Coding Interview Strategies: Planning, Mindset, and Execution

Interviewers appreciate candidates who admit uncertainty and demonstrate a willingness to learn during coding interviews.

### Strategies for Success in Coding Interviews
* 🎥 To enhance your coding interview performance, remember to **like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell** for more helpful videos.
* 💬 It's beneficial to think out loud during interviews, admitting when you're **unsure and requesting time to think** instead of filling silence with filler words.
* 🔍 Starting with a brute force solution can help you **outline your thought process**, even if it's inefficient, as it allows you to **visualize the problem clearly**.
* 🏋 Balancing interview preparation with physical activity can improve your **mental clarity and mood**, making you more effective during the interview.
* 📝 Structuring your code into different function calls not only aids in **managing time** but also **enhances readability** and allows for **easier debugging later on**.
* 📊 When tackling problems, focus on **understanding the nature of the question** and **collecting observations about edge cases** to guide your solution.
* 💡 Always prioritize a **clear communication of your thought process** to the interviewer, as this keeps them **engaged** and allows for **collaborative problem-solving**.
* 🧠 Finally, managing your motivation and mental health throughout the interview process is crucial, so ensure you **maintain a balanced life** and **avoid cramming right before the interview**.

How I Passed The Google Coding Interviews

Chris Jereza

Strategies for Success in Coding Interviews

The speaker passed all coding interviews at Google but didn't get the job due to a hiring freeze.

They have a strong background in computer science and software engineering, with internships at top companies and successful full-time offers.

The speaker shares specific strategies for coding interviews, including brainstorming solutions, collaborating with the interviewer, communicating thought processes, and structuring code, while also emphasizing the importance of creating test cases and optimizing runtime.

The problem involves finding the minimum number of buses needed to get from a source bus stop to a target bus stop, using a breadth-first search (BFS) approach on a graph of bus stops.

The BFS queue needs to track combinations of stops, routes, and transfers between routes to effectively solve the problem.

Additionally, when managing overlapping meetings, using a heap to store end times and remove previous meetings can help efficiently allocate rooms for new meetings.

Managing Interview Stress and Problem-Solving Strategies

The interview process can be grueling, and it's important to manage motivation, confidence, and mental health during this time.

Keeping a balanced life with activities like sports, socializing, and hobbies can help alleviate the pressure of the interview.

When solving coding problems, it's crucial to notice patterns, question the approach, and catch any inefficiencies in the solution to save time and improve outcomes.

Preparing for a Job Interview: Key Strategies

Approaching a job interview with a relaxed mindset can boost confidence and reduce pressure.

In the days leading up to the interview, it's beneficial to avoid challenging problems and high-pressure mock interviews to prevent a losing streak.

Prioritizing code readability and using pseudo-code for planning can help clarify the thought process and make the transition to coding smoother.

Feeling overwhelmed before an interview can lead to burnout and poor performance; prioritizing rest and self-care is crucial.

It's important to plan and communicate your thought process to the interviewer, as multitasking during coding can be challenging.

Modifying the data structure to fit the algorithm and starting with a broad approach in coding can lead to better problem-solving and engagement with the interviewer.

Admit when you don't know something and ask for time to think.

Start with a brute force solution, even if it's inefficient.

Split the problem into different function calls to manage time and improve code readability.