P.S.: Can't share exact questions due to NDA aggrement with the company.
YOE: 1.5 years
Education: B.E. from Tier-1 college
A few months back, a google recruiter recahed out to me on linkedIn with a job opportunity. My interviews (3 Tech + 1 Googlyness) was set up next month (end of May 2022).
Interview Round 1: [Technical]
A 45-minutes coding round followed by questions for the interviewer
The first question was a modified version of Smallest Common Substring
The question was medium level, the follow up made it hard.
Couldn't code the follow up question, just discussed the approach.
My assumption: LEAN HIRE/HIRE
Interview Round 2: [Technical]
A 45-minutes coding round.
The initial question was easy. It was a modified version of Is one linked list a "super-list" of other linked list?, i.e., is linked linst A contained in linked list B.
The follow up question was tough. But the interviewer was very helpful. He helped me come to an approach be changing a few contraints of the problem. We discussed it but couldn't come up with a fully coded solution
My assumption: NO HIRE
Interview Round 3: [Technical]
A hard 40-minute coding round followed by 5 minutes of QnA
The question was medium level, based on Randomization and LRU queue.
Follow up question was only discussed, was not able to code as we ran out of time.
My assumption: LEAN HIRE/HIRE
Interview Round 4: [Googlyness & Leadership]
Another 45-minute round.
The questions revolved work and projects I've done so far - learnings from projects, mistakes you wish not to repeat.
Some discussion on hypothetical situations and follow ups were asked as per my answer.
The interviewer seemed satisfied with my answers.
My assumption: HIRE/STRONG HIRE
Since the feedback was very unclear, my recruiter scheduled more interviews in July.
Interview Round 5: [Technical]
A hard 40-minute coding round followed by 5 minutes of QnA
The question was based on Find a pattern in another string.
The follow up question was based on Find the pattern in a grid of string. Was able to code both of these questions in the time.
My assumption: STRONG HIRE
Interview Round 6: [Technical]
A hard 45-minute coding round
The question was based on AP in an array.
The follow up question was tough and I was not able to solve it within the time.
My assumption: LEAN HIRE
Interview Round 7: [Technical]
A 45-minutes coding round followed by questions for the interviewer
The question was based on Topolgocial sort. (like Course Scheduler).
Was able to solve the first one but only discussed the follow up. The interviewer seemed satisfied with all my answers.
My assumption: HIRE/STRONG HIRE
Interview Round 8: [Googlyness & Leadership]
A 45-minute round.
Discussion on work and projects - Tell me about a time you failed?, What did you learn from your last project?
Other questions involved hypothetical situations - If you were in a situation of non-harmonious team members, what would you do as a team member and as a team manager?
Further discussed about ideal workplace environment and what kind of work environment do I thrive in?
My assumption: HIRE/STRONG HIRE
Result: Shortlisted for Team Matching
Team match:
I had a short discussion with a team in Bengaluru almost a month after my last interview. Discussed about the work, projects the team is working on. Further conversed about my expectations from the team and the team's expectations from me. I was selected and finally the offer was extended. :)
Learnings:
Practice as many concepts as possible from leetcode (stick to medium/hard problems)
Time yourself so that you can solve these problems and discuss as many as possible in a limited time frame.
Practice explaining the problems as well because even if you are not able to code it, it is importatnt to make the interviewer understand what you're thinking, how you're thinking.
Keep talking about your approaches during the interview, irrespective of whether the interviewer is asking you to or not.