5 Tips to Prepare for FAANG Coding Interviews
By: Akhil S
Tags: Tips, Leetcode, Codechef, Interviews, Coding

As a computer science undergraduate after solving more than 500 interview problems and faced many real interviews I am sure there are a few things you can benefit from my experiences.

Programming Language

Pick a programming language of your choice and learn it thoroughly before anything else. Do NOT try to learn multiple languages at once. Give yourself time to grasp the basics of programming with just one language. Once done, it is not so difficult to switch to another language. Learn the syntax, looping, recursion and focus on becoming fluent in converting your logic into code faster. In my opinion C, C++, Java, Python are among best choices to start with. Explore HackerRank language proficiency section to practice.

2. Data Structures and Algorithms

Data Structures are very important when it comes to a coding interview. Array, Stack, Queue, LinkedList, HashMaps,Trees, BinarySearchTree, Heaps are a few popular data structures. Make sure you know all of them by practicing all of them on HackerRank. Algorithm is a step by step process in solving a problem. There are many famous algorithms to start with. Searching,Sorting,Two Pointers are a few popular categories of algorithms and make sure you not only understand them but also to code them very well before attending any coding interview. Leetcode,InterviewBit are among the best websites to start with. Solve 50–100 easy problems. That should be a good start.

3. Competitive Coding

Real Practice starts now. By this time you should have got enough hands-on coding practice. Time to test your competency and learn more. Different websites conducts weekly coding contests where you are supposed to solve problems within a specified time boundaries and you are ranked among all participants. This ignites the competitive spirit in you to come up with solutions to problems as fast as possible. Participate regularly and give your best regardless of your initial performance. Consistency is the key to success. Many companies hire candidates from competitive coding leaderboards on those websites and offer high salaries. So, you can be one among them.

4. Soft Skills

Technical skills matter, but soft skills matter the most. According to Warren Buffett you can increase your value up to 50 percent if you just learn to communicate better. Work on your communication skills, learn to introduce yourself in a professional way. Be willing to learn and express your thoughts clearly. After all, a technical interview is with another human being and they should like your personality along with your technical aptitude. Learn more whiteboarding as it is a part of assessment.

5. Practice

Practice all the above things again and again until you land that job. Failures are common and a part of the process. Do not get disappointed after getting rejected in a single interview. With every rejection you are one step closer to something greater. Keep up that hustle and learn from your failures. Solve at least one problem a day and keep your skills sharp and ready for the next interview.

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