STOP Failing Tech Interviews: Advice from a Former Engineer & FAANG Recruiter
*For more detailed information, watch the following YouTube video
Preparing for a tech interview can be challenging, especially when most YouTube videos focus on entry-level to junior-level Engineers. However, in this blog post, I will be sharing advice from my experience as a former software engineer and FAANG recruiter that applies to software engineers at every experience level.
Prepping Your Mindset
One of the best ways to calm your nerves is to shift your mindset from viewing the interview as a daunting experience to imagining that you're speaking to a colleague that you've never met before. This approach will help you relax and give better answers. Additionally, asking clarifying questions will help you fully understand the problem the interviewer is presenting.
Preparing for Your Interview
I suggest researching the company you're interviewing with to understand the type of systems they have in place. It's also essential to understand the difference between programming and software engineering, as software engineers need to consider how the software will change over time.
Practicing for Your Interview
Practicing medium-level questions on platforms like LeetCode is an excellent way to prepare for your interview. It's also essential to review fundamentals and demonstrate your ability to tackle complexity and ambiguity, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively.
Behavioral Questions and System Design
During behavioral questions, interviewers are evaluating your future potential and your ability to learn and execute on a project. System design questions focus on frameworks, APIs, and design patterns rather than coding.
Additional Resources
To prepare for your interview, I recommend resources such as LeetCode, the Tech Interview Handbook, and Cracking the Coding Interview. Additionally, I share a mind-blowing technique for answering the common interview question, "Tell me about yourself."
Final Thoughts
Tech interviews can be intimidating, but with my advice and resources, you can feel more confident in your preparation. Remember to shift your mindset, practice effectively, and demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively and communicate clearly during the interview.