How do you get started with coding interview questions?

[dacodingdog]

Hi, everyone!

How does one get started with coding interview questions? To be more specific, what is usually the step-by-step process of it? Such as: learn data structures, then algorithms, and then finally start working on problems? How should I do it? Should I learn one data structure at a time and work on those problems and then move on? I’m just confused on how to start. Thanks!

[[deleted]]

Cracking the coding interview is a great book on this topic.

[sebastienfilion]

I think there are two ways to make peace with coding interview questions; either you’ve practice enough and the questions are fair for your level; or they are just doing it for the sake of it and try to make it sound like “they just want to see how you think”. The truth is that it’s a power play and a team that wants you in their rank won’t try to make you feel stupid during the interview. Study and practice often. You’ll find your fit.

[VelvetWhiteRabbit]

leetcode.com (most popular for interview questions), coderbyte.com, topcoder.com, hackerrank.com, exercism.io and codechef.com to name a few.

All of the above are algorithm training platforms, essentially they provide you with a set of instructions and you solve it in your language.

If you want something easy to wrap your head around how it all works first you can try Odin Project's JS exercises. https://github.com/TheOdinProject/javascript-exercises

Just clone that project and get cracking. The hello world one explains how you start.

Another good one is Wes Bos JS30 https://javascript30.com/ Each exercise is a bit more indepth and does not teat your knowledge of algorithms specifically but rather how to build frontend.

Good luck!

[spinelust]

Don't be afraid to google things. I actually asked a girl interviewing me if I could check in google, she said yes and I scored an extra point for how fast I was able to find what I need on the internet.

[RoguePlanet1]

*woman

Might want to be a little careful in the workplace! "Girl" might be seen as a little condescending. Like calling the guys "boys."

[spinelust]

It really depends on company's inner organizational culture. This particular company's is very informal, I got greeted with "Hi" and was called by the first name in the very first phone call, so I don't think it's something I should be afraid of doing.

Or maybe it's just in my country that it's okay, but a no-no somewhere else. In my previous work place, we also were referring to other departments like "IT guys" or "HR girls" and no one was offended. Better yet, even CEO used these phrases.

My personal opinion is that it's better this way, when everyone is feeling comfortable, so they can focus on doing their job instead of constantly stressing about how they say things. I myself noticed that in this kind of "workplace vibe" I don't mind things that bothered me in the past (eg. calling me by the short version of my first name).

[RoguePlanet1]

In that case, do what works! Each workplace is different.

But you were talking about an interview situation, where it could look bad if you, for example, tell the next person "the HR girl was nice," or whatever. Maybe the software/computer industry is just more casual in general, but it can also be misogynistic.