Google Engineer's Guide to Preparing for Data Structures and Algorithms Interview

Max Buckley is a senior software engineer at Google with over 10 years of experience at the company. He specialises in machine learning, applied statistics and operation.

Preparing for tech interviews, particularly those focused on data structures and algorithms, is crucial for securing roles at major tech companies. These interviews test a candidate's ability to abstract problems, suggest efficient solutions, analyze time complexity, and implement code. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you prepare effectively.

What do tech interviews consist of?

Tech interviews involve:
- Abstracting unnecessary details to identify the underlying problem.
- Suggesting an algorithm or data structure to solve the problem efficiently.
- Discussing or analyzing the time complexity of the solution.
- Writing valid code to implement the solution.
- Walking through the code to verify its correctness.
- Answering follow-up questions from the interviewer.

How to prepare for such an interview?

1. Knowing the Common Data Structures and Algorithms
Start with two excellent Coursera courses:
- Algorithms-Part 1: https://www.coursera.org/learn/algorithms-part1
- Algorithms-Part 2: https://www.coursera.org/learn/algorithms-part2
- These courses use Java, but it's advisable to implement the material in your preferred programming language.

2. Programming Language of Choice:
- Ensure you are proficient in your chosen programming language, especially with the standard library that you may need for your interview.

3. Familiarity with the Interview Format:
- Book: "Cracking the Coding Interview" by Gayle Laakmann McDowell, which covers interview format and provides many example questions. Link to book
- Website: LeetCode for practicing coding problems.
- Practice: Simulate interview conditions by practicing with a friend.

When should you start preparing?
- Start in advance, ideally before securing an interview.
- Work through the recommended Coursera courses and read the first 50 pages of "Cracking the Coding Interview." This way, when you get an interview, you will only need to revise rather than learn everything for the first time.