluates your problem-solving abilities, coding efficiency, and grasp of Java fundamentals. You’ll tackle real-time challenges that require clean, optimised solutions while explaining your thought process.

Tips for success

• Brush up on essential data structures, solid principles, and testing best practices
• Focus on practising on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank specifically, to improve your ability to solve tasks within a time limit
• Review multithreading concepts, focusing on both theory and implementation

During the live coding, focus on writing clean, readable code while articulating your approach step by step.

3. Technical interview

This stage delves deeper into your technical expertise, covering topics such as concurrency, databases, and system architecture. It’s not just about what you know but how you apply that knowledge to solve complex challenges. You’ll encounter a blend of conceptual questions and hands-on problem-solving tasks.

Brush up on key areas

• Concurrency: focus on synchronisation, thread safety, and parallel processing
• Databases: review key concept such as indexing, query performance, transaction handling, and considerations for distributed systems
• Architecture: explore microservices, domain-driven design principles, and event-driven architectures

To approach the interview effectively, start by asking clarifying questions to ensure you fully understand the problem before sharing any assumptions. Keep your responses structured and concise, focusing on delivering clear and relevant answers. Whenever possible, connect concepts to your past experiences — for example, if asked about multithreading, explain how you've implemented it in a previous project to provide concrete context.

4. System Design Interview

In this round, you’ll design a scalable, distributed system. The interviewer assesses your ability to think holistically, balancing performance, reliability, and scalability. Key focus areas include designing for scalability, optimising database performance, and ensuring resilience in distributed systems.

How to approach it

• Break the problem down into smaller components — what needs to happen first?
• Focus on the big picture, then dive into specifics when necessary
• Be open to feedback — it's a collaborative discussion, not a test

5. Team fit and offer

The final step is all about understanding how you’d fit into the team and company culture. This is your chance to show who you are — beyond your technical skills.

What to share

• Your preferred ways of working and collaborating
• How you've handled challenges, uncertainty, or conflicts in the past
• What excites you about the role and projects Revolut is working on

Final Word

Remember, the interview process isn't just about proving yourself — it’s about discovering if this role and team are the right fit for you, too. Every question is an opportunity to share your unique experiences and perspectives.

Trust in the skills you’ve built, and approach each stage with confidence and curiosity. We're not looking for perfection, we’re looking for people who are passionate, adaptable, and ready to contribute to something bigger.

Good luck,

— Team Revolut