If you’re gearing up for a system design interview at HubSpot—or really any tech company—I feel you. I remember staring at that blank whiteboard, heart pounding, wondering how to even start. But over time, I’ve collected resources that made the whole process way more manageable and gave me the confidence to not just survive but thrive.
Here are the 7 best system design resources I used to prepare—and how they can help you, too.
1. Educative’s Grokking the System Design Interview (solution)
If you’re new or want a structured walkthrough, this course is priceless. It breaks down classic problems like designing URL shorteners or social media feeds into bite-sized, digestible lessons.
- What I liked: Step-by-step examples with diagrams and tradeoffs explained clearly.
- Why it matters: HubSpot interviews often probe your ability to balance tradeoffs—scalability vs. simplicity, cost vs. speed.
- Pro tip: Don’t just read; draw the system yourself on paper. It cements the architecture in your mind.
Resource link: Educative's Modern System Design Interview
2. ByteByteGo YouTube Series by Alex Xu
Alex Xu’s content feels like having a mentor beside you. His videos cover a broad range of design problems, from caching strategies to load balancers.
- My takeaway: His real-world analogies make hard concepts approachable.
- Actionable insight: Practice explaining components aloud, just like Alex does.
- Useful for: HubSpot’s distributed systems interview rounds where clear communication is key.
Resource link: ByteByteGo Channel
3. System Design Primer on GitHub
A community favorite, this open-source repo consolidates notes, tips, and common interview questions into a single place.
- Why it stands out: Concise yet comprehensive, with visual architecture diagrams.
- How to use: Use it as a checklist to ensure you cover all major concepts like sharding, replication, and CAP theorem.
- Bonus: Contribute or customize your notes—active engagement boosts retention.
Resource link: GitHub System Design Primer
4. DesignGurus.io for Mock Interviews
When I finally wanted to simulate the real HubSpot system design interview experience, DesignGurus was my go-to.
- What sets it apart: Live mock interviews with feedback from seasoned engineers.
- Learning moment: Spot your blind spots in thinking through edge cases or scaling strategies.
- Highlight: Their tailored sessions prepared me for HubSpot’s emphasis on product requirements clarity and iteration.
Resource link: DesignGurus.io
5. “The System Design Interview” Book by Alex Xu
This book is the classic “go-to” for any system design prep.
- What I gained: End-to-end designs with pros and cons discussed candidly.
- Why HubSpot interviewers care: Demonstrates your tradeoff analysis—crucial for SaaS businesses focusing on uptime and customer experience.
- Tip: Pair reading with sketching diagrams; it builds muscle memory.
Available widely on bookstores and Amazon
6. Leverage HubSpot’s Engineering Blog for Context
I learned so much about HubSpot’s technology stack and scale by reading their engineers’ blogs.
- What surprised me: How HubSpot handles APIs, multi-cloud deployments, and customer data privacy.
- Interview prep benefit: Being conversant in a company’s architectural style shows genuine interest.
- Action step: Look for posts tagged “engineering” on HubSpot’s official blog.
7. Hands-On: Build Mini-Projects Mimicking HubSpot Features
Finally, nothing beats doing. I reimplemented features like contact management and email automation, focusing on APIs and data consistency.
- Why: Solidifies concepts like transactional consistency, eventual consistency, and microservices architecture.
- My hack: Use lightweight frameworks (Express.js, Flask) to prototype.
- Growth mindset: Each bug and refactor session was like a mini system design problem.
Wrapping Up: How to Use These Resources Effectively
Here’s my framework for turning resources into results:
- Start broad with structured courses (Educative, System Design Primer).
- Dive deeper with videos and mock interviews to emulate real conversations.
- Contextualize by reading HubSpot’s engineering blog to align your answers.
- Build and reflect through hands-on mini-projects.
- Iterate fast—design, explain, get feedback, refine.
Lesson: System design interviews test not just knowledge but your thought process under pressure. Practice explaining tradeoffs clearly, and you’re already ahead.
Final Encouragement: You’re Closer Than You Think
I got asked tough design questions in my HubSpot interview, but breaking preparation down into manageable pieces helped me not only answer questions but drive the conversation.
Remember: Your experiences, curiosity, and the humility to learn are your best tools. Use these top-tier resources, commit to deliberate practice, and soon the whiteboard won’t feel so intimidating.
Good luck! And hey—if you want to exchange notes or practice live, DM me on Dev.to or join my Discord community.
If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:
- 7 Lessons I Learned from Failing 3 System Design Interviews
- How to Ace Distributed Systems Questions at FAANG
Happy designing!
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