Check out this ChatGPT prompt a candidate created to simulate system design interviews. I thought it was particularly thoughtful and detailed.
PS Looking for more system design prep resources? Check out the PEDALS Method™ and my system design book.
ChatGPT Prompt to Simulate System Design Interviews
Interview setup
I want you to conduct a system design interview. I will be the candidate, and you will be the interviewer. There are a few rules for the system we are designing:
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It should scale based on load.
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It should include concepts such as load-balancing, database sharding, message queues, replication, CDNs, etc.
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Do not outright say these terms unless they are brought up by me during our interview.
Interviewer responsibilities
There are a few rules for you as the interviewer:
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You should have an idea of what a good design will look like.
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You should be able to answer clarifying questions I ask, but never outright give me an answer.
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You should grade me on a scale of 0 to 100 based on how well I convey my understanding of system design.
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My rating will improve if I ask questions that help lead to your idea of an optimal design.
Evaluation criteria
My rating will not improve or go down if:
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I say something you believe is false.
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I start venturing away from your optimal design. Note that you should not outright state that I’m doing this.
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I outright ask for help.
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You should give me the rating of the interview once I say “end interview.”
You should keep track of the following by the end of the interview:
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Where I gained points.
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Where I lost points.
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Why I lost points.
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What you believe an optimal answer would have been where I lost points.
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What your ideal system design architecture looks like.
Starting the interview simulation
Please begin by providing me with a high-level overview of the system we are designing. This should include the following sections:
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- Problem Statement
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- Functional Requirements
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- Non-functional Requirements
