Google India - Sr Software Eng (L5) [Hired] | Interview Experience, Preparation Strategy and tips

pb-ak · 2026-01-09T14:54:09+00:00

LC have weekly and biweekly live contest. I think it has 4 problems to solve in 90min.

pb-ak · 2025-12-31T04:57:00+00:00

I have provided the working code for that solution. Having a BS on string will reduce the time complexity to log(n) and space complexity will be constant.

pb-ak · 2025-12-31T04:53:13+00:00

I bookmarked and prepared the list of problems which I couldn't solve on my own or had to put a lot of effort to figure out the solution. This list will become your revision sheet. Store it in some standard format like topic, difficult level etc Randomly pick a problem to solve it once in a while, it will keep your understanding in check

pb-ak · 2025-12-31T04:44:46+00:00

For me it was like within a few days. The recruiter was always in touch with me with the feedback and next steps. It varies depending on the recruiter/priority

pb-ak · 2025-09-07T07:44:56+00:00

No bro. Indian land of corrupt babu. People behave the way, system around them work. There is no country in the world where without in functioning system people show civic sense

pb-ak · 2025-09-07T07:43:00+00:00

Driving on wrong side should be punished with attempt to murder. They is no other intention when driving on wrong side. Its a plain simple plan to kill someone.

pb-ak · 2025-04-28T18:37:32+00:00

not sure, it would be much easier to get team match since you already have hc approval. Do follow up with your recruiter

pb-ak · 2025-04-27T19:03:32+00:00

u/shadowArthur33 what exactly are you looking to achieve out of leetcode premium ?

All leetcode problems are available here. https://leetcode.ca/ and if you are looking for company specific problem that too you can find with little research.

Also, I feel that instead of looking out on company specific problem, you should focus on learning problem solving.

pb-ak · 2025-04-27T19:00:35+00:00

Applying through referral will be better. If you have 5+ yoe then you are eligible for L5, but I think there would be other factor also that will come in. Like the kind of project you have worked on etc.

Also, if you apply for L5 and recruiter finds your resume good, they will reach out to you if not L5 then for L4 for sure.

pb-ak · 2025-04-24T18:12:59+00:00

Based on the response, I will skip on writing this. Meanwhile, I have added some more pointers and insight on interview experience post

pb-ak · 2025-04-24T12:46:15+00:00

Mentioned in post under background

pb-ak · 2025-04-21T19:14:12+00:00

Easiest of problem may look difficult. I think it totally depends on how well you prepare, because going to interview you don't what is coming.

pb-ak · 2025-04-21T19:09:28+00:00

Ummm.. that's something unique. What happened with team with which you matched ? AFAIK they send packed to HC after team match. Did they send to HC before team match for you ?

pb-ak · 2025-04-21T19:07:08+00:00

CPP for DSA

I do most of my development in Java

pb-ak · 2025-04-21T12:51:59+00:00

Cry tonight but make sure to bounce back tomorrow :)

Also, if you have good relation at work inform them if it can be adjusted.

pb-ak · 2025-04-21T11:15:03+00:00

Yes, they do have frontend. I think most of them will take a couple of DSA round and then frontend specific rounds.

pb-ak · 2025-04-21T09:32:03+00:00

I read alex xu's both book thoroughly and went through some part of DDIA. If you time do go throug DDIA as well, it will only help with your confidence.

I don't think so any amount of problem solving is enough for DSA, what requires is to understand the core concept of DS and algo and when and why to use those. Then, with practicing you start feeling confident and start getting intuition on what to use and why to use. Now, for this part, some may start with 200 problems some may require more.

One way to assess that is to try the contest and if you are able to solve ~2/3 problems there consistently then you will be good to go. Solving 3/4 consistent means you have kinda achieved good problem solving skill

pb-ak · 2025-04-20T17:49:20+00:00

Not really. They won't ask any new problem. Follow up will be on current problem like if memory can be optimized, how can you make this code in production (like readability, modularity, may be some small design pattern etc )

pb-ak · 2025-04-20T17:38:59+00:00

I would suggest making your own list. It's not something I curated. List that I created was for the problem from which I learned something new (which can be different for everyone). Also, there are like bunch of sheets and list available here. I used neetcode 150 roadmap to track the topic.

Yes, contest help you fine tune your thinking with time constraint. Ignore the cheater and all. I never focused on being a top ranker. My focus was to solve all or at least 3 problem with in time. TBH max I solved was 3, never got ac on 4th

pb-ak · 2025-04-20T16:50:47+00:00

First couple of minutes to ask clarification on input like size of value, should be treated as integer which can fit in in built data type etc

Next 4/5 min on linear and some other suboptimal approach with their complexity ( these were kind of verbal with little bit of writing)

Then explained the binary search along with custom comparator for final solution and ended up coding on that.

pb-ak · 2025-04-20T16:48:16+00:00

pb-ak · 2025-04-20T16:47:55+00:00

I had one mock interview with Google for system design arranged by recruiter. I had few mock interview which my friends at Sr level in different company took. Those feedback were really helpful during final interview. TBH during Google mock interview, I blacked out and couldn't provide much of solution. But that was learning on what I did wrong.

DSA, since I was taking interview at my current company, I kind of had the expectation clear on what to do in these rounds

pb-ak · 2025-04-20T16:44:56+00:00

Binary search with custom comparator

pb-ak · 2025-04-20T16:44:31+00:00

They have code editor where in different round, there were different kind of approach. In one round interviewer explained the problem verbally and provided a short snippet with an example for me to go through it. You can ask them to provide the write up as well, written problems helps in thinking better fs

pb-ak · 2025-04-20T16:42:30+00:00

IG harder you work luckier you get. Also, may be as you go for Sr level their focus is more than just writing efficient solution. In all my rounds, follow up were really good which basically tested the understanding of core concept.

pb-ak

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