Tech IndustryOct 16, 2019
Ciscobusty

Google SRE(SE) vs. Facebook PE interview

Have an interview coming up with Google for SRE role (non-SWE). I did most of the PE interview at FB but then they had a hiring freeze and I was told I’d probably get contacted in 6-9 months. Could have been a reject but wanted to be nice for future opportunities? For the PE role I read and took notes on the following books: Advanded Programming Unix Env. (APUE) Computer Networks - Tannenbaum Linux Kernel Development - R. Love UNIX and Linux System Administration - Nemeth And I took the coursera course on Google’s SRE (didnt read the book though). Is this enough to pass the SRE interview? I’ve also done ~120 LC. Recruiter at Google told me I’m going to have 2 systems coding questions (shell scripting) for the phone screen. What’s the best way to prep for these? Is it going to be similar to FB where they give you the same inner join problem they give everyone along with some matrix leetcode problem? The Google onsite has a “practical coding problem” - is this a LC problem usually? There is also a system design portion - can I expect to design a modern web app (something like you’d see on Grokking the System Design) or should i expect to build some enterprise system (like a datacenter)? Should I just pretend like I’m studying for FB PE all over again? Thanks for any help! (tagged LinkedIn since they have raw infra/SRE teams)

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Facebook Nlaq22 Oct 16, 2019

Shell doesn't cut it for SRE or PE. If you can't code you won't make it. Also you were rejected at FB. They're definitely hiring.

Cisco busty OP Oct 16, 2019

I’m coming from SWE and in the FB interview the interviewer didn’t like that I did Python and not shell first. Thanks for the super helpful feedback though👍 I totally wasn’t aware of the fact that the recruiter was trying to be nice /s

Credit Suisse vptr Mar 11, 2021

OP, If FB did not like you using Python, then imagine my fate. I used C++

Adobe uglyhot Oct 16, 2019

When's your phone screen? It cab vary a lot for locations. might go for lc easy / medium

Cisco busty OP Oct 16, 2019

I’m interviewing for Seattle/Kirkland area. Would you target LC google tagged?

Adobe uglyhot Oct 16, 2019

Yeah go for most of the easy ones, you can go for the meds after those. I also have a phone screen coming up and this is my second time.