Is System design a scam

You wouldn’t keep digging up a seed to check if it has sprouted.
(But we’re still using outdated interview methods…)

System design interviews often feel disconnected from real-world experience.

When candidates excel in areas they’ve never worked in, it raises a red flag: Memorization or genuine expertise?

Interviewers should focus on a candidate’s real experience and domain-specific skills.
Instead of testing memory, ask questions about their past work—get deeper insights into their problem-solving and creativity.

Expecting candidates to master unfamiliar areas?
That only leads to superficial evaluations.

Here’s what matters long-term:
🔑 A learning mindset
🔑 Practical application

In many cases, interviewers ask system design questions expecting a specific answer.
But system design doesn’t fit in a textbook.

One problem, multiple solutions.
The trade-offs are key.

If the interviewer fails to set expectations and looks for a rigid answer—it’s a waste of time for both.

It’s time to rethink our approach:
Don’t stump candidates.
Gauge their problem-solving in their area of expertise.