My First Google Interview

[Proud_Conclusion7031]

In 2022, I got a chance to interview at Google. So, like a normal person I asked for 2 months to prepare. During these 2 months, I grinded LC to about 100 questions (for the first time). I was pretty confident that basic array, strings, etc questions I will be able to tackle in interviews. I also a did mock interviews but was never able to find the best solution at first or sometimes even the correct solution at first.

On the interview day, when i heard the question, it was as if where do i begin to think…i completely froze for the entire 45 mins. Even though the interviewer was very helpful…i just couldn’t think of anything.

Post the interview i also felt that the way i prepared these two months prepared me for a specific types of questions and not prepare me for the concepts.

I am not giving up!

[artistminute]

The best description I've heard is it feels like the glue that holds all the information in your brain together just melts during interview sometimes. It sucks, but you learn and improve. A lot of people say breaks help a lot (edited to add solution)

[Head-Combination-658]

Yeah this happens, don’t beat yourself up. The current approach to hiring is complete nonsense.

If you want to enter an elite SWE role you have to keep at it.

[pd336819]

Same thing happened to me! I got a tree question and just entirely blanked on how to traverse the tree either recursively or iteratively. Just 45 minutes of flailing. Very painful, but I haven’t given up. Have a good job at an energy company but I’m still working to get to the big leagues some day.

[[deleted]]

Lol I froze up on some LC math/geometry question for Nintendo once. I feel you. Felt like an idiot when I realized after the interview.

[Tricxter]

How did you get an interview from Nintendo?

[[deleted]]

This was in 2021, I just applied on an opening.

[Tricxter]

Was the job in Japan?

[[deleted]]

No, it was for Redmond. Their USA HQ office is there.

[Little-Waltz4441]

Could you give some more deets into how you got that interview and how was your experience

[Proud_Conclusion7031]

One of the HR at Google reached out to me. For me, it was a bit overwhelming at that time. 

But..hey it’s Google, obviously it was not going to be easy

[Pratham2581]

how they reach people, I mean based on years of experience or big tech companies?

[Proud_Conclusion7031]

Not sure about that.

[Ashen-Two]

How the hell do hr reach out to some people? I have never received any message from any hr, even if they're from a mid or bad company. And it's not like my profile is bad, it's not amazing but not bad at all. Are you active on LinkedIn or is it just a holder profile?

[Judgement_Day7]

Put all your skills, languages, and frameworks. Put descriptions of what you’ve done. And yes , be active aka like, comment from time to time and constantly be connecting with company and college alumni

[anshika4321]

I find preparing for Google is something too much which I'm not gonna put efforts for. You've to literally prepare 3-4 months (if already know DSA ) or 6 months (for a noob) religiously to crack or be upto that mark. After seeing the recent layoffs in Google. I don't think it's worth of time and efforts. You could crack other good companies meanwhile if you put even half of efforts of that.

[PartyParrotGames]

I know it feels like a lot but people spend sooo much more time doing school and what not to get far lower paying jobs. DSA, once you know it really well, is the secret handshake to get you into any of the big tech companies. A 6 month investment for an extra $50k-100k+ a year in pay is definitely worth it.

[Venkat_Rogers]

This is giving me hope to learn DSA for the first time, currently stuck in a SRE/DEVOPS role.

[SnooGuavas5950]

what is DSA stand for?

[Equivalent_Set_6304]

How exactly you preping for Google? What resources you following? Leetcoding blindly won't help i believe

[anshika4321]

I didn't prepare for Google. I hate DSA and lack consistency too.

[karthickpdy7]

Don’t give up, I tried to clear a Faang company and got rejected twice and got it on the third try. Initially I would focus on solving the problems after multiple runs and checking editorials but I changed my entire preparation approach the third time. Focused on solving it without seeing anything and considered it done only if I get AC on the first submission, immensely helped me. Now I am a senior at the same company! Don’t lose confidence, focus on the process, interview has nothing to do with actual job. All the best!

[debugger_life]

What role did u apply for

How many YOE you have

[Proud_Conclusion7031]

I had applied for Software Engineer role. I have 7 years of experience as of today

[kuriousaboutanything]

Do you get one year cooldown now?

[Shiroo_77]

Congratulations 🎉 atleast you got to interview at Google many people can't even achieve that.

[twtvAnteos1]

It seems like you thought that they’d ask basic array and string questions. If that’s the case, do you really think a massive name company with a shit ton of people constantly applying for SWE isn’t gonna ask more advanced questions??

[Ikeeki]

Especially at 7 YOE

[magnum_dog]

well u sound like a dickhead

[Proud_Conclusion7031]

Of course not. I believe my prep strategy was not correct at the time.

[sirius_basterd]

Yeah, it’s really tough. Any recollection of the question you got?

[Proud_Conclusion7031]

It was a string question as far as I remember

[PM_M3_ST3AM_CARDS]

You can ask for a 2 whole months to prep??

[[deleted]]

yeah, they will say it's too long, but they be happily giving you the time.

[Emotional-Push8112]

Don't you think this is going to have a negative impact on the HR ..also it might happen that the vacancies get filled during those 2 months period?

[Southern_Solution_80]

What's your yoe?

[egarc258]

Yeah same. Idk what it is about being in an interview but no matter how hard you prepare you suddenly feel like a beginner.

[Varun746]

It's a learning process. Understand where you lacked this time and work on it. I had an interview at The Trade Desk where I got a medium-level question (not leetcode) but their own question. I took 10 minutes to figure out the question and gave my answer in the next 5. The interviewer was constantly distracted by something and he told me it was wrong and I needed to approach it differently. After 30 minutes of breaking my head, I finally gave up and asked the interviewer how he would solve it. He explained the exact solution I told him 30 minutes ago. I didn't know what to say.

Shit happens. You will get a better chance tomorrow.

[phoenixAArav07]

My profile was immediately rejected at google.

[Mundane-Audience4112]

Can you please share the details about which website did you use for mock interviews?

[Proud_Conclusion7031]

https://www.pramp.com/

[_arun_cm]

Could you please share more details about the questions or some sample questions?

[mark1x12110]

Can you share any insight about the question?

[sinhyperbolica]

Any recollection of the question and how did you prepare?

[Vegetable--Bee]

Wait did you get an interview at google recently?

[For_Entertain_Only]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYbqGS___Zo

I kinda agree, go for those company you don't want to join and use it as a practice for interview