The Complete Guide to Getting Through Software Engineer Interviews at Facebook, Apple, Netflix, and Google

Joseph WallaceJoseph Wallace
4 min read
  • First piece of advice: don't give yourself a deadline. Instead of learning the ideas first and then interviewing once you've done so, because you don't know how long the process will take and you don't want to restrict yourself by setting a really rigid timeline for when you want to perform.

  • Guest speaker “ If you want a fixed schedule then you have to be okay with variability of outcome but if you want to be FAANG (brand company) ready and that’s what you want to guarantee then you should be more flexible in terms of what material you consume and the time that it takes.”

  • When it comes time to assign technical interviews, having a schedule focused on mastery and only interviewing when you've consistently performed well in your practice will allow you to have better results. For some people, the interview process will take a few weeks, while for others it might take several months.

  • The next piece of advice is to become an expert in data structures and algorithms.

  • The most significant action I took as someone with a non-traditional experience in technology was to enroll in a data structure as an algorithms class. Both a bootcamp and a CS degree are not something I own. This was the main factor that really aided me in my study process.

  • To plan your learning, I advise utilizing a Trello board. Whatever course of study you choose, you should begin your interview preparation by making sure you have a solid foundation and a thorough understanding of data structures and algorithms.

  • ​​In order to help you find your ideal job, Formation offers a tailored training program. You'll learn how to ace interviews by mastering questions on data structures, algorithms, and system architecture. You'll get access to mentors who are brilliant engineers working at leading tech organizations, the chance to network with other software engineers, and the chance to participate in mock interviews with these engineers.

  • The next piece of advice is to practice these interview questions. There are several websites where you can go to practice coding interview questions, but Lee Code is the most well-liked one since there are many questions that help you narrow down your selections by asking the current or popular ones. These inquiries will probably come up throughout the interview process.

  • When you are studying for an interview, you should start with the simple questions and only go on to the more complex ones once you have thoroughly mastered the simpler ones. By mastered, I mean that you are able to arrive at the best solution and understand why it is the best option.

  • Bonus advice: When practicing the Lee Code questions, be careful to perform them quickly since you want to imitate the interview setting where you will need to respond to questions in 30 minutes or less. Additionally, you should speak your response out loud in order to replicate interview circumstances and become accustomed to justifying your choice of response aloud.

  • First, you should start by asking clarifying questions. This is bonus tip number one. These inquiries are frequently purposefully imprecise because a skilled engineer understands how to formulate the correct inquiries that focus on the core of the issue.

  • Bonus Tip #2: The next thing you should do is make sure you're diagramming sometimes to understand how to answer the questions you need to in order to properly sketch out the best answer for particular questions.

  • Third bonus tip: The next thing you should do is put down your pseudocode or the procedures you followed before creating the actual code. You can kind of tell if your solution will work by laying down the stages.

  • Bonus Advice #4: The following step is to convert your pseudocode into real code.

  • Fifth bonus tip: When conducting interviews, the last step is to have solid test cases. Make sure that when you are answering your questions you have thoughts on what appropriate test cases would be. Typically, the interviewer will ask you to test your solution by having good test cases.

  • Tip #4: To make your learning process more realistic, conduct the mock interviews about which we already discussed. The most accurate technique to replicate genuine situations is to conduct mock interviews with real candidates.

  • It's crucial to finish your interview preparation process by conducting more mock interviews since it makes you feel more at ease speaking to people you know and helps you feel less anxious throughout the interview process.

For further information, you may also view this YouTube video and subscribe to her Channel. : The Ultimate Guide To Pass Software Engineer Interview (Meta | Apple | Netflix | Google | Amazon)

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Written by

Joseph Wallace
Joseph Wallace

My favorite shows are the following: The Avatar the last Airbender, The original Teen Titans and Spongebob. I also have a favorite NFL team which is the Wisconsin Green Bay Packers.