I know how scary coding interviews can be for computer science graduates. Even though I did well in my classes, writing code under pressure was tough1. But, after working on my coding interview skills for three months, I got job offers from big names like Google and Facebook. I want to share how I improved my interview skills.
Interviewing is a skill you can get better at with practice and study. It might seem hard to code and talk at the same time, but it’s possible. With the right mindset and tools, you can get good at coding interviews and find your dream job.
Key Takeaways
- Understand the common programming languages used in coding interviews, with Python being a popular choice for its conciseness and versatility1
- Review fundamental computer science concepts to strengthen your problem-solving abilities1
- Utilize online coding platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeForces to practice a wide range of coding questions1
- Enroll in structured coding interview preparation courses to consolidate your learning1
- Develop a comprehensive study plan and dedicate consistent practice to ace the coding interview2
Choose the Right Programming Language
Choosing the right programming language for coding interviews is key. Most companies let you pick your language, except for a few like Google. They only allow Java, C++, JavaScript, Python, or Go3. Python and Java are top picks, but you can also use JavaScript, Ruby, and C++3.
Recommended Languages
Pick a language you know well for your coding interviews4. Python is great because it’s easy to read and has lots of built-in tools for solving problems4. But, C and Go might not be the best because they lack standard tools3.
If your chosen language doesn’t have the right tools for a problem, you can ask the interviewer for help3. The goal is to pick the right tools to solve the problem, not get caught in details3.
Considerations for Language Selection
Think about these things when picking a language for your coding interviews:
- Know the language well: Pick one you’re good at and can code quickly4.
- Problem suitability: Some languages work better for certain problems. For example, Java is good for linked list problems5.
- Interviewer’s comfort: Choosing a language the interviewer knows makes talking easier3.
- Company’s tech: Try to match your language with the company’s tech if you can. It shows you get their tech5.
Focus on learning data structures and algorithms, not just a new language for the interview4. Picking a language you’re comfy with lets you show off your skills and flexibility.
Review Computer Science Fundamentals
Getting ready for coding interviews means brushing up on computer science basics. If you’ve been away from college, it’s smart to look over the core ideas and principles of computer programming6. This helps you understand algorithms and data structures better. It also makes talking about your tech skills easier during interviews.
“Cracking the Coding Interview” by Gayle Laakmann McDowell is a great book for this6. It covers everything from simple data structures to complex topics like dynamic programming. The 189 problems in the book let you practice and improve your skills6.
Alex Xu’s “System Design Interview Part 1 and 2” is another top pick6. It goes deep into how systems are made and expanded. “Programming Interview Exposed” by John Mongan, Noah Kindler, and Eric Giguere is also useful. It talks about things like binary trees and problem-solving6.
“The Algorithm Design Manual” by Steven Skiena is a must-read for tough interviews at big companies6. “Elements of Programming Interviews” by Adnan Aziz, Tsung-Hsien Lee, and Amit Prakash is another great book. It covers coding, data structures, and solving problems6.
Success in coding interviews isn’t just about knowing the material. It’s also about applying it well. By reviewing the basics and practicing with different resources, you’ll do great in your next interview7.
Practice, Practice, Practice
To ace your coding interviews, practice is key. It’s important to solve algorithm questions in your chosen language. This helps you master practice coding interview questions, mastering algorithms and data structures, and understand time and space complexity8.
Online coding platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeForces are great for practicing. They have a huge library of coding problems. This lets you improve your skills in analyzing algorithms and coding interview preparation8.
Online Coding Platforms
These platforms give you detailed answers and sample solutions. They let you test your code with comprehensive examples8. They also have features like compiling code and explaining solutions in detail. This is very useful for coding interview preparation8.
Remember, while books like Cracking the Coding Interview are helpful, practicing on these platforms is key8. Getting instant feedback and running your code can greatly improve your learning.
Understanding Time and Space Complexities
It’s also vital to know the time and space complexity of common operations in your language8. This knowledge helps you see how efficient your solutions are. It also helps you explain your thought process during the interview9.
Get to know the sorting algorithm used in your language’s sort() function and its complexities9. For example, Python’s sort() uses Timsort, a hybrid sorting algorithm. Knowing this can help you stand out in your coding interview preparation.
When practicing, I always add the time and space complexities of my code as comments8. This helps me remember to talk about the algorithm’s analysis during the interview.
Enroll in Coding Interview Prep Courses
If you like a structured way to get ready for coding interviews, try specialized courses. These courses are made by experts in the field. They teach you the key skills and strategies to do well in your technical interviews10.
AlgoMonster is one course that can really help you. It’s made by Google engineers. AlgoMonster uses a data-driven method. It teaches you the most important question patterns and how to quickly learn data structures and algorithms10.
Grokking the Coding Interview: Patterns for Coding Questions by Educative is another great choice11. This program includes mock interviews, whiteboard practice, and algorithm practice. It also offers personalized feedback to make you more ready for interviews11.
These courses give you a structured way to learn. You get to learn from experts and practice a lot11. They cover many topics like common interview questions, data structures, and algorithms. You’ll also learn about system design and how to make your resume better12.
While courses aren’t a must, they can be a great way to learn efficiently12. By using these resources, you’ll understand the interview process better. You’ll also feel more confident in showing off your coding skills12.
Coding Interview Prep
Preparing a Study Plan
Getting ready for coding interviews means having a good study plan. This plan helps you use your time well and prepare effectively. Start by figuring out how much time you have before the interview. Then, make a plan to cover the key topics13.
Focus on important areas like Trees, Graphs, Recursion, Strings, and Arrays. These are often tested in interviews13.
Combining Study and Practice
Studying and practicing at the same time helps you remember better. Use tools like AlgoMonster and Grokking the Coding Interview for this13. They mix theory with practice, helping you ace interview questions and solve problems13.
Do at least 2 mock interviews before the real one to boost your confidence13. Also, learn about the company you’re interviewing with to do well13.
Being focused and strategic is key to good coding interview prep. By mixing study and practice, you’ll get better at solving problems. This makes you ready for whatever comes in the interview13.
| Recommended Resources | Description |
|---|---|
| AlgoMonster | A comprehensive platform that helps you master common coding interview data structures and algorithms through interactive lessons and practice questions. |
| Grokking the Coding Interview: Patterns for Coding Questions | An in-depth guide that teaches you to identify and apply problem-solving patterns to solve a wide range of coding interview questions. |
| Systems Design Interview: an Insider’s Guide by Alex Xu | A valuable resource for preparing for systems design interviews, particularly for senior and above positions14. |
| Designing Data-Intensive Applications | Provides a deep dive into distributed systems, a crucial topic for systems design interviews14. |
Utilize Coding Interview Cheatsheets
When you’re studying and getting ready, I suggest using these coding interview cheatsheets. They help you master solving problems and making your solutions better in time and space15.
Coding Interview Techniques
I’ve made a list of about 10 techniques that are really helpful for coding interview questions you’ve never seen before. These can help you get past tough spots and find the right way to solve problems15.
- Make sure you understand the problem by asking questions and talking about how you’ll solve it with the interviewer.
- Find the important data structures and algorithms for the problem.
- Think about how your solution will work in terms of time and space complexity.
- Write your code in a way that’s easy to understand, with clear variable names.
- Check your code for edge cases and how it handles errors.
Coding Interview Best Practices
From my experience as an interviewee and interviewer at top tech companies, I’ve made a cheatsheet for coding interview best practices. It covers what you should do before, during, and after the interview to show you can solve problems, know your tech, and communicate well15.
| Before the Interview | During the Interview | After the Interview |
|---|---|---|
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|
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Using these cheatsheets and best practices can help you solve problems better, show what employers want, and feel confident in coding interviews15.
Prepare for Self-Introduction and Final Questions
As a software engineer, your self-introduction and the final questions you ask during a job interview can make a big impact. Crafting an excellent self-introduction and final questions is key. These are almost always needed at the start and end of any software engineering interview. Doing them well can change things in your favor and make a good impression with the interviewer16.
For top tips on self-introductions and final questions, check out this guide for software engineers17. Also, look at this guide for the best final questions to ask17.
Your self-introduction should show off your skills, experience, and love for the role. Your final questions should show you care about the company and the job. Spending time on these parts of the interview can help you make a self-introduction for software engineers that sticks. It also helps you make a good impression on the interviewer16.
Crafting an Impactful Self-Introduction
- Introduce yourself with confidence and enthusiasm.
- Highlight your relevant skills, experience, and academic background.
- Explain your passion for the role and the company.
- Keep your introduction concise, yet informative (around 1-2 minutes).
Preparing Effective Final Questions
- Research the company and the role to formulate meaningful questions.
- Ask about the team, company culture, and growth opportunities.
- Demonstrate your interest in the position and the company’s future.
- Avoid asking questions that can be easily answered on the company’s website.
By focusing on these key parts of the interview, you can make a lasting impression. This increases your chances of acing the final interview questions as a software engineer17.
Gain Hands-On Experience with Mock Interviews
Going from coding exercises to real interviews can feel scary. Interviewing.io is a top site for mock technical interviews. It helps you get better at coding and feel more confident18.
With Interviewing.io, you can have mock coding interviews with experienced engineers from big companies like Google and Facebook. You can do this without sharing your real name18. These interviews are like real ones but let you practice in a calm setting19.
Interviewing.io also has special mock interviews for certain jobs, like Mobile or Front-End engineering18. This means you can practice for the exact interview you might have during your job search.
Watching recorded interviews on the site helps you get ready for phone interviews. It shows you how to move smoothly into real interviews18. You can see what works and what doesn’t for other candidates, making you better at interviews.
- Get real mock coding interviews with top tech company engineers18.
- Work on your coding and talking skills in a calm, private place19.
- Find mock interviews for specific jobs to match your preparation18.
- Watch recorded interviews to learn about phone interviews and get tips from others18.
Using mock interviews can really boost your confidence and skills for real interviews. This can help you get your dream job19.
Conclusion
Thinking back on my coding interview prep, I see what made me get my dream job. Picking the right programming language, like Python20, Java20, or others, is key20. Using sites like LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeForces to practice has been super helpful20.
Learning computer science basics, knowing about time and space complexities, and coding well have also made me better at interviews20.
Getting ready for coding interviews takes time, not just a quick effort. Spending 3-4 months on it, as advised21, is important. A good plan should include programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and system design21.
Practicing a lot, doing 100-200 LeetCode questions20, and trying mock interviews have made me more confident and skilled in real interviews.
To do well in your next coding interview and get your dream job, do your homework on the company. Make sure to review interview questions and computer science basics. Practice a lot, use resources and cheatsheets, and get ready for common interview parts like introducing yourself and answering final questions22.
By doing these things, you’ll be on your way to reaching your goals and being a top software developer.
Source Links
- https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/coding-interviews-for-dummies-5e048933b82b/ – How to Rock the Coding Interview – Tips That Helped Me Land Job Offers from Google, Airbnb, and Dropbox
- https://www.techinterviewhandbook.org/coding-interview-prep/ – Coding interviews: Everything you need to prepare | Tech Interview Handbook
- https://corgicorporation.medium.com/what-programming-language-should-i-interview-with-ef5774ad6a17 – “What Programming Language Should I Interview With?”
- https://blog.hao.dev/the-best-programming-language-to-use-in-coding-interviews/ – The best programming language to use in coding interviews · Hao’s learning log
- https://www.byte-by-byte.com/choose-the-right-language-for-your-coding-interview/ – Choose the right language for your coding interview – Byte by Byte
- https://levelup.gitconnected.com/10-best-coding-and-programming-interview-books-in-2023-7c90d158e51b – 10 Best Coding and Programming Interview Books in 2024
- https://www.interviewbit.com/computer-science-interview-questions/ – Top Computer Science Interview Questions and Answers (2024)
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beware-coding-practice-sites-interview-prep-gary-boone-phd-rhyfc – Beware Coding Practice Sites for Interview Prep
- https://igotanoffer.com/blogs/tech/coding-interview-prep – Coding Interview Prep (7 steps to an offer at FAANG)- IGotAnOffer
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/coding-interview-preparation – Coding Interview Preparation
- https://www.coursereport.com/blog/the-6-best-tech-interview-prep-programs – The 6 Best Tech Interview Prep Programs
- https://learntocodewith.me/posts/coding-interview-resources/ – The 33 Best Technical Interview Prep Courses, Books, & Resources for 2023
- https://www.byte-by-byte.com/one-week-interview-prep/ – One Week Until Your Coding Interview? Here’s How To Prepare. – Byte by Byte
- https://blog.pragmaticengineer.com/preparing-for-the-systems-design-and-coding-interviews/ – Preparing for the Systems Design and Coding Interview
- https://www.techinterviewhandbook.org/coding-interview-cheatsheet/ – Coding interview cheatsheet: Best practices before, during and after | Tech Interview Handbook
- https://www.techinterviewhandbook.org/coding-interview-study-plan/ – Coding interview study plan – what to study and practice based on time left | Tech Interview Handbook
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/coding-interviews-everything-you-need-prepare-temidayo-adefioye- – Coding interviews: Everything you need to prepare
- https://interviewbuddy.net/ – Master Your Interview with Live Mock Interviews
- https://www.nucamp.co/blog/coding-bootcamp-job-hunting-mock-interviews-a-stepbystep-preparation-guide-for-developers – Mock Interviews: A Step-by-Step Preparation Guide for Developers
- https://www.nushackers.org/2017/09/digest-preparing-for-a-coding-interview/ – Digest: Preparing for a Coding Interview
- https://grokkingtechinterview.com/3-month-coding-interview-bootcamp-904422926ce8 – 3 Month Coding Interview Bootcamp
- https://medium.com/@kroozrokh/coding-interview-preparation-a-comprehensive-guide-for-noobs-5f290c8fd093 – Coding Interview Preparation: A Comprehensive Guide for Noobs