I had a phone interview yesterday and got two questions. Since I had seen the two questions, I did it pretty fast but I was asked for another approach for the second question(constant space) which I couldn't figure out. So it was like: 5 minute self introduction 20 minute two questions Then choked on the constant space the interviewer wanted for 15 minute. 5 minute wrap up. Edit: After checking Leetcode, the followup question I did write a partial answer which was on the right track but just couldn't finish it. What do you people think?
What questions
Sorry, can't say.
From leet code list of FB questions?
Did you solve first 2 questions in both 20 min? And had 15 min to answer for second question with constant space approach
Yes. Solved both in 20 minutes because it was straight from leetcode.
You must not solve questions too early. It’s a sign that you already know the solution. So the interviewer tricked you with constant space
Let me guess - the question on constant space is product of all numbers on array except itself?
Nope. It was one of the question where all the leetcode top votes and almost all answers were using O(n) space. Only like a handful were using constant space.
Is it FB tagged? In top 100?
Problem is when you can't solve something at the end, it creates a rejection bias to the interviewer. Considering the stiff competition, don't be surprised if that's a reject. However, you definitely have a good chance.
Thanks. I am anticipating a rejection but lesson learned.
@epento You will get a PASS. For me, I got two questions in FB phone screening as well. The first one is easy level, and second one is medium. I could not give good solution for first one, and did brute-force(I did not do any leetcode, and so i don't know the good solution. I can sense he was not happy with the brute-force solution). I gave good solution for second one, and finished most of the coding. Then 5 days later, I got a PASS. So you should get a PASS as well.
Lesson learned. Just don't get it. People are saying we should be super fast during Facebook interview. Now we should act dumb and probe around the question? Man...this is getting really tiring. Interviewing is like acting now.
It's definitely like acting.
People don’t think during the interview- Word by Few Swe who take interviews
What does this mean?
Don’t understand this.
I agree with pacing yourself.. If you are doing the questions super fast, chances are that you are just regurgitating the optimal solution without discussing your “intuition” or “thinking process”. Say you are doing a graph traversal, talk about what traversal youre gonna use and why . What about the brute force approach ? Whats the Time Complexity of brute force , why is your solution optimal? Etc etc. In the end it all boils down to “Did You put up a good show” . And interviwers are suckers for a good show. That being said, prepare for onsite. Youll definitely make it !
Thanks! My question didn’t really have a lot of to discuss. It was either you knew it or not but the constant space really threw me off.
Ahh one of those questions? I think you did well man. You solved the 2 questions on time. Best of luck!
Even if you knew the questions, did you play the entire drama of asking clarifying questions, explain solution, take soft ok from interviewer, then ran some test cases, and then explain space time complexity? If yes , you should get call for onsite.
Yes. I explained my thought process and ran a few test cases. The question were all really straight forward, not really any clarifying you could ask. It was kind of like find palindrome in a string...there’s no clarifying question you can ask.
You should get a call. Good luck.
Can you share what type of questions?
Straight from Leetcode, that’s all I can say.
Ok , thats true in most cases!! Anyways thanks, Good luck
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