Adobe

ApproachIterate with three pointers (prev, curr, next), rewiring links; discuss the recursive variant and its stack cost.

EvaluatesPointer manipulation, in-place mutation, and clarity under a deceptively simple task.

ApproachPush opens onto a stack; on a close, pop and match. Empty stack at the end means valid.

EvaluatesStack intuition and handling of mismatched/empty edge cases.

ApproachA size-k min-heap, or quickselect for average O(n); discuss the trade-offs.

EvaluatesHeap vs. selection trade-offs and awareness of average vs. worst case.

ApproachUse STAR: the situation, your reasoning, how you disagreed respectfully and reached a decision, and the result.

EvaluatesCommunication, judgment, and whether you can disagree-and-commit without drama.

ApproachAnchor to measurable impact; be crisp about what YOU did vs. the team, and the trade-offs you made.

EvaluatesOwnership, impact, and honest self-attribution.