This content originally appeared on Level Up Coding - Medium and was authored by Arslan Ahmad
Grokking the Coding Interview
Unlock your potential and face your coding interviews with confidence.
Do you have an upcoming interview with a tech firm?
Are you feeling those cramps on repeat?
Well, let’s admit that the first thought of appearing in interviews itself is always intimidating. And if it’s a technical interview with all the coding involved and growing competition, then undeniably, anxiety can hit a whole new level.
Whether it’s about clearing your coding interview on the first attempt or you just want to learn the how-tos of the process, you can pretty much stand out with a simple roadmap.
However, being an ex-FAANG engineer, I understand the lack of guidance for tech professionals in this field.
Therefore, I have compiled this blog to guide fresh graduates and junior developers looking for the top tech opportunities.
Let’s quickly go over some practical strategies to ensure you stand out during this critical part of the interview.
1. First Impressions Matter
2. Understanding the Problem
3. Strategic Approach
4. Coding Phase
5. Error Handling
6. Interaction and Engagement
7. Final Review
Final Thoughts
1. First Impressions Matter
The first impression is the last impression — and the same holds true when it comes to coding interviews.
Your first impression can set the tone for the entire session.
Here’s how to nail it:
Confidence and Positivity
Start your interview with confidence and a positive attitude.
If you truly believe in your skills and stay calm, you have got the half deal done. Here’s how you can do it:
- Mindset: Before the interview, remind yourself that you have prepared for this moment. Try taking a few deep breaths to calm your nerves and get into a positive mindset. It’s important to trust in your preparation and abilities.
- Body Language: Your posture speaks about your personality during the interviews. Therefore, sit up straight, smile, and make eye contact (if it’s an in-person or video interview). This not only shows confidence but also helps candidates feel more engaged and alert.
Professional Setup
In case of a remote interview, here’s how you can ensure that you are interview-ready:
- Tidy Workspace: Make sure your desk is clean and organized. A clutter-free space helps us focus better and shows the interviewer that we are organized.
- Quiet Environment: Choose a quiet place for the interview where there’s no interruption.
- Tech Check: Before the interview, test the computer, internet connection, microphone, and camera. Make sure everything is working well to avoid any technical issues during the interview.
- Backup Plan: The most important and overlooked strategy is having a backup plan during the interviews. Always have a backup plan in case something goes wrong with my tech setup. For example, keep your phone handy to use as a hotspot if your internet connection fails.
2. Understanding the Problem
Getting the problem right is crucial in a coding interview. Because if you don’t understand it, you will not be able to answer.
Here’s how we can make sure we understand the problem fully:
Active Listening
When the interviewer presents the problem, pay close attention. Here’s what you can do:
- Focus: Listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying and pay attention to every detail.
- Take Notes: Jot down key points as the problem is explained. This helps you remember important details and also keeps engaged.
Ask Clarifying Questions
If something isn’t clear, there’s no need to sit quietly. Ask your questions immediately and don’t hesitate. It’s better to ask than to make wrong assumptions.
Here’s the approach that you can use:
- Be Specific: Ask specific questions about parts of the problem you find confusing. For example, if you are unsure about input constraints, then ask for more details about them.
- Don’t Rush: Take your time to ensure you understand the problem fully. The interviewer expects questions, and it’s a sign that you are thinking carefully.
Restate the Problem
To make sure you have got it right, try to restate the problem in your own words.
This step is important because:
- Confirmation: It helps confirm that you have understood the problem correctly. Also, if you have missed something, the interviewer can correct you.
- Clarification: Summarizing the problem aloud helps you clarify your own understanding. It also shows the interviewer that you are methodical in your approach.
3. Strategic Approach
Once you understand the problem, the next step is to approach it strategically.
Here’s how you can tackle it:
Break Down the Problem
Start by breaking the problem into smaller, manageable parts. This makes it easier to handle and understand.
Here’s how to do it:
- Identify Key Components: Look at the main parts of the problem and identify the smaller tasks within each part. For example, if you need to sort an array and then find duplicates, treat sorting and finding duplicates as separate tasks.
- Step-by-Step: Next, think about the steps needed to solve each part. In this way, you can stay organized and focused on each task.
Outline a Plan
Before you start coding, always outline your plan. Note down the different components and map out your ideas roughly. This will help you and the interviewer understand your approach.
Here’s what you should include:
- Explain the Steps: Describe the steps you will take to solve the problem. This might include mentioning the algorithms or data structures you plan to use.
- Logical Flow: Explain the logical flow of your solution, from start to finish. This shows that you have a clear strategy.
- Get Feedback: Pause to see if the interviewer has any feedback or suggestions. This can help refine your approach before you start coding.
Identify Edge Cases
Before getting into the code, think about potential edge cases. These are special scenarios that might cause issues if not handled properly.
Here’s how you can handle them:
- List Possible Cases: List out possible edge cases related to the problem. For example, if you are dealing with an array, consider empty arrays, arrays with one element, and arrays with all identical elements.
- Discuss Solutions: Discuss how you plan to handle these edge cases. This shows that you are thorough and careful in your approach.
For proper coding practice, check out our post on 75 Coding Interview Questions.
4. Coding Phase
Finally, when it’s time to start coding, it’s important to write good code and keep the interviewer in the loop.
If your code is messy and lacks a proper structure, nobody can figure out your proposed solution.
Therefore, you need to write code carefully and neatly.
Here’s how you can do it:
Clean Code Practices
Always aim to write code that is easy to read and maintain.
Here are my tips:
- Clear Naming: Use clear and descriptive names for your variables and functions. This makes it easy to understand what each part of the code does.
- Simple Structure: Keep your code structure simple. Try to avoid writing long, complicated functions and break them into smaller, manageable ones.
- Comments: If something isn’t immediately clear, I suggest adding comments to explain what the code does. This helps anyone reading the code to understand it quickly.
Real-time Commentary
While coding, I explain my thought process out loud. This keeps the interviewer informed and shows my reasoning.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Step-by-Step Explanation: Talk through each step as you code. For example, I explain why I’m using a certain loop or condition.
- Problem Solving: If you run into a problem, explain how you plan to solve it. Doing this will show your problem-solving skills and keep the interviewer engaged.
Incremental Testing
Testing code in small steps helps catch errors early and ensures everything works correctly.
Here’s my approach:
- Small Batches: I test my code in small parts instead of writing everything at once. This helps me find and fix issues quickly.
- Print Statements: I use print statements to check if parts of my code are working as expected. This simple technique can be very effective in spotting errors.
Efficiency and Optimization
As I code, I think about how to make my solution more efficient. Here’s what I do:
- Optimize as I Go: I look for ways to improve the efficiency of my code as I write it. This might involve choosing a better data structure or a more efficient algorithm.
- Discuss Trade-offs: I talk about the trade-offs of different approaches and why I chose my solution. This shows I’m aware of performance considerations.
Check out the top Leetcode patterns for FAANG coding interviews.
5. Error Handling
Once you are done coding, brace yourself up for figuring out errors.
Handling errors well is a key part of coding interviews. It shows your ability to troubleshoot and adapt.
Here’s how I approach it:
Graceful Recovery
When I encounter errors, I handle them calmly and explain what I’m doing to fix them.
Here’s my method:
- Stay Calm: If I hit an error, I stay calm and don’t panic. This helps me think clearly and find a solution faster.
- Identify the Problem: I carefully read the error message or look at the behavior of the code to understand what went wrong.
- Explain the Process: As I work on fixing the error, I explain my thought process. I talk about what I think the problem might be and the steps I’m taking to solve it. For example, I might say, “I see this error is due to an index out of range, so I’m checking my loop limits.”
- Try Solutions: I methodically try different solutions to fix the error. If the first solution doesn’t work, I move on to the next one, explaining each step as I go.
Fallback Plan
Having a backup plan is crucial if my initial approach doesn’t work.
Here’s how I prepare:
- Plan B: Before I start coding, I think about alternative ways to solve the problem. This way, if my first approach fails, I’m ready with another method.
- Quick Switch: If my initial solution isn’t working and I’ve spent a reasonable amount of time on it, I switch to my backup plan. I explain to the interviewer why I’m making the switch and what my new approach will be.
- Adaptability: Showing that I can adapt and come up with different solutions demonstrates flexibility and problem-solving skills. It also shows that I’m not stuck on one way of thinking.
6. Interaction and Engagement
Engaging with the interviewer is an important part of the coding interview. It shows that you can communicate well and work collaboratively.
Here’s how you go about it:
Engage the Interviewer
Keeping the interviewer engaged makes the interview more interactive and shows that you value their input.
Here’s what you can do:
- Ask for Feedback: Occasionally ask the interviewer if they have any thoughts or feedback on your approach. For example, I might say, “Do you think this method makes sense?” This shows that I’m open to suggestions and willing to adjust my approach. You can use a similar strategy.
- Clarify Expectations: If you are unsure about a detail or requirement, ask for clarification. This not only helps you understand the problem better but also keeps the interviewer involved in the process.
Think Aloud
Talking through your thought process helps the interviewer understand my reasoning and keeps them in the loop.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Explain Each Step: As you work through the problem, explain what you are doing and why. For example, I might say, “I’m going to use a hash map here to keep track of the counts because it allows for constant time lookups.”
- Highlight Decisions: Talk about the decisions that you are making and the reasons behind them. This helps the interviewer see your problem-solving skills in action.
Discuss Trade-offs
Talking about the trade-offs of different approaches shows that you are considering all angles of the problem.
Here’s how you can handle it:
- Pros and Cons: Discuss the pros and cons of different methods. For example, “Using a brute force approach might be simpler, but it’s less efficient. A more optimized algorithm would save time but is more complex to implement.”
- Why Was This Solution Selected: Explain why you chose a particular solution over others. This shows that you have thought carefully about your approach and are not just coding on autopilot.
Check out the top 12 coding interview FAQs.
7. Final Review
Before wrapping up, it’s important to review your code to ensure it’s correct and efficient.
Here’s how can perform the final review:
Code Walkthrough
Start by walking through your code to make sure everything is clear and correct. Here’s what you can do:
- Explain Each Part: Go through your code step-by-step, explaining what each part does. This will help you catch any mistakes and reflect your thought process to the interviewer.
- Check Logic: Ensure that the logic of your code makes sense. Try to verify that each part works together to solve the problem correctly.
Optimize Further
If there’s still time, look for ways to make your code better. Here’s how:
- Look for Improvements: Examine your code to see if there are any parts that can be more efficient. For example, I check if I can reduce the time complexity by using a different algorithm.
- Discuss Changes: Talk about any optimizations you find and explain how they improve the code. This shows that you are always looking to make your work better.
Double-check Edge Cases
Finally, make sure that your code handles all edge cases correctly.
Here’s my approach:
- Review Edge Cases: I think about any special cases that might cause problems and verify that my code handles them properly. For example, I test with empty inputs, very large inputs, and other unusual scenarios.
- Test Thoroughly: I run through these edge cases in my code to make sure everything works as expected. This helps me catch any issues that I might have missed earlier.
Courses | Ace the System Design and Coding Interview
Final Thoughts
Coding interviews are not just about solving problems but also about demonstrating your ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and learn from feedback.
Standing out in coding interviews is all about preparation, strategy, and effective communication. By focusing on making a strong first impression, understanding the problem thoroughly, approaching it strategically, handling errors gracefully, and reflecting on your performance, you can showcase your skills and professionalism.
The 7 Most Important Things to Do in a Coding Interview was originally published in Level Up Coding on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
This content originally appeared on Level Up Coding - Medium and was authored by Arslan Ahmad
Arslan Ahmad | Sciencx (2024-08-11T17:00:22+00:00) The 7 Most Important Things to Do in a Coding Interview. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2024/08/11/the-7-most-important-things-to-do-in-a-coding-interview/
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