I couldn't solve a simple coding challenge in a DS interview

CGI
gWao36

Go to company page CGI

gWao36
Jan 11 10 Comments

I couldn't solve a balanced parenthesis problem in python and when I later checked, it was so easy - using a stack. But that just didn't strike me during the 30 minutes interview.
Am I a shitty coder ? Can't believe that I couldn't solve such an easy problem!

Is a coding test actually testing for coding creativity or is it just that you have solved it earlier/memorized the algo.
PS - It was a 1.5hr data scientist interview, with 30 min for coding round.

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  • Google
    ohcrap๐Ÿ˜ฑ

    Go to company page Google

    ohcrap๐Ÿ˜ฑ
    During a coding interview, a lot of the difficulty is recognizing the right pattern of solution.

    Leetcode is intended to hammer home both pattern recognition and how to execute on that pattern.

    This just means you had a gap in your learning or you were too nervous in the moment. Don't take it personally. If it was nerves, more interviewing will help. Otherwise more Leetcode, as dreadful as it is.
    Jan 12 3
    • Google
      ohcrap๐Ÿ˜ฑ

      Go to company page Google

      ohcrap๐Ÿ˜ฑ
      No, not normal, but they might have thought were being funny/defusing tension.

      I think sometimes interviewers can lose sight of how difficult and stressful interviewing can be. What might be a little joke or a side comment can really effect interviewees.

      On the other hand, maybe they are just a jerk. Either way, you shouldn't take that to heart. It's on them, not you.
      Jan 12
    • CGI
      not_high

      Go to company page CGI

      not_high
      So, I got a rejection mail from them today, now it feels more like they were being condescending throughout the interview :(
      Jan 14

  • Flagged by the community.

  • It tests how good you memorize Leetcode. No based on what you described solely you cannot consider yourself a bad programmer.

    You need to take into account the pressure of the interview, stress and many other factors.
    Jan 11 0
  • Verizon
    SbQo51

    Go to company page Verizon

    SbQo51
    I've built complex SQL procedures, ETLs, even built a discount cash flow model in t-sql.

    I had an interview where I had anxiety and blanked on a basic churn rate by month SQL problem. It happens don't let it get you down.
    Jan 12 0
  • FICO
    ficohere

    Go to company page FICO

    ficohere
    Sometimes it is not for creativity or memorization...but interviewer want to satisfy his ego also. I worked as an analyst, Data scientist, ML engineer for 3 large MNC (apple also) for 10 years, I don't remember whether any of my organization actually care about shits like time complexity, algorithm or ds. In reality I had made dashboards, regression models, kpi etc.
    Jan 11 0