IntermediateTECHNICAL
In your past Spring Boot projects, how did you manage configuration for different environments (dev/test/prod) using Java-based or YAML/properties configuration? Give a specific example of sensitive or environment-specific settings and how you structured them, including any use of profiles or external config servers.
Custom Role
General

Sample Answer

On my last project, a set of Spring Boot microservices handling about 10M requests/day, we standardized environment config using profile-specific YAML files plus a central Spring Cloud Config Server. Each service had an `application.yml` for shared defaults, and then `application-dev.yml`, `application-test.yml`, and `application-prod.yml`. For example, database URLs, Kafka brokers, and feature flags lived in those profile files, while secrets never did. For sensitive settings like DB passwords, JWT signing keys, and third-party API tokens, we used placeholders in YAML and resolved them from HashiCorp Vault via the Config Server. So `spring.datasource.password=${vault.db.password}` would be injected at startup. Locally, developers could override with an `application-local.yml` ignored by Git. We enforced `spring.profiles.active` via deployment manifests (Helm charts in k8s), so the same artifact ran everywhere. That setup cut config-related prod incidents by ~60% and made spinning up new environments a same-day task instead of a 2–3 day exercise.

Keywords

Use of profile-specific YAML (dev/test/prod) with shared base configExternalized secrets via Spring Cloud Config + Vault, no secrets in GitProfile activation controlled by deployment manifests/HelmQuantified impact on reliability and environment setup speed
Related Questions

In your civil engineering studies, what specific design coursework or project work did you complete related to irrigation channels or canals (e.g., design of lined/unlined canals, distributaries, minors)? Describe one such design in detail, including how you determined discharge, permissible velocity, section dimensions, and lining choice for Gujarat-type soil and climate conditions.

IntermediateTECHNICAL

Based on your hydrology and irrigation engineering background, explain how you would estimate the irrigation water requirement for a kharif crop in a semi-arid region of Gujarat. Walk me through each step: from reference evapotranspiration estimation, crop coefficient selection, effective rainfall calculation, to arriving at canal discharge for a given command area.

IntermediateTECHNICAL

On your resume you mention working on a cross-functional project (e.g., involving multiple teams or stakeholders). Describe a situation from that project where priorities conflicted—how did you navigate the trade-offs and what was the final outcome?

IntermediateSITUATIONAL

Walk me through a recent multi-channel digital marketing campaign you managed end-to-end. How did you set objectives, choose channels, allocate budget, and measure success?

IntermediateBEHAVIORAL

In your resume you note improving or optimizing [a process, KPI, or metric]. What specific baseline metrics did you start from, what steps did you personally take, and how did you verify that the improvement was due to your changes rather than external factors?

IntermediatePROBLEM_SOLVING