google | Software Engineer | Interview Experience
Interview Date: Not specified
Result: Not specified
Difficulty: Not specified
Interview Process
The interview process consisted of a phone screen followed by a virtual onsite. During the phone screen, I encountered a LeetCode-style question that was a variation of a common problem. Although I struggled initially, I started with a brute-force approach and gradually improved my solution. I was able to write a solution with some bugs, and I was informed that the feedback from the phone screen would be considered in the final outcome.
For the virtual onsite, I experienced two coding rounds, both focused on implementing a specific class or API. These rounds combined object-oriented programming (OOP) with algorithms, emphasizing the use of common data structures like hashmaps. It was necessary to analyze time and space complexity and think of good test cases. In one coding round, I completed the task in 20 minutes, and the interviewer added another question, which I was not required to finish. I wrote pseudo code and outlined the framework, providing a verbal explanation that the interviewer appreciated. This round likely received positive feedback.
Technical Questions
- Algorithm - Implementation of a class/API with focus on OOP and data structures.
- Behavioral questions related to specific projects, such as problem-solving in given scenarios.
Tips & Insights
Prepare multiple stories from different projects, focusing on one project at a time to highlight various traits. This approach helps to provide depth during behavioral interviews.