Every Software Engineer has a dream to become an engineer at Google. There are many valid reasons to prove this. The work culture, the atmosphere, and the freedom that Google provides to its employees are to the next level. Lets know Google Software Engineer Interview Preparation.
We can not ignore the high salary that google offers. Thus, becoming a software engineer at Google became the priority of many engineers.
So, this article is going to tell how a candidate should prepare for Google interviews.
Practicing Data Structures and Algorithms
DSA is going to be one of the major deciding key factors. If you have a very good grasp of data structures and algorithms, then the interview is going to be smooth. So make sure that you have practiced DSA a lot.
Once your resume gets selected for interviews, you have to donate your full time to brush up on your concepts. This is going to be the precious time in which you have to give your 100% in preparation.
Generally, Google has a criterion of 7 rounds for the whole recruitment process. All rounds will be the same for freshers and experienced, except for system design interviews.
In a system design interview, the interviewer expects an experienced candidate to have a good command of system design. All these rounds may take 1-2 months to complete the recruitment.
Round 1
The first round will be a technical telephonic round in which you have to solve the easy and medium-level DSA problems. Make sure that you have practiced enough on leetcode, Interviewbit, etc. After clearing this round, you may be asked for the next telephonic technical round.
Round 2
In round 2, you may be given a hard level problem with easy and medium levels. Here are some points that need to be kept in mind while giving technical rounds.
DO’s
- Understand the problem- Take your time to understand the problem. If you have any doubt, always feel free to ask the interviewer.
- Dry run:- Never make the mistake of writing code directly into the editor. Always do the dry run before writing code.
- Speak what you think:- It gives a perfect impression to the interviewer if you speak what you are thinking and how you are approaching the solution.
- Write optimal solution:- First, solve the problem by Brute force, then optimize it further.
- Good soft skills: Good communication skills play a significant role in impressing the interviewer.
Note
One important thing you can do is to make a new leetcode account before giving an interview since many recruiters are now using a strategy. They give you a leetcode problem link and ask you to open the link through your leetcode account. Now interviewer will ask you to open the submission section to check whether you have previously solved the problem or not. If you have solved it previously, the interviewer may skip the question and give a complex problem. The same thing has happened with many candidates.
Round 3
This is not a necessary round for every candidate. For example, if your previous rounds go well, this round will not be conducted. But if the interviewer is not impressed with your previous interviews, this round may be conducted.
Rounds 4 and 5
These rounds will be onsite coding interviews in which more complex problems on data structures and algorithms are covered. So, for this round, you have to prepare very well.
Round 6
It will be a system design onsite interview in which your Objects Oriented Programming (OOPs) concepts are tested. System design is crucial at the industry level, so if you have good concept clarity in system design, it will give you an edge in clearing the interview. Your chances of getting an offer become high.
Round 7
It will be the final round in which the hiring committee will discuss and make the final decision. There are rare chances of not being selected after reaching this round.
Tip
Read some information about the company that can impress the interviewer and be ready to answer the most common questions asked in interviews. For ex-
- Introduce yourself
- Why do you want to join Google?
- Is there any question that you want to ask me?
- Be ready to explain the projects and internships you mentioned in the projects.
After reading this now, you have understood the overall process of the interview that Google conducts. You can get an idea of how you have to prepare for your interviews, what to study, and what not. Next is the explanation of the Data Structures and Algorithms topics you need to cover.
Language Selection
Choose any one language and proceed with that language. You can choose C++, Java, Python, or any other language.
Generally, it is preferable to choose C++ since editorials and video lectures on youtube are in more quantity than in any other language. Execution time is fast. But you can also proceed with any other language.
Basics Syntax
In the initial stages, you will get many syntax errors. You may not be able to write an error-free program at once. But you do not have to worry. You have to keep calm and give optimum time each day.
NOTE:- Make a habit of coding at least 1-2 problems even on your busy day. Do not let any day pass without practicing.
“Consistency and Smart Work is the key to success.”
Basic Data Structures
Once you have practiced conditional statements and loops, you may proceed to Basics Data Structures.
Linear Data Structures:-
- Arrays ( Basics Array Problems, Searching and Sorting, Rotation of Array, 2D arrays, matrix, various problems).
Note:- Once you get comfortable with conditional statements, loops, and arrays, you should start giving online contests on codechef, hackerrank, geeksforgeeks, codeforces, etc.
- Linked list:- Basics unit of a linked list are nodes, and each node has a data field and a reference for the next node in the list.
Singly Linked list
Doubly Linked list
Circular Linked list
Miscellaneous problems
- Stacks:- Stacks works on the principle of LIFO(last in, first out). It is a linear data structure. The same end is used for Insertion and deletion.
- Queues:- Queues works on the principle of FIFO(first in, first out). It is also a linear data structure. In stack, the first-come, first-served rule is applicable.
Non-Linear Data Structures
These are those data structures in which elements are arranged in a sequence of elements that are not arranged linearly. Non-linear data structures are of 4 types-
- Trees:- In the tree, each node store a value and list of references to different nodes. These are non-linear data structures. All operations are carried out through nodes.
- Graphs:- In graphs, there are two units-
Nodes:- Nodes depends on the number of elements present in memory.
Edges:- These are connecting nodes to each other.
- Hash Tables:- A hash function and a mapping key are the principles working units of the hash table. The hash function is responsible for mapping key values to different values. So always try to use an efficient hash function so that the overall efficiency of the hash table gets improved.
- Sets:- Sets are used to store unique values. All the values are stored in some definite order. We can use numbers, Boolean, and strings in a set. Set is initialized by the following statement.
Const s = new set()
Set are immutable, i.e., once an element is stored in a set, we can not make changes to it. No indexing is done in sets. All values must be unique.
Dynamic Programming
The most common and conceptual topic that every product-based company, including Google, asks in interviews. Without having in-depth knowledge of dynamic programming, it is nearly impossible to get placed in these tech companies. Furthermore, using dynamic programming, more efficient and optimal codes can be achieved.
It can be related to recursion to some extent. Like in recursion function is called by itself. In dynamic programming, the big problem is broken into smaller subproblems, and whenever we have overlapping subproblems, we can solve them efficiently using the same code.
Conclusion
We can conclude that having a good grasp of data structures and algorithms is the most important. While interviewing, speak what you think. That will make the recruiter better understand your thinking process. Do not directly jump to the editor to write code. Always first do the dry run and then write the code. It will make a perfect impression on the interviewer.
At the last minute of the interview, the interviewer may ask you to ask questions. At that point, never say I do not have to ask anything. It makes an awful impression on the interviewer.
FAQs( Frequently Asked Questions)
- I am from Tier2 or Tier3 college, Can I get selected in Google?
- Yes definitely. Companies do not focus on which college you belong to. Their main focus is on skillset. If you fulfill those criteria, then you are a suitable candidate for the company.
- How many months are required for preparation?
- It totally depends on your efforts, your practice, and the time that you are giving daily. I am giving a general idea.
Beginner:- 18-24 months
Intermediate:- 12 months
Advanced:- 2-4 months
- I have applied many times, but my resume is not being selected.
- There can be numerous reasons for this. The two most common reasons are-
Not having a good resume:- CV must be more straightforward and more impressive. A recruiter only sees the CV for a few seconds, and if you have not designed it well, then there is a high probability that your resume will get selected.
Not adding referrals while applying:-Not adding referrals while applying:- Always look for referrals whenever you are applying off-campus. The probability increases if you have a referral. Connect to alumni of your college and ask them for referrals. In addition, you can directly approach recruiters on LinkedIn.
