How to Prepare for FAANG Interviews?

1. Introduction

One of the most challenging interviews a software engineer might have is the FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google) interview. Competing with some of the brightest minds in major tech businesses is quite difficult. The FAANG interview must be properly prepared for. FAANG organizations need candidates with strong problem-solving abilities and creativity.

This article will cover techniques and provide you with the best resources that will bolster your confidence and improve your chances of receiving a job offer from these tech giants.

2. Stages of the Interview

To prepare for the interview properly, candidates must know the stages involved in the interview and the nature of the challenges that they will be facing.

Online Coding Competitions

Tackle simple to complex DSA and logic-related issues on a website like HackerRank or LeetCode.

Telephonic Round

A 45-minute phone interview. The questions answered at this stage are typically a bit more basic; the interviewer is merely trying to determine whether the candidate has a good chance of succeeding in in-person interviews. If everything is in order, the recruiter will set a date for the in-person interview.

HR Round

You typically have an exploratory discussion with the recruiter to determine fit and ascertain interest after submitting your resume or after the recruiter begins the process with you.

On-site Interviews

It is further broken down into 5 stages:

• Two standard code interviews, one or two systems interviews, and
• one or two behavioral/resume assessments for software engineers.
• The systems interviews for less experienced individuals might be swapped out for coding.

3. FAANG Interview Questions

Now, let us familiarize ourselves with the technical aspects and details of "which" questions you might be asked. Looking at the trend of the last 20 years, some questions are asked very frequently, and it would be a good decision on your part to thoroughly study such a question set.

The categories of questions are as follows:

Behavioral Questions

Such questions focus on your actions in a particular circumstance. They're intended to determine your ability level, how you handle pressure, and how you carry yourself in a work setting.
Example - What did you fail to meet and what did you learn from your shortcoming?

Situational or Team-based Questions

In order to determine your ability to handle real-world work-related scenarios that do not fall under the definition of "status quo" HRs may use situational questions. They are meant to test your perspective, values, morals and accomplishments

Example - How would you handle a task that your manager gave you that you might have never done before?

Core Computer Science Questions

You will be asked questions related to:

1. Operating Systems
2. Data Base Management Systems
3. Computer Networking
4. Design Patterns
5. Programming Language-Specific Questions

Coding Questions

DSA topics like arrays, linked lists, hash tables, strings binary search trees, sorting algorithms, heaps, etc. This will be the toughest and the longest round in any FAANG technical interview. Be prepared!

System Design and Scaling

Almost every giant tech company includes a set of questions based on System Design principles like scalability, load balancing, caching, CAP Theorem, Remote Databases, Partitioning, Optimizing Queries, and other related topics.

4. Mastering DSA

You must possess a strong knowledge of algorithms and data structures. This is the deciding aspect because it will be covered in 70 to 100% of your interview questions.

Strategy: The approach here is to focus solely on answering questions on one topic for a set amount of time, say a week, and practice those questions only. This will enable you to thoroughly prepare for that subject and give you a complete understanding of all the possible questions - easy, medium, and hard.

Some must-know topics in data structures and algorithms are:

1. Concepts

Finding the subjects and the finest resources for those is the most crucial phase. Get a sense of the topics you have to study about and the resources that are accessible before you start learning about DSA.

Some concepts you must know before diving into the code are:

• Big O Time & Space
• Recursion
• String Manipulation
• Bit Manipulation
• Storage and Retrieval Methods (Stack vs. Heap)
• Dynamic Programming

2. Data Structures

Data structures determine the technique for storing and arranging data so that it may be used effectively and efficiently. Their primary goal is to reduce time and spatial complexity. An effective data structure uses the least amount of memory and processes data quickly. You should definitely study the following data structures before your next interview.

• Array
• String
• Tree
• Stack
• Graph
• Hash Table
• Linked List
• Queue
• Heap

3. Algorithms

An algorithm is a method or a collection of precise instructions that is frequently used to solve a certain set of issues or carry out a particular kind of computation. It is a series of actions carried out sequentially to carry out a task. Algorithms cannot be missed during preparation as they have the most importance in any technical interview. We recommend studying the following topics thoroughly:

• Sorting and Searching
• Pattern Matching
• Trees
• Dynamic Programming
• Graph Greedy
• Recursion
• Backtracking

4. Competitive Coding

Along with this, you should also try out the avenues of Competitive Coding. Your ability to code will speed up, and you'll gain a wider perspective on how a problem may have so many different methods. Additionally, it will help you become more accustomed to the interview setting because there will be time constraints in the interview.

Also, you can build a profile on platforms like HackerRank, CodeChef, and CodeForces that you can showcase on your portfolio as well!

Refer to this article for an in-depth look at how it is beneficial in your FAANG preparation journey.

5. Books and Online Judge Platforms

You can practice coding questions by taking part in competitions on websites like HackerRank, Leetcode, or Codechef. While you're studying, you might also work on your projects to gain expertise in the subjects you've selected. Another excellent tool is Gayle Lakemann McDowell's book, "Cracking the Coding Interview," which includes 189 practice questions and their answers for coding interviews.

6. Using Cheatsheets

• The 450 DSA Cheatsheet will be miraculous in your preparation journey. It consists of FAQs, and the exhaustive question set and offers a variety of DSA challenges.
• Tech Interview Cheat Sheet on Github

7. Choosing your Programming Language

Being proficient in one of the coding languages is one of the qualifications to start with to prepare for the technical interview. Because different businesses/teams have varying language requirements, you don't necessarily need to be fluent in every language used. Instead, choose the one in which you feel the most at ease, prepare everything in that language, and pick up the rest as you go. You may need to concentrate on it, though, if the job description makes it obvious which language the perfect applicant for that position should be fluent in.

Our Board Infinity article on Cracking the Coding Interview will also provide a proper insight for you!

5. On-Site Interview Dos and Don’ts

During the coding interview, keep the following things in mind:

1. Draw attention to details that demonstrate convincingly why you are seeking the position of coding engineer at a FAANG organization.
2. Ask for clarification if a question is unclear.
3. Verify the input range and format that the interviewer is asking you to use.
4. Before you describe your strategy, carefully consider the issue.
5. Don't disregard any information that is given to you. Make use of the interviewer's tips.
6. Do not get panicky and rush to write the code. Take some time to thoroughly understand the question.
7. Always explain your reasoning to the interviewer.
8. Develop good coding habits to employ variables, operator spacing, and adequate indentation.
9. Avoid interrupting the interviewer since they may be giving out useful information.
10. Leverage your code for testing and try to include a lot of extreme test cases.
11. Mention the code's complexity in terms of time and space.
12. Don't remain silent. To demonstrate that you have studied the topics in depth, ask insightful questions.

6. Attempt Several Mock Tests

Two of the best ways to assess your preparedness are to complete a test series and conduct mock interviews. You can ask your mentor, elders, friends, and others to help you by watching your practice interviews and giving you the right feedback on how you performed. To improve your interview preparation, you can also pick from a range of high-quality exam series.

We highly recommend you check out a Board Infinity Mock Test Interview Video

7. Browse the Company's Website

Most of the FAANG companies publish information about their interviewing procedures on their corporate blogs, as well as suggestions, values, and practice questions that they want applicants to pay particular attention to. For instance, Amazon places a lot of emphasis on their leadership values. Like this, Google too runs a blog on its website about its hiring procedure.

While you are here, we encourage you to check out this video and boost your confidence.

8. Improve your Resume

1. Create a resume template that works with ATS
2. Put thoughtfully crafted material in a logical sequence
3. Optimize your resume using keywords and prioritization
4. Use online resume rating tools and review the feedback

Additionally, while drafting the resume make sure you

1. Explain why you would be a good match for the position.
2. Use verbs of action to begin with the term that best describes your line of work, such as "Software Engineer" or "Front End Engineer."
3. Let the numbers speak. Include stats and project count

We also encourage you to download some free resume templates and understand formats in this Board Infinity blog and Enroll for the Resume Building course by Board Infinity

9. Participate in Coding Contests

Gain a leaderboard ranking and set yourself apart from your competitors. Google arranges Code Jams and Hash Code, Meta organizes several Hackathons with swags and accolades. It will significantly boost your confidence and help you recognize the pattern of problems and quickly come up with a solution on-spot.

10. Build a Strong Professional Network

References

Ask for references, meet new people who have executive positions in top tech companies, ask for referrals and build a strong network. Connect with people on LinkedIn who may have just finished an interview with the company you're interested in or who have a senior job there. They will be able to provide you with guidance by sharing first-hand knowledge of the procedure, and you will also have the possibility to create relationships that may prove fruitful in the long run.

Connect with Recruiters

To better understand the interview process, work with the recruiter to learn more about any materials they might be able to provide to you. Most recruiters are there to assist you in making sure you are sufficiently prepared before an interview so you can ace it. They may be able to provide access to information that is not always readily available online.  Develop the necessary analytical and soft skills.

Browse Forums

Use websites like Reddit or Quora. On these platforms, many people discuss their interview experiences. Reading through them will help you learn which companies conduct interviews in which formats and what they emphasize.

Conclusion

These businesses demand hard work, excitement, dedication, and a winning mentality while also offering the ideal working environment to all their employees. There is no secret to passing the FAANG interviews, but you may develop your abilities and demonstrate them to the best of your ability during the brief interview period with the help of guided FAANG practice and preparation. The structured study, a lot of practice, and the ability to show this and present oneself in the best possible way are the keys to succeeding in interviews.

Struggling with a myriad of problems and cannot find a mentor to guide you in this critical journey?

Register for Board Infinity’s hands-on Data Structures & Algorithms for Beginners and learn everything there is to know about data structure fundamentals, various types of algorithms, arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, and trees, as well as asymptotic analysis, divide-and-conquer, and dynamic programming. This course is perfect for any newcomer seeking for the proper instructional course with certification.