Interview Preparation again on this beautiful Saturday morning!

Juniper
CTrr38

Go to company page Juniper

CTrr38
Aug 5, 2017 17 Comments

Anyone who got job at Google/FB or at a pre-IPO startup, did you guys really solve a lot of Leetcode/HackerRank problems and cracked the interview? How did you manage to focus and motivate yourself to prepare for interview along with the ongoing job. What if you are trying too hard and couldn't solve it! I am struggling to prepare for the same from about a year and almost at the verge of giving up! If you can share a little bit more about your experience and planning, it would be really helpful.

I know this is a repetitive question. But even a few lines can give some direction to someone like me who is stuck with interview preparation.

Thanks!

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TOP 17 Comments
  • You shouldn't memorize the solutions. You should try to get to the root or pattern on why those solutions work. In interviews they usually twist those a bit so that people who only memorized can be filtered out.
    I was in your shoes and almost gave up. Now I have 2 offers (Google and a startup). Here are my takeaways:
    1- practice a lot on paper. Then type in leetcode and see if tests pass
    2- do interviews with companies you don't care about first
    3- be disciplined and practice daily even on easy problems to keep your muscle working
    4- be confident. You got where you are for a reason, don't be intimidated by company you're interviewing with our engineer on other end. Think of them as a coworker you're interacting with to solve a problem. Joke around and have fun
    5- practice system design questions. Read articles and watch YouTube videos.
    6- use cracking the coding interview and epi books. Solve the honors class problems, I saw a lot of them come in one form or another in interviews
    Aug 5, 2017 5
    • It took me a year on and off. Stopped for a while in between. Best prep was taking 2 weeks off, one for prep and another for interviews. I also practiced on weekends and days off. However there were months when I didn't study at all
      Aug 5, 2017
    • Oracle
      poliju

      Go to company page Oracle

      poliju
      Agree with this. I have been on and off practicing since 8 months. When I started, honors class problems seemed like dopeshit. I used to give up thinking that there is no way I can solve this 45 mins/ 60mins. Now, when I look at them, most of them look medium level of difficulty. Practicing really tuned my brain. I am spending 2-3 hrs daily between
      Leetcode (took 1 yr subscription, trust me, its worth it!)
      Epi, occasionally ctci
      Gainlo blog
      Hiredintech.com

      All the best!
      Aug 6, 2017
  • Google
    mot

    Go to company page Google

    mot
    I have accepted an offer and still will spend the beautiful Sunday morning preparing. Learned my lesson. Always stay prepared.
    Aug 5, 2017 1
  • PayPal
    rickmort

    Go to company page PayPal

    rickmort
    Practice interviewing at lower tier companies and build your confidence. If you just keep practicing on Leetcode etc. you'll never feel more confident and will get bored easily.
    Aug 5, 2017 5
    • PayPal
      rickmorty

      Go to company page PayPal

      rickmorty
      hey didn't mean any disrespect :) I just know from personal experience and anecdotally that cisco interviews can be less demanding than the G/FBs of the world. Same goes with PayPal fwiw it totally depends on the team
      Aug 7, 2017
    • Cisco
      +nt-ispklm

      Go to company page Cisco

      +nt-ispklm
      ^ no offense taken ;) cheers.

      Anectodally, I agree.
      Aug 7, 2017
  • Google
    mot

    Go to company page Google

    mot
    Do practice interviews as Ctrr38 suggested.

    You can take a week or two off to prepare like your life depends on it.
    Aug 5, 2017 0
  • Microsoft / Eng
    wassaup

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    BIO
    Hate coding quizzes but studying hard for better future!
    wassaup
    I would appreciate for the advice as well. After a bit of preparation, I am passing most of tech screens but on site is still hard. What I noticed is that lower tier companies are not necessarily easier. It depends on what interviewer I get to see as everyone is picky and has different standards. Maybe if I master all the questions I can blow all of them away but there are always tricky interviewers who have thick accent or poor communication skills. Add that some ask trick questions that have nothing to do with coding skills - easy problems but you can't solve it if you don't know the trick. Maybe I should solve 500 problems? How do you not forget all the solution?
    Aug 5, 2017 1
    • Cisco
      +nt-ispklm

      Go to company page Cisco

      +nt-ispklm
      How to not forget? Have a notebook and handwrite them in draft form; have another notebook and copy the rectified notes over. — works wonders. — (clarification for millenials: A notebook is an analog stylus that you write with a pen and that does not need batteries or internet; it is not a computer)
      Aug 7, 2017